Solar PV Analysis of Acton, United Kingdom
Acton, England, United Kingdom, which is located in the Northern Temperate Zone, has varying levels of potential for solar energy production throughout the year. The amount of electricity that can be produced from solar panels installed here changes with each season.
In simple terms, the sunniest time of year is summer when you can expect to generate around 5.13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for every kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This means that summer is the best time for generating solar power at this location.
Spring also offers a good level of sunlight with around 4.36 kWh/day per kW of installed solar panels. However, during autumn and winter, there's less sunlight available so you'd get about 2.31 and 1.07 kWh/day per kW respectively.
If you're planning on installing fixed panel solar PV at this location, it's recommended to tilt them at an angle facing 44 degrees South to get the most energy over the whole year.
As far as local factors that could affect your ability to generate electricity from sunlight in Acton go, weather would be a significant one considering it's in UK where cloudy and rainy days are common especially in autumn and winter months which could reduce your overall output significantly.
Other environmental factors such as shading from buildings or trees might also affect how much sunlight reaches your panels so it’s important to consider these when deciding where exactly on your property to install them.
To help ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
1) You might want to consider using more efficient types of solar panels that perform better under low light conditions.
2) Make sure no shadows fall on your panels especially during peak sun hours.
3) Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep them working optimally even if they’re exposed to harsh weather conditions.
4) If possible, installing tracking systems could help maximize exposure by allowing the panels follow the path of sun across the sky.
Remember, while these measures can help, they may also increase costs and should be weighed against potential benefits.
Note: The Northern Temperate Zone extends from 35° latitude North up to 66.5° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 754 locations across United Kingdom. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in United Kingdom by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Acton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.5113, Longitude: -0.2714 (Acton, United Kingdom), based on our analysis of 8760 hourly intervals of solar and meteorological data (one whole year) retrieved for that set of coordinates/location from NASA POWER (The Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) API:
Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 44° South in Acton, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Acton, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.5113, -0.2714) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 44° South for fixed panel installations.
As the Earth revolves around the Sun each year, the maximum angle of elevation of the Sun varies by +/- 23.45 degrees from its equinox elevation angle for a particular latitude. Finding the exact optimal angle to maximise solar PV production throughout the year can be challenging, but with careful consideration of historical solar energy and meteorological data for a certain location, it can be done precisely.
We use our own calculation, which incorporates NASA solar and meteorological data for the exact Lat/Long coordinates, to determine the ideal tilt angle of a solar panel that will yield maximum annual solar output. We calculate the optimal angle for each day of the year, taking into account its contribution to the yearly total PV potential at that specific location.
Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Acton, United Kingdom
If you can adjust the tilt angle of your solar PV panels, please refer to the seasonal tilt angles below for optimal solar energy production in Acton, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 44° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35° South in Summer | 55° South in Autumn | 65° South in Winter | 43° South in Spring |
Our recommendations take into account more than just latitude and Earth's position in its elliptical orbit around the Sun. We also incorporate historical solar and meteorological data from NASA's Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) API to assign a weight to each ideal angle for each day based on its historical contribution to overall solar PV potential during a specific season.
This approach allows us to provide much more accurate recommendations than relying solely on latitude, as it considers unique weather conditions in different locations sharing the same latitude worldwide.
Calculate solar panel row spacing in Acton, United Kingdom
We've added a feature to calculate minimum solar panel row spacing by location. Enter your panel size and orientation below to get the minimum spacing in Acton, United Kingdom.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - Minimum Spacing:
We add the shadow length to the horizontal space occupied by tilted panels.
This approach ensures maximum space efficiency while avoiding shading during critical times, as the Winter solstice represents the worst-case scenario for shadow length.
Topography for solar PV around Acton, United Kingdom
Acton, United Kingdom is located in the Greater London area and is relatively flat. The region is highly urbanized with a mix of residential, commercial, and some open park areas.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are most suitable as they allow for maximum exposure to sunlight with minimal obstructions. In the case of Acton, these could potentially be large rooftops or unused open spaces if any are available.
However, given the high level of urbanization in Acton and its surrounding areas, it might be more feasible to consider smaller-scale solar installations such as rooftop solar panels on homes and businesses or community solar projects.
It's also important to note that while physical topography plays a role in determining suitability for solar PV installation, other factors such as local climate (amount of sunshine), legal regulations (planning permissions), grid connectivity infrastructure etc., play equally significant roles. Therefore a thorough feasibility study would be necessary before deciding on any largescale renewable energy project.
United Kingdom solar PV Stats as a country
United Kingdom ranks 14th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 13,689 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 4.00% of United Kingdom's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 20th in the world). Each year United Kingdom is generating 203 Watts from solar PV per capita (United Kingdom ranks 25th in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in United Kingdom?
Yes, there are several incentives for businesses wanting to install solar energy in the United Kingdom. The UK government offers a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme which pays businesses for every unit of electricity they generate from their solar panels. Additionally, businesses may be eligible for tax reliefs such as Enhanced Capital Allowances and Renewable Heat Incentives. Finally, some local authorities offer grants or other financial support to help businesses with the cost of installing solar energy systems.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in United Kingdom? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 17th of March 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
Compare this location to others worldwide for solar PV potential
The solar PV analyses available on our website, including this one, are offered as a free service to the global community. Our aim is to provide education and aid informed decision-making regarding solar PV installations.
However, please note that these analyses are general guidance and may not meet specific project requirements. For in-depth, tailored forecasts and analysis crucial for feasibility studies or when pursuing maximum ROI from your solar projects, feel free to contact us; we offer comprehensive consulting services expressly for this purpose.
Helping you assess viability of solar PV for your site
Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
Enhance your solar panel's performance with our in-depth guide. Determine the best tilt angle using hard data, debunk common misunderstandings, and gain insight into how your specific location affects solar energy production.
