Solar PV Analysis of Hayes, United Kingdom
The location at Hayes, England, United Kingdom, is not perfect for generating solar energy all year round but it does have some potential. The amount of electricity generated by solar panels depends on the amount of sunlight they receive, which varies throughout the year.
In summer and spring, this location can generate quite a bit of electricity from solar power - around 5.13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 4.36 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity. This means that these seasons are the best times to generate solar power here.
However, during autumn and winter the output drops significantly - down to just 2.31 kWh/day in autumn and only 1.07 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar capacity.
To get as much energy as possible from your panels year-round at this location you should tilt them towards south at an angle of about 44 degrees.
There could be several local factors that might interfere with your ability to produce maximum amounts of solar energy here though. For example, weather conditions like cloud cover or fog can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels; buildings or trees may cast shadows over them; air pollution or dust can also decrease their efficiency.
To minimize these issues you could consider installing tracking systems that move your panels to follow the sun across the sky throughout the day so they always get maximum exposure regardless any obstructions nearby; regular cleaning will help keep dust or dirt from building up on them too.
So while Hayes isn't ideal for producing solar energy all year round due its lower production rates during autumn and winter months specifically, there's still potential especially if you take steps to optimize conditions where possible.
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 761 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 Hayes
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.5158, Longitude: -0.4234 (Hayes, 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 Hayes, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hayes, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.5158, -0.4234) 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 Hayes, 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 Hayes, 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 | 55° 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 Hayes, 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 Hayes, 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 Hayes, United Kingdom
Hayes is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, in the southeastern part of England. The topography around Hayes is relatively flat and urbanized, as it's a part of Greater London.
In terms of solar PV potential, large-scale solar installations require open and flat areas that are exposed to sunlight for most parts of the day. Therefore, suitable areas near Hayes could include open fields or farmland outside the city area where there are fewer obstructions such as tall buildings or trees. These could potentially be found towards the west and northwest regions outside Greater London.
However, given its urban setting, rooftop solar installations on commercial or industrial buildings might also be a viable option within Hayes itself. This would involve installing panels on large warehouse roofs or other big structures with a good sun exposure.
Before any installation though, detailed site surveys would need to be conducted to assess factors like local climate conditions (amount of annual sunshine), orientation and tilt angles for maximizing sun exposure etc., along with economic feasibility studies.
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 12th of May 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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.
