Consett, located in County Durham in the Northern Temperate Zone, presents a mixed picture for year-round solar energy generation. The location's solar output varies dramatically throughout the seasons, reflecting the challenging conditions typical of northern England's climate.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy production at Consett shows significant seasonal variation. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 4.94 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the peak season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best period with 4.19 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 1.88 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with just 0.83 kWh per day per kW. This winter figure represents less than 17% of summer output, highlighting the location's seasonal limitations. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 46 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by accounting for the sun's varying elevation throughout the year at this northern latitude.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors at Consett can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Frequent cloud cover and overcast skies - Common throughout the year in this region, reducing direct sunlight
• High rainfall - Can leave water spots and debris on panels, reducing efficiency
• Snow accumulation in winter - Can completely block panels during extended cold periods
• Strong winds - Common in this elevated area, potentially affecting panel stability
• Air pollution and dust - Can build up on panel surfaces, reducing light transmission

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies can help:

• Regular cleaning schedules - Monthly cleaning to remove dirt, bird droppings, and pollution buildup
• Anti-reflective coatings - Special panel coatings that perform better in diffused light conditions
• Robust mounting systems - Wind-resistant installations designed for the area's weather conditions
• Strategic panel positioning - Avoiding areas prone to snow accumulation or excessive shading
• Quality inverters - Equipment designed to maximize energy capture even during cloudy conditions

While Consett's location presents challenges for solar generation, particularly during winter months, the strong summer and spring performance can still make solar installations viable with proper planning and maintenance.

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 Consett

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 54.8473, Longitude: -1.8281 (Consett, 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 46° South in Consett, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Consett, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 54.8473, -1.8281) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 46° 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 Consett, 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 Consett, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 46° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
38° South in Summer	57° South in Autumn	68° South in Winter	47° 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 Consett, 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 Consett, 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 Consett, United Kingdom

Topographical Features Around Consett

Consett sits prominently in the Durham countryside at an elevation of approximately 300 meters above sea level, positioned on what was historically known as the Consett plateau. The town occupies a relatively elevated position within the broader landscape of County Durham, surrounded by rolling hills and valleys that characterize this part of northern England. The terrain immediately around Consett is notably undulating, with the settlement itself perched on higher ground that offers commanding views across the surrounding countryside.

The topography in this region has been significantly shaped by both natural geological processes and centuries of human activity, particularly coal mining and steel production. The landscape features a mix of gentle slopes, steeper hillsides, and flatter plateaus. To the north and west of Consett, the land generally rises toward the Pennine foothills, while to the south and east, the terrain gradually descends toward the lower-lying areas of central Durham.

The immediate vicinity of Consett includes several notable topographical features. The River Derwent flows through the valley systems to the north, creating areas of lower-lying land interspersed with rising ground. Former industrial sites, including the old steelworks area, have left behind relatively flat, cleared spaces that contrast with the more naturally undulating surrounding landscape. These post-industrial areas often feature gentle gradients and have been subject to various reclamation and redevelopment projects over recent decades.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most suitable locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Consett would be the south-facing slopes and plateau areas that benefit from minimal shading and optimal solar exposure throughout the day. The elevated nature of the Consett area provides several advantages for solar development, as higher elevations often experience less atmospheric interference and reduced air pollution compared to lower-lying industrial areas.

The former steelworks site and other reclaimed industrial areas present particularly attractive opportunities for solar development. These locations typically offer substantial flat or gently sloping areas that have already been cleared of natural vegetation and are well-connected to existing electrical infrastructure. The industrial heritage of these sites means they often have robust access roads and utility connections already in place, reducing the infrastructure investment required for solar installations.

Areas to the south and southwest of Consett, where the land slopes away from the town center, would be especially well-suited for solar arrays. These locations combine favorable topographical conditions with the advantage of being positioned to capture maximum solar irradiation throughout the day. The rolling nature of the landscape in these directions provides numerous sites with good southern exposure while maintaining reasonable accessibility for construction and maintenance activities.

Agricultural land on the gentler slopes surrounding Consett could also present viable options for solar development, particularly areas that are currently used for less intensive farming or grazing. The pastoral landscape typical of this part of Durham often features fields with moderate gradients that could accommodate solar installations while potentially allowing for continued agricultural use beneath or between panel arrays.

The proximity to existing electrical transmission infrastructure is another significant advantage for the Consett area. The industrial history of the region means that substantial electrical connections are already present, which would facilitate the grid connection requirements essential for large-scale solar developments. Areas closer to these existing transmission lines would naturally be more economically viable for substantial solar 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!

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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.