Solar PV Analysis of Hastings, United Kingdom
Hastings, England, United Kingdom is a decent location for solar energy generation throughout the year. During summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity from solar panels - around 5.67 kWh per day in summer and 5.24 kWh per day in spring for every kW of installed solar power. However, during autumn and winter, the output decreases significantly to only 2.54 kWh/day in autumn and even lower at just 1.10kWh/day in winter.
The best times to generate solar energy at this location are obviously during the sunnier months of spring and summer when there's more daylight hours available.
When installing fixed panel systems here, it's recommended that they are tilted at an angle of about 43 degrees facing southwards which would maximize their exposure to sunlight over the course of a year.
However, there might be some factors that could hinder optimal production from your solar panels at this location such as cloudy or rainy weather conditions which are common in UK especially during autumn and winter seasons when sunlight availability is already low due to shorter days.
To mitigate these potential issues, one could consider using high-efficiency solar panels that perform well under less-than-ideal light conditions or incorporate battery storage system into your setup so you can store excess power generated on sunny days for use on cloudier ones.
Also ensuring regular maintenance like cleaning off any debris or snowfall from your panels will help keep them working efficiently all through the year regardless of season or weather condition.
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 Hastings
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.8552, Longitude: 0.5716 (Hastings, 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 Hastings, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hastings, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 50.8552, 0.5716) 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 Hastings, 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 Hastings, 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 | 53° 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 Hastings, 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 Hastings, 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 Hastings, United Kingdom
Hastings is located on the southeast coast of England. The topography of Hastings is diverse, with a mix of flat coastal plains and hilly areas inland. The town itself is located in a valley between two cliffs, East Hill and West Hill.
The most suitable places for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are usually flat or gently sloping areas that receive plenty of sunlight and have minimal shading from trees or buildings. In the Hastings area, the coastal plains could potentially be suitable for solar PV if they meet these criteria.
However, it's important to note that other factors such as land use restrictions, proximity to power grids, environmental impact considerations and local community acceptance also play a significant role in determining suitability for large-scale solar PV installations.
To identify specific sites suited for largescale solar PV near Hastings would require more detailed analysis including GIS mapping combining multiple layers like slope angle, sun exposure (insolation), land use types etc., which goes beyond general descriptions possible here.
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: Sunday 28th of April 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
