Solar PV Analysis of Penrith, United Kingdom
The location at Penrith, United Kingdom is moderately suitable for generating energy via solar photovoltaic (PV) panels year-round. The amount of electricity you can get from a solar panel depends on how much sunlight it gets. In Penrith, the sunniest season is summer with an average of 5.24 kWh of electricity produced per day for each kW of installed solar power. This makes it the best time to generate solar energy in this location.
Spring also has good potential with an average production of 4.26 kWh/day per kW installed, while autumn sees a significant drop to around 1.83 kWh/day and winter being the least productive with only about 0.86 kWh/day.
If you're planning to install fixed solar panels in Penrith, tilting them at an angle facing southwards by approximately 46 degrees would maximize their exposure to sunlight throughout the year and hence increase your total annual energy output.
However, there are factors that could affect your ability to generate as much power as possible from your panels in this location such as cloud cover or heavy rainfall which are common weather patterns in England especially during autumn and winter seasons; these conditions reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels thus reducing their efficiency.
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate these issues:
1) You can use high-quality PV modules designed for low-light performance which retain more efficiency under cloudy conditions.
2) Regular maintenance like cleaning off any debris or snow accumulation on the surface will ensure maximum exposure whenever there's available sunlight.
3) If feasible financially and structurally, installing tracking systems that adjust panel position according to sun's path throughout the day could also help improve overall output particularly during less sunny seasons.
Overall though considering all factors including environmental ones – if you have a well-designed system properly installed and maintained – you should be able make good use out of it most times during the year despite some seasonal fluctuations expected.
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 756 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 Penrith
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 54.6872, Longitude: -2.8432 (Penrith, 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 46° South in Penrith, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Penrith, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 54.6872, -2.8432) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 46° 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 Penrith, 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 Penrith, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 46° South tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38° South in Summer | 57° South in Autumn | 68° South in Winter | 47° 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 Penrith, 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 Penrith, 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 Penrith, United Kingdom
Penrith is located in the Eden Valley, near the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, United Kingdom. The topography of Penrith and its surrounding areas is characterized by rolling hills, valleys, and large lakes. This region experiences a relatively high amount of rainfall compared to other parts of the UK.
The landscape around Penrith is largely rural with farmland and pastures interspersed with small towns and villages. There are also some forested areas nearby. However, due to its location within a valley surrounded by hills and mountains on several sides, shadowing may be an issue for solar PV installations.
While there might be limitations for largescale solar PV installations due to these geographical features such as shadowing from mountainous terrain or lack of consistent sunlight due to weather conditions (like frequent rainfalls), certain areas could still potentially accommodate solar power systems:
1) Areas with open farmland: These can provide ample space for ground-mounted solar panels.
2) Rooftops in urban or suburban areas: Buildings' rooftops could be utilized for installing smaller-scale solar panel systems.
3) Brownfield sites: If there are any abandoned industrial sites or land that has been previously developed but currently unused, they can be repurposed into renewable energy projects like solar farms.
However, it's important to note that all potential locations would require detailed site assessments considering factors like local climate data (amount of sunshine hours), orientation (south-facing slopes are ideal in Northern Hemisphere), soil condition (for ground-mounted systems), planning restrictions etc., before determining their suitability for largescale solar PV projects.
In terms of larger scale operations though it may make more sense looking towards regions which have flatter terrain and less rainfall than this part of Cumbria if possible - such as Eastern England where conditions tend to be drier with fewer hilly landscapes obstructing sunlight access.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Thursday 27th of June 2024
Last Updated: Thursday 27th 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.
