Burry Port, Wales, United Kingdom presents moderate solar energy potential for year-round electricity generation through solar photovoltaic systems. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone at coordinates 51.686, -4.2441, this Welsh coastal town experiences significant seasonal variation in solar output.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The location shows strong seasonal contrasts in solar electricity production. Summer delivers the highest output at 5.80kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the prime season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best performing season with 4.96kWh per day per kW, offering nearly equivalent production levels. Autumn sees a notable decline to 2.16kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging period with only 0.99kWh per day per kW. This winter figure represents just 17% of summer production, highlighting the significant seasonal challenge for year-round solar energy planning. For fixed panel installations at Burry Port, Wales, the optimal tilt angle is 43 degrees facing south to maximize total annual production. This angle accounts for the sun's varying elevation throughout the year and balances seasonal solar irradiance patterns.

Local Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors at Burry Port can significantly impact solar panel performance and require careful consideration during installation:

• Salt air corrosion from coastal proximity
• High humidity and frequent precipitation
• Strong coastal winds
• Marine fog and low cloud cover

The coastal location exposes solar installations to salt-laden air, which can accelerate corrosion of metal components and reduce panel efficiency over time. The area's maritime climate brings frequent cloud cover and precipitation, particularly during autumn and winter months, further reducing solar irradiance.

Preventative Installation Measures

To maximize energy production despite these challenges, several protective measures should be implemented. Choose solar panels and mounting systems with marine-grade aluminum frames and stainless steel hardware specifically rated for coastal environments. These materials resist salt corrosion better than standard components. Install panels with adequate spacing for natural rainwater cleaning and ensure proper drainage to prevent water accumulation. Regular maintenance schedules should include cleaning panels to remove salt deposits and checking connections for corrosion signs. Consider installing monitoring systems to track performance degradation and identify maintenance needs early. Proper grounding and surge protection become especially important in areas prone to storms and high winds common to coastal locations. Wind-resistant mounting systems designed for coastal conditions will help panels withstand the stronger gusts typical of this seaside location while maintaining optimal positioning for solar collection.

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 Burry Port

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.686, Longitude: -4.2441 (Burry Port, 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 Burry Port, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Burry Port, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.686, -4.2441) 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 Burry Port, 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 Burry Port, 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	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 Burry Port, 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 Burry Port, United Kingdom.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Burry Port, United Kingdom

Topographical Features of Burry Port

Burry Port sits on the southern coast of Wales in Carmarthenshire, positioned along the expansive shoreline of Carmarthen Bay. The immediate landscape around this coastal town is characterised by remarkably flat terrain, with the settlement itself built on low-lying ground that rarely exceeds 20 metres above sea level. The area forms part of the Gwendraeth Valley system, where centuries of sediment deposition have created a predominantly level coastal plain.

To the north of Burry Port, the topography begins to rise gradually towards the foothills of the Brecon Beacons, though this transition occurs over several kilometres. The coastal strip itself extends eastward towards Llanelli and westward towards Kidwelly, maintaining its flat character throughout. This low-lying nature means the region experiences minimal topographical variation, with gentle undulations rather than steep gradients dominating the inland areas.

The coastline features extensive sandy beaches backed by dune systems, particularly notable around Cefn Sidan Beach to the west. These coastal dunes represent some of the highest natural elevations in the immediate vicinity, though they remain relatively modest in scale. Behind the coastal fringe, the landscape transitions into improved agricultural land and former industrial areas, including sites previously used for coal mining and steel production.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The flat coastal plain extending inland from Burry Port presents excellent opportunities for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations. The area between Burry Port and Llanelli offers particularly suitable terrain, with extensive tracts of level ground that would require minimal site preparation. These former industrial landscapes, including reclaimed colliery sites and brownfield areas, provide ready-made development opportunities without impacting prime agricultural land.

The Gwendraeth Valley, stretching north from Burry Port towards Kidwelly, contains substantial areas of gently sloping farmland that would be well-suited to solar arrays. The valley's orientation and minimal shading from surrounding hills make it an attractive proposition for renewable energy development. Much of this land consists of improved pasture on relatively poor soils, making it potentially available for dual-use agricultural and energy production.

Areas to the east towards Llanelli present additional opportunities, particularly on the elevated but still gentle terrain that rises gradually from the coastal plain. These locations benefit from good accessibility via existing road networks while maintaining the flat to gently undulating topography that optimises solar panel installation and maintenance. The proximity to existing electrical infrastructure, including substations serving former heavy industry, adds to the attractiveness of these sites.

The western approaches towards Kidwelly also merit consideration, where the landscape opens into broad agricultural areas with minimal tree cover or other obstructions. These locations combine favourable topography with good transport links via the A484 corridor, facilitating both construction and ongoing maintenance operations for large-scale solar facilities.

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

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.