Cowdenbeath, a town in Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom, presents a mixed picture for solar energy generation throughout the year. Located in the Northern Temperate Zone, this location experiences significant seasonal variations in solar output.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Summer stands out as the most productive season for solar energy in Cowdenbeath, with an impressive daily output of 5.02 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season, generating 3.94 kWh/day. However, the performance drops considerably during autumn and winter, with outputs of 1.68 kWh/day and 0.75 kWh/day respectively.

The stark contrast between summer and winter production highlights the challenges of year-round solar generation in this northern location. The long summer days provide excellent conditions for solar energy, while the short, often overcast winter days significantly reduce output.

Optimal Panel Installation

To maximize year-round solar production in Cowdenbeath, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 47 degrees facing south. This angle is optimized to capture the most sunlight throughout the year, considering the location's latitude and seasonal sun positions.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several factors can impede solar production in Cowdenbeath:

• Frequent cloud cover, especially during autumn and winter
• Potential for snow accumulation in winter
• Limited daylight hours during winter months

To mitigate these challenges, consider the following measures when installing solar panels:

• Use high-efficiency panels designed for low-light conditions
• Install panels at a steeper angle to promote snow shedding
• Implement a robust cleaning and maintenance schedule
• Consider adding a solar tracking system for improved year-round performance

While Cowdenbeath's location isn't ideal for year-round solar production, the strong summer performance can still make solar PV a viable option, especially when combined with other renewable energy sources or energy storage solutions to compensate for the winter shortfall.

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 Cowdenbeath

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 56.1088, Longitude: -3.3472 (Cowdenbeath, 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 47° South in Cowdenbeath, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Cowdenbeath, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 56.1088, -3.3472) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 47° 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 Cowdenbeath, 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 Cowdenbeath, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 47° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
40° South in Summer	58° South in Autumn	69° South in Winter	48° 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 Cowdenbeath, 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 Cowdenbeath, 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 Cowdenbeath, United Kingdom

The area around Cowdenbeath, located in Fife, Scotland, is characterized by gently rolling hills and low-lying terrain. This former mining town sits in a shallow valley, with the land gradually rising to the north and south. The surrounding landscape is a mix of urban development, agricultural fields, and patches of woodland. To the north of Cowdenbeath, the land rises towards the Cleish Hills, which form a modest ridge running east to west. These hills, while not particularly high, provide some elevation and variety to the otherwise relatively flat landscape. To the south, the terrain slopes gently towards the Firth of Forth, a large estuary that separates Fife from Edinburgh and the Lothians. The immediate vicinity of Cowdenbeath is primarily composed of reclaimed mining land, which has been transformed into a combination of residential areas, industrial estates, and open spaces. The topography here is generally flat to gently undulating, with some localized variations due to former mining activities.

Potential for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby that would be most suited to large-scale solar PV installations, several factors come into play. The ideal location would have good exposure to sunlight, minimal shading, and relatively flat or gently sloping terrain. The agricultural lands to the east and southeast of Cowdenbeath offer promising potential for solar PV development. These areas benefit from open fields with fewer obstructions, allowing for maximum sun exposure throughout the day. The gentle slopes in this direction also provide favorable conditions for solar panel placement. Another potentially suitable area lies to the southwest of Cowdenbeath, where there are expanses of reclaimed mining land. These brownfield sites often have large, open areas that could be repurposed for solar farms. The relatively flat terrain in these locations would simplify installation and maintenance of solar panels. It's worth noting that while the Cleish Hills to the north might seem appealing due to their elevation, the steeper slopes and potential for increased cloud cover make them less ideal for large-scale solar PV installations compared to the more open, gently sloping areas to the south and east. Any large-scale solar PV project would, of course, need to consider additional factors such as grid connection availability, local planning regulations, and environmental impact assessments. However, from a purely topographical perspective, the areas to the east, southeast, and southwest of Cowdenbeath offer the most promising conditions for such developments.

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.