Esher, England, United Kingdom, located at 51.3742, -0.3508 in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers a moderate location for solar PV energy generation with significant seasonal variations in output.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar panels in Esher produce varying amounts of electricity throughout the year. Summer is the most productive season, with panels generating approximately 5.08kWh per day for each kilowatt installed. Spring follows as the second most productive season, yielding about 4.29kWh daily per kilowatt of capacity.

Production drops considerably during autumn, with daily generation falling to 2.25kWh per kilowatt installed. Winter experiences the lowest output, with just 1.03kWh per day per kilowatt - roughly one-fifth of summer production.

Optimal Installation Angle

For fixed panel installations in Esher, England, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 44 degrees facing South. This angle has been calculated by analyzing solar elevation at this latitude and weighting it against daily PV potential using NASA's solar irradiance data.

Environmental Factors and Mitigation

Several factors may impact solar production in Esher:

• Cloud cover and rainfall are significant in the UK, particularly during autumn and winter months, reducing solar irradiance reaching panels.
• Tree coverage and building shadows can be problematic in suburban areas like Esher.
• Dust, pollen, and bird droppings can accumulate on panels, especially during spring and summer.

To maximize production despite these challenges, consider installing panels higher on rooftops to avoid shadowing, implementing regular cleaning schedules (particularly after pollen season), and using microinverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading. Weather-resistant panel coatings can also help maintain efficiency during the frequent UK rainfall.

While not ideal compared to sunnier global locations, Esher still offers viable solar potential, particularly from March through September when approximately 75% of the annual solar energy can be harvested.

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 754 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 Esher

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.3742, Longitude: -0.3508 (Esher, 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 Esher, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Esher, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.3742, -0.3508) 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 Esher, 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 Esher, 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
35° South in Summer	54° 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 Esher, 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 Esher, 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 Esher, United Kingdom

Esher is located in the county of Surrey in South East England, positioned at the coordinates 51.3742° N, 0.3508° W. The topography of Esher and its surrounding areas is characterized by gently undulating terrain, typical of the Thames Basin lowlands. The area sits at a moderate elevation, generally between 20-60 meters above sea level, with subtle variations across the landscape. The town of Esher itself is situated on slightly elevated ground compared to some of its neighboring areas, particularly those closer to the River Thames which flows approximately 3 kilometers to the north. This positioning on higher ground relative to the river valley provides some topographical variety to the region.

Local Terrain Features

To the north and northwest of Esher lies the Thames floodplain, which is notably flatter and lower-lying than Esher proper. This area includes parts of Thames Ditton and the edges of Hampton Court. Moving south from Esher, the terrain gradually rises toward the North Downs, with areas like Oxshott and Claygate featuring slightly more pronounced hills and wooded sections. One of the distinctive local features is Esher Common, which covers a substantial area to the southwest of the town center. This area includes some modest hills and open spaces, with mixed woodland and heathland. The highest points in the vicinity can be found further south toward the ridge that eventually leads to the North Downs proper. The built environment of Esher and surrounding communities has modified the natural topography to some extent, but the underlying gentle contours of the land remain evident throughout the area.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

When considering areas near Esher suitable for large-scale solar PV installations, several factors beyond just topography need consideration, including existing land use, environmental designations, grid connection possibilities, and planning constraints. However, focusing primarily on topographical considerations: The relatively flat areas to the north and northeast of Esher, extending toward Long Ditton and Thames Ditton, offer terrain advantages for solar installations. These areas have minimal slope and good southern exposure, which is ideal for maximizing solar energy capture in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the gently south-facing slopes found in the areas south of Esher toward Claygate could also be topographically suitable, as they would receive optimal sunlight throughout the day. These subtle inclines can actually improve solar efficiency compared to perfectly flat terrain. The more open agricultural lands to the southwest between Esher and Cobham present larger continuous areas where solar arrays might be accommodated from a purely topographical perspective. These areas typically have fewer trees and obstructions that would cast shadows on solar panels. It's worth noting that significant portions of land around Esher are designated as Green Belt or have other environmental protections, which would likely restrict large-scale solar development regardless of topographical suitability. Additionally, the relatively high population density and premium on land in this part of Surrey means that finding large contiguous areas for solar farms presents challenges beyond the physical landscape. The most practical locations, considering topography alone, would be the flatter, open areas with minimal tree cover that have good southern exposure and minimal risk of flooding from the Thames. These would primarily be found in pockets of agricultural land between the built-up areas surrounding Esher.

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.