Oakham, England, United Kingdom, located in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers varying potential for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This small market town in Rutland experiences distinct seasonal differences in solar productivity that are important to understand when considering solar panel installation.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar energy output in Oakham follows a predictable seasonal pattern. Summer stands out as the most productive period, generating approximately 5.09kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 4.22kWh/day, while autumn yields a more modest 2.18kWh/day. Winter, as expected, produces the least energy at just 1.03kWh/day per kW installed.

This seasonal variation means that Oakham residents can expect their solar systems to produce nearly five times more energy during summer months than in winter. The significant drop in winter production is typical for locations at this northern latitude of 52.6623° N.

Optimal Installation Angle

For a fixed panel installation in Oakham, England, the ideal angle to tilt panels to maximize total year-round production is 45 degrees facing South. This specific angle has been calculated to capture the optimal amount of solar radiation throughout the year, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and Oakham's northern hemisphere location.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production in Oakham. The UK's climate presents challenges including frequent cloud cover, especially during autumn and winter months, which significantly reduces solar irradiance reaching panels. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year, with no pronounced dry season, meaning panels may often be operating under less than ideal conditions.

Snow accumulation during winter months, though typically not heavy in Oakham, England, can temporarily reduce production if allowed to build up on panels. Morning fog and mist, common in this part of the UK, can delay peak production hours, particularly in autumn and winter.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Oakham despite these challenges, several preventative measures can be implemented. Installing panels at the recommended 45-degree angle not only optimizes year-round production but also helps snow slide off more easily. Self-cleaning glass technologies and hydrophobic coatings can reduce the impact of dirt buildup and water spots from rainfall.

Consider slightly over-sizing the system to compensate for lower winter production if year-round energy independence is desired. Micro-inverters or power optimizers can help minimize the impact of partial shading from clouds or nearby obstacles, ensuring that if one panel is affected, the entire system doesn't suffer proportionally.

Regular maintenance, including panel cleaning before winter and after pollen season, can help maintain optimal efficiency throughout the year. While Oakham isn't ideal for solar production year-round, with proper system design and maintenance, solar PV can still be a worthwhile investment for reducing energy costs and carbon footprint.

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 Oakham

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 52.6623, Longitude: -0.7303 (Oakham, 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 45° South in Oakham, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Oakham, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 52.6623, -0.7303) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 45° 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 Oakham, 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 Oakham, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 45° South tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
36° South in Summer	56° South in Autumn	66° 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 Oakham, 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 Oakham, 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 Oakham, United Kingdom

Oakham, the county town of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, sits within a landscape characterized by gentle rolling hills and shallow valleys. The town itself lies at an elevation of approximately 100-120 meters above sea level, with the surrounding countryside featuring modest variations in elevation that rarely exceed 150-160 meters. This undulating terrain is typical of the wider Rutland area, which forms part of the transition between the flatter landscapes of eastern England and the more pronounced hills found further west. The River Gwash flows near Oakham, carving a shallow valley through the landscape. To the east of the town lies Rutland Water, one of Europe's largest artificial lakes, which significantly influences the local topography. This vast reservoir occupies what was once a natural valley, creating a distinctive feature in an otherwise modestly contoured landscape.

Soil and Land Characteristics

The soils around Oakham are predominantly clay-based, with some areas featuring limestone and sandstone underneath. This geological makeup contributes to the gently undulating character of the landscape, with occasional small plateaus and shallow valleys. Agricultural land dominates the surroundings, with a patchwork of fields divided by hedgerows and occasional small woodlands that add texture to the topography.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

When considering large-scale solar PV installations near Oakham, several factors related to topography become important. The most suitable areas would typically be: The gently sloping south-facing hillsides to the north of Oakham present favorable conditions for solar installations. These areas receive good levels of direct sunlight throughout the day due to their orientation, while their modest incline helps minimize self-shading between solar panels. The relatively flat agricultural lands to the east and southeast of the town, extending toward Stamford, offer extensive open spaces that could accommodate large solar arrays. These areas benefit from minimal topographical obstructions that might otherwise cast shadows across solar installations. The slightly elevated plateau areas to the southwest, in the direction of Uppingham, combine reasonable elevation with relatively flat terrain. These characteristics make them potentially suitable for solar development, as they receive minimal shading from surrounding landscape features.

Topographical Considerations

While the modest hills around Oakham don't present major obstacles for solar development, several topographical factors warrant consideration. The land immediately surrounding Rutland Water, while picturesque, may be less suitable due to conservation considerations and potential for morning mist formation in this microclimate. Areas with northern-facing slopes, particularly those to the south of the town, would be less efficient for solar energy capture due to reduced direct sunlight exposure. Similarly, the narrow valleys where small streams and the River Gwash flow may experience more shading throughout the day from adjacent slopes. The relatively gentle nature of the topography around Oakham means that, unlike more mountainous regions, there are fewer concerns about extreme slope stability or access difficulties for construction and maintenance. This makes much of the surrounding countryside potentially viable for solar development from a purely topographical perspective, with final suitability being determined more by land use designations, grid connection possibilities, and local planning considerations than by significant topographical constraints.

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!

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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.