Great Torrington, England, located in the Northern Temperate Zone of the United Kingdom, presents a mixed picture for year-round solar PV energy generation. The location experiences significant seasonal variation in solar output, which is typical for its northern latitude.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy production at Great Torrington varies dramatically throughout the year. Summer delivers the strongest performance at 5.86 kWh per day per kW of installed capacity, making it the ideal season for solar generation. Spring follows as the second-best period with 4.99 kWh per day per kW, offering nearly comparable output to summer months. Autumn sees a notable decline to 2.28 kWh per day per kW, while winter presents the most challenging conditions with just 1.10 kWh per day per kW. This represents a more than five-fold difference between peak summer and winter production. For optimal year-round energy capture, solar panels at this location should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 43 degrees facing south. This angle maximizes total annual production by accounting for the sun's varying position throughout the seasons.

Local Factors Affecting Solar Production

Several environmental and weather factors in Great Torrington can significantly impact solar energy generation:

• Maritime climate: The location's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean brings frequent cloud cover, fog, and overcast conditions that can reduce solar irradiance
• High rainfall: Devon receives substantial precipitation throughout the year, leading to more cloudy days and reduced sunshine hours
• Salt air exposure: Coastal influence can cause salt buildup on panels, reducing efficiency over time
• Wind exposure: Strong Atlantic winds can affect panel stability and potentially cause debris accumulation

Preventative Measures for Better Performance

To maximize solar energy production despite these challenges, several installation strategies should be considered: Regular cleaning schedules are essential to remove salt deposits, dirt, and organic matter that accumulate on panel surfaces. Installing panels with anti-reflective coatings can help maintain efficiency even during periods of diffused light common in overcast conditions. Robust mounting systems designed to withstand high winds are crucial for this location. Additionally, ensuring adequate spacing between panels allows for proper air circulation, which helps maintain optimal operating temperatures and reduces moisture buildup. Installing monitoring systems can help identify performance issues quickly, while choosing high-quality panels with good low-light performance will help capture energy even during cloudy conditions that are common in this maritime climate. Despite the seasonal variations and local weather challenges, Great Torrington can still generate meaningful solar energy, particularly during the extended spring and summer periods when conditions are most favorable.

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 Great Torrington

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.957, Longitude: -4.1432 (Great Torrington, 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 Great Torrington, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Great Torrington, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 50.957, -4.1432) 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 Great Torrington, 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 Great Torrington, 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	64° 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 Great Torrington, 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 Great Torrington, 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 Great Torrington, United Kingdom

Topography Around Great Torrington

Great Torrington sits in the heart of North Devon, positioned on elevated ground approximately 200 metres above sea level. The town occupies a prominent hilltop location overlooking the River Torridge valley, which winds its way northward toward the coast at Bideford. This commanding position provides expansive views across the surrounding countryside, characterised by rolling hills, deep valleys, and a patchwork of agricultural fields divided by traditional Devon hedgerows. The landscape around Great Torrington is典ically undulating, with the terrain rising and falling in gentle to moderate gradients. To the south and west, the land gradually climbs toward higher elevations, while northward the ground descends toward the coastal plain. The River Torridge has carved a significant valley system through the area, creating a series of ridges and spurs that extend outward from the main watercourse. These geological features result in a varied topography where flat areas are interspersed with sloping ground and occasional steep-sided valleys. The region falls within the Devon countryside, where centuries of agricultural activity have shaped the landscape into a mosaic of pasture, arable land, and woodland. Field sizes vary considerably, from small enclosed paddocks near settlements to larger open fields on the higher ground. Ancient field boundaries, marked by substantial earth banks topped with hedgerows and mature trees, create a distinctive pattern across the landscape that influences both the visual character and practical considerations for land use.

Areas Suitable for Large-Scale Solar Development

The most promising locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Great Torrington would be the elevated plateaus and gently sloping south-facing hillsides that characterise much of the higher ground in the area. These locations benefit from reduced shading from surrounding topographical features and optimal orientation toward the sun's path across the sky. The agricultural land on the ridges and elevated areas south and west of Great Torrington presents particularly suitable conditions. These areas typically feature larger field systems with fewer boundary constraints, making site assembly more straightforward. The ground is generally well-drained due to the elevation and slope, reducing concerns about waterlogging that might affect installation and maintenance access. Areas of relatively flat or gently undulating terrain on the higher elevations would be ideal, as they minimise the need for extensive ground preparation while still providing good solar exposure. The open agricultural land between Great Torrington and the higher ground toward Hatherleigh offers several such locations, where field patterns are more regular and less fragmented by traditional Devon banking systems. The valley floors and steep-sided slopes would be less suitable for large-scale solar development. The River Torridge valley itself, while offering flat ground in places, suffers from potential shading issues created by the surrounding higher ground, particularly during winter months when the sun remains lower in the sky. Additionally, valley locations may experience more frequent mist and fog, which can reduce solar irradiance. Areas with significant tree cover or those in close proximity to ancient woodland would also present challenges, both from shading perspectives and potential planning constraints related to landscape and ecological considerations. The traditional field boundary system of Devon banks and hedgerows, while creating an attractive landscape, can create complications for large-scale solar installations due to the irregular field shapes and access limitations they impose.

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

Tell Us About Your Work

We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.

Feeling generous?

Share this with your friends!

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.