Pontardawe, United Kingdom, located at latitude 51.7161 and longitude -3.8503 in the Northern Temperate Zone, offers varying potential for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The seasonal electricity output figures reveal significant fluctuations that potential solar adopters should consider.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar panels in Pontardawe perform best during summer months, generating approximately 5.36kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows closely with 4.48kWh/day per kW. However, production drops considerably during autumn to 2.25kWh/day per kW, and reaches its lowest point in winter with just 1.01kWh/day per kW.

This pattern creates a more than five-fold difference between summer and winter production, which is typical for locations in the Northern Temperate Zone. The substantial seasonal variation means that Pontardawe residents would generate approximately 80% of their annual solar electricity during spring and summer combined.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Pontardawe, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 44 degrees facing South. This angle optimizes the capture of available sunlight across all seasons, balancing between the lower winter and higher summer sun positions.

Environmental Challenges

Several environmental factors could impact solar production in Pontardawe:

• The region experiences significant rainfall throughout the year, which can temporarily reduce panel efficiency due to cloud cover.
• Being in Wales, Pontardawe is subject to Atlantic weather systems that bring frequent overcast conditions.
• Local topography in the Swansea Valley may create morning or evening shading depending on specific installation locations.

Mitigation Strategies

To maximize production despite these challenges, consider these preventative measures:

• Install self-cleaning panels or implement regular cleaning schedules to counter the effects of rainfall and potential dirt accumulation.
• Consider micro-inverters or power optimizers rather than string inverters to minimize production losses from partial shading.
• Conduct a thorough shading analysis before installation to avoid locations where hills, trees or buildings might cast shadows.
• If budget allows, explore solar tracking systems that can increase energy capture, particularly during the productive summer months.

While Pontardawe isn't ideal for year-round solar production due to its significant seasonal variations, proper system design and installation can still make solar PV a worthwhile investment, especially when taking advantage of the highly productive spring and summer periods.

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 Pontardawe

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.7161, Longitude: -3.8503 (Pontardawe, 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 Pontardawe, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Pontardawe, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.7161, -3.8503) 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 Pontardawe, 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 Pontardawe, 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 Pontardawe, 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 Pontardawe, 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 Pontardawe, United Kingdom

Topography of Pontardawe

Pontardawe sits in the picturesque Swansea Valley in South Wales, with the River Tawe flowing through its center. The town itself is nestled at approximately 40 meters above sea level, but the surrounding landscape rises dramatically on both sides of the valley. This creates a distinctive topographical profile characterized by a relatively flat valley floor flanked by steep hillsides and ridges. To the east of Pontardawe, the land rises to form Mynydd Marchywel, which reaches heights of over 300 meters. The western side of the valley is defined by Mynydd Allt-y-grug and Mynydd Carn-Llechart, with elevations approaching 400 meters in places. These upland areas feature a mix of open moorland, forestry plantations, and rough grazing land. The Swansea Valley narrows as it extends northward from Pontardawe toward Ystradgynlais, while to the south it gradually widens as it approaches Swansea Bay. Several smaller tributary valleys intersect with the main Swansea Valley, creating a complex landscape of ridges, spurs, and smaller stream valleys.

Potential Areas for Solar PV Development

When considering areas near Pontardawe for large-scale solar PV development, several factors become important including slope orientation, land use, and accessibility. The most suitable areas would typically be: The south-facing slopes of the valley sides offer good potential for solar energy capture. Particularly promising are the gentler south-facing slopes on Mynydd Marchywel to the east of Pontardawe, where the gradient is less severe than in other parts of the valley. These areas receive good solar exposure throughout the day. The broader, flatter areas of the valley floor to the south of Pontardawe, extending toward Clydach and Morriston, present opportunities for larger solar installations. These areas benefit from reasonable solar exposure despite being in a valley setting and have better access to existing infrastructure. Several of the higher plateau areas on the surrounding hills, particularly those with southerly aspects, could be suitable for solar development. The upland areas between Pontardawe and Rhos, for instance, combine elevation with relatively gentle terrain in places. It's worth noting that the steeper valley sides, while sometimes having favorable southern aspects, may present challenges for construction and maintenance of large-scale installations. Additionally, much of the surrounding landscape has significant ecological, agricultural, or recreational value which would need to be balanced against renewable energy development. The former industrial areas in the lower Swansea Valley, some of which have been reclaimed, could offer brownfield opportunities for solar development with minimal additional environmental impact. These areas also tend to be closer to existing grid infrastructure, potentially reducing connection costs.

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.