Solar PV Analysis of Amesbury, United Kingdom
Amesbury, England, United Kingdom, located at latitude 51.1658 and longitude -1.7847 in the Northern Temperate Zone, can generate a reasonable amount of solar energy throughout the year but it's not ideal for all seasons. In simpler terms, you'll get different amounts of electricity from your solar panels depending on what time of year it is.
During summer months when the sun shines longer and brighter, each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panel capacity can produce about 5.13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day. This means that if you have a 1 kW unit installed, you could potentially generate over 5 kWh in one day during summer.
In springtime when days are getting longer but aren't as bright as summer yet, each kW of installed solar panels will give around 4.36 kWh/day.
Autumn sees less sunlight hours and lower intensity so output drops to about 2.31 kWh/day per kW installed.
Winter has the least sunlight both in terms of daily hours and intensity causing an even further drop to just around 1.07 kWh/day per kW installed.
So ideally if you're looking to maximize your energy production via solar PV at this location then late spring through early autumn would be best given more daylight hours and higher sun intensity; however do note that even during winter some power generation is possible albeit much less compared to other seasons
For maximum efficiency with fixed panel installations at this location in Amesbury UK, it's recommended to tilt your panels towards South at an angle of approximately 43 degrees which will allow for optimal exposure to sunlight throughout different times of the year thereby maximizing total annual production from these PVs
Now regarding potential obstacles impeding solar production at this location: Weather conditions like cloud cover or fog could limit exposure to direct sunlight thus reducing energy output; also dust or snow accumulation on panels might affect their performance too due to blocking sunlight. To mitigate these issues consider installing a monitoring system that alerts you when output drops so you can clean panels if needed; or even better, consider automated cleaning systems. Furthermore, you might want to ensure your installation site is free from shading by nearby buildings or trees as they could block sunlight too.
In conclusion, while Amesbury UK isn't ideal for year-round maximum solar production due to seasonal variations and potential weather-related challenges it still offers reasonable potential especially during late spring through early autumn and with the right setup and maintenance practices in place.
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 911 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 Amesbury
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.1658, Longitude: -1.7847 (Amesbury, 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 43° South in Amesbury, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Amesbury, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.1658, -1.7847) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 43° 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 Amesbury, 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 Amesbury, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 43° 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 | 54° South in Autumn | 64° 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 Amesbury, 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 Amesbury, 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 Amesbury, United Kingdom
Amesbury is located in the county of Wiltshire, United Kingdom. The topography around Amesbury is relatively flat with gentle rolling hills, part of the Salisbury Plain. The area has a mix of open fields and woodland.
As for solar PV installations, large-scale projects would ideally require vast expanses of open land that are not heavily shaded by trees or buildings. In this respect, the farmlands around Amesbury could potentially be suitable for such projects.
However, it's important to note that any large-scale project would need to consider a variety of factors beyond just topography including local planning regulations, impact on wildlife and biodiversity, grid connectivity among others. Additionally, solar irradiance levels which vary based on geographical location and weather patterns also play a crucial role in determining the suitability for solar power generation.
The southern-facing slopes in this region might be particularly well-suited because they receive more sunlight throughout the day compared to north-facing slopes. Also areas with less tree cover would be advantageous as they provide unobstructed access to sunlight.
It's recommended that detailed feasibility studies including site surveys and environmental impact assessments are conducted before deciding on specific locations for large-scale solar PV installations.
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: Wednesday 29th of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
