Bury St Edmunds, England, located in the Northern Temperate Zone of the United Kingdom, presents a mixed picture for solar PV energy generation. The location's potential for solar power production varies significantly throughout the year, with notable differences between seasons.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the most productive season, with an impressive 5.04 kWh per day for each kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows closely, generating 4.38 kWh per day. These seasons offer the best conditions for solar energy production, benefiting from longer daylight hours and generally clearer skies.

However, the performance drops considerably during autumn and winter. Autumn sees a significant decrease to 2.27 kWh per day, while winter production plummets to a mere 1.04 kWh per day. This stark contrast highlights the challenges of year-round solar energy generation in this location.

Optimal Panel Installation

To maximize year-round solar production, fixed panels should be tilted at a 44-degree angle facing south. This angle is calculated to optimize energy capture across all seasons, taking into account the location's latitude and the Earth's orbit.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several factors can impede solar production in Bury St Edmunds:

1. Cloud cover: The UK is known for its frequent overcast conditions, particularly in autumn and winter, which can significantly reduce solar efficiency.
2. Short winter days: The location's northern latitude results in very short days during winter, limiting the amount of sunlight available for energy production.

To mitigate these challenges, consider the following preventative measures:

• Use high-efficiency solar panels designed to perform well in low-light conditions.
• Implement a robust cleaning schedule to remove dust and debris, which can be more prevalent during wetter months.
• Consider a solar tracking system to maximize exposure during limited daylight hours, especially in winter.

While Bury St Edmunds may not be ideal for year-round solar production, the strong performance during spring and summer months can still make solar PV a viable option for supplementing energy needs, particularly when combined with other renewable energy sources or energy storage solutions.

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 756 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 Bury St Edmunds

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 52.2445, Longitude: 0.7186 (Bury St Edmunds, 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 Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 52.2445, 0.7186) 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 Bury St Edmunds, 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 Bury St Edmunds, 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
36° South in Summer	55° South in Autumn	66° South in Winter	44° 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 Bury St Edmunds, 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 Bury St Edmunds, 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 Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom

The area surrounding Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, United Kingdom, is characterized by gently rolling countryside typical of East Anglia. The landscape is predominantly flat to slightly undulating, with subtle variations in elevation. This region, known as the East Anglian Heights, features low hills and shallow valleys, creating a softly contoured terrain. The topography around Bury St Edmunds is largely shaped by its agricultural heritage. Fields of various sizes, separated by hedgerows and occasional small woodlands, dominate the landscape. The River Lark, a tributary of the Great Ouse, meanders through the area, adding a subtle riparian element to the local topography.

Suitable Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations near Bury St Edmunds, several factors come into play. The gently sloping terrain to the south and southeast of the town offers promising potential for solar energy development. These areas benefit from a southerly aspect, which is ideal for maximizing solar exposure throughout the day. Particularly suitable locations might include the agricultural lands between Bury St Edmunds and the villages of Bradfield St George and Rougham. These areas feature open fields with minimal shading from trees or buildings, providing ample space for solar panel arrays. Another potentially suitable region lies to the northeast of Bury St Edmunds, towards Thurston and Great Barton. This area also boasts expansive farmland with favorable topography for solar installations. The relatively flat terrain in this direction would simplify the construction process and reduce associated costs. It's important to note that while the topography is generally favorable for solar PV development, other factors such as grid connection availability, local planning regulations, and environmental considerations would need to be carefully assessed before proceeding with any large-scale solar projects in the area.

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!

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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.