Solar PV Analysis of Frome, United Kingdom
The location at Frome, England, United Kingdom is decent for producing energy through solar power systems throughout the year, but it's not perfect. The amount of electricity you can get from a solar panel depends on how much sunlight it gets. In summer and spring, when there are more daylight hours and the sun is higher in the sky, you can expect to generate around 5.42 kWh/day and 4.54 kWh/day per kW of installed solar respectively.
During autumn and winter however, when there's less sunlight because days are shorter and the sun doesn't go as high in the sky, your solar panels won't produce as much electricity - about 2.31 kWh/day in autumn and only 1.05 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar.
So if you're planning to install a fixed-panel system at this location (meaning one that doesn't move or adjust its angle), then tilting your panels towards south at an angle of about 43 degrees would be best to capture as much sunlight over the course of a year.
However, weather conditions like heavy cloud cover or fog could reduce how much light reaches your panels which means they'd produce less electricity during those times. Also environmental factors such as trees or buildings casting shadows on your panels could also affect their productivity significantly.
To prevent these issues from affecting your system's performance too much:
- Make sure to install your panels where they'll get unobstructed sunlight for most part of day.
- Regularly clean them so dirt or dust don't block out any light.
- If possible consider investing in technology that allows your panels to track the movement of sun across sky - this way they'll always be facing directly towards it which will help them capture maximum amount light even during shorter days.
Remember though that while these measures can help improve production efficiency somewhat; no matter what steps you take there will still be some natural variation due to changing seasons and weather conditions.
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 Frome
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.2437, Longitude: -2.2746 (Frome, 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 Frome, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Frome, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.2437, -2.2746) 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 Frome, 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 Frome, 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 | 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 Frome, 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 Frome, United Kingdom.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - 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 Frome, United Kingdom
Frome is located in the county of Somerset, in the South West region of England. The topography around Frome is characterized by rolling hills and valleys. It lies at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, with Selwood Forest immediately to its east.
The area has a mix of agricultural land, residential areas, and some industrial sites. There are also several rivers running through or near Frome including River Frome itself.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are typically preferred as they allow for easier installation and maintenance as well as optimal sun exposure. Therefore, unused agricultural lands could be potential sites for such projects around Frome.
However, it's important to note that any large-scale solar project would need to consider factors beyond just physical geography - these can include local planning regulations, proximity to power grids for energy transmission, potential environmental impacts etc.
It's also worth noting that while Somerset gets reasonable levels of sunshine by UK standards (around 1500-1600 hours per year), it still lags behind places like the south coast which get over 1900 hours per year. Nonetheless with modern PV technology even less sunny locations can still produce significant amounts of energy from solar power.
For specific site identification and feasibility studies though you'd likely want to engage a specialist renewable energy consultancy who can undertake detailed surveys including aspects like sun path analysis (to understand how much sunlight a location will receive throughout different times of day/year).
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
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 23rd of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
