Solar PV Analysis of Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
Hemel Hempstead, England, located in the United Kingdom, is a reasonable location for generating electricity with solar panels throughout the year. However, it's not perfect and there are better places you could install them.
In simple terms, the amount of electricity that can be produced by solar panels changes with each season. During summer and spring, your solar panels will work quite well - producing 5.13 kilowatts per hour (kWh) each day in summer and 4.36 kWh/day in spring for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar power.
However, during autumn and winter they won't generate as much electricity: only around 2.31 kWh/day in autumn and even less at just 1.07 kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar power.
So if you're thinking about when to use your solar energy most efficiently at this location, spring through to late summer would be ideal because that's when your panels will produce the most energy.
To get the best results from your solar panel installation here all year round though, you'd want to have them tilted at an angle facing southwards by about 44 degrees - this is because it maximises their exposure to sunlight over the course of a whole year given Hemel Hempstead's position on Earth.
Now there might be some local factors which could affect how much energy you can generate from these installations like weather conditions or environmental issues specific to Hemel Hempstead area - things like cloud cover or shading caused by buildings or trees nearby; these can reduce how much sunlight reaches your panels hence reducing their efficiency.
If such issues are significant enough then steps should be taken during installation to mitigate against them; for instance choosing a site that has minimal shading and where possible adjusting the direction/angle of tilt so as maximize sun exposure throughout different times of day/year.
Also remember regular maintenance such as cleaning off any accumulated dust or debris from the panels can help ensure they keep working at their best.
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 Hemel Hempstead
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.7655, Longitude: -0.4482 (Hemel Hempstead, 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 Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.7655, -0.4482) 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 Hemel Hempstead, 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 Hemel Hempstead, 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 | 44° 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 Hemel Hempstead, 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 Hemel Hempstead, 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 Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom
Hemel Hempstead is located in the county of Hertfordshire, southeast England. The town lies in a valley and is surrounded by gentle rolling hills. To the north and east, you will find agricultural land with a mix of arable farming and pastures, while to the south and west there are more urbanized areas.
The topography around Hemel Hempstead is generally low-lying with an average elevation of approximately 100 meters above sea level. The landscape is characterized by open fields, scattered woodland areas, and some small hills.
As for solar PV installations, large-scale projects would ideally require flat or gently sloping terrain that's free from shading (from trees or buildings) for maximum sunlight exposure throughout the day. Given this criteria:
1. Agricultural lands to the north and east could be suitable locations as they tend to have less obstructions for sunlight.
2. Unused industrial sites or brownfield lands within Hemel Hempstead itself could also be potential locations if they're sufficiently large enough.
3. Rooftops of commercial/industrial buildings in Hemel Hempstead can also be considered as potential sites for smaller scale solar PV installations.
However, it's important to note that feasibility of solar PV projects doesn't depend solely on topography but also other factors such as local planning regulations, grid connection availability/costs etc., which need careful consideration during site selection process.
Lastly, any plans must consider potential environmental impacts on local wildlife habitats or designated conservation areas nearby such as Boxmoor Trust Land or Gadebridge Park among others.
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: Monday 29th of April 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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.
