Solar PV Analysis of Rainhill, United Kingdom
The location at Rainhill, England, United Kingdom, which is in the Northern Temperate Zone, can be used to generate energy through solar PV all year round. However, the efficiency and output of this system will vary depending on the season.
In simple terms, during summer you can expect to generate around 5.31 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity. This is a very good amount of energy and makes summer an ideal time for generating solar power at this location.
In autumn, the daily energy generation drops to about 1.94 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Despite this drop from summer levels, it's still a reasonable amount.
Winter sees a further reduction in daily energy output to just 0.90 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity; making it less ideal compared with other seasons.
Spring sees an increase again with approximately 4.39 kWh per day being generated for each kW of installed solar capacity; making spring another good time for generating power using your solar panels.
For any fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 45 degrees facing south will maximize total year-round production from your Solar PV system.
Now let's consider some local factors that could impact how much energy you can generate from your Solar PV system in Rainhill:
The most significant factor would likely be weather conditions such as cloud cover or fog which could reduce sunlight reaching the panels and thus reduce their performance.
Rainhill also has many trees that could potentially shade out your panels if they are not positioned correctly.
Lastly buildings or other man-made structures may also cast shadows on your panels reducing their effectiveness
To help prevent these issues affecting performance:
You should try position your panels where they won't be shaded by trees or buildings - especially during peak sunlight hours.
Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep them working efficiently even if they get dirty from bird droppings or other debris.
In conclusion, while Rainhill may not be the absolute best location for solar energy production due to its variable weather and potential shading issues; with the right setup and maintenance, it can still be a very viable option.
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 754 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 Rainhill
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 53.4036, Longitude: -2.7475 (Rainhill, 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 Rainhill, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Rainhill, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 53.4036, -2.7475) 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 Rainhill, 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 Rainhill, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37° South in Summer | 56° South in Autumn | 66° South in Winter | 45° 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 Rainhill, 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 Rainhill, 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 Rainhill, United Kingdom
Rainhill is located in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in the northwest of England. The topography around Rainhill is relatively flat with some gentle hills. The area is largely urbanized with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
The region has a temperate maritime climate characterized by relatively small temperature variations between seasons. It receives moderate to high rainfall throughout the year, but also experiences fair amount of sunny days which makes it suitable for solar PV installations.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open and flat areas are most suitable as they provide maximum exposure to sunlight and ease installation process. In Rainhill's case, these could be:
1) Unused industrial lands: Given its historical association with coal mining and other industries, there may be unused or abandoned industrial lands that could be repurposed for solar farms.
2) Farmlands: If local regulations permit, farmlands on the outskirts can also be considered for dual-use i.e., agriculture along with solar panels.
3) Rooftops: Large commercial or industrial buildings typically have expansive rooftops that are ideal for installing solar panels.
It should be noted that suitability will depend on various factors including land availability & cost, local planning regulations & incentives for renewable energy projects etc. A detailed feasibility study would need to be conducted before selecting a site.
Finally, despite being located in northern latitudes which receive less sunlight compared to equatorial regions; advances in technology have made it possible to generate significant amounts of electricity using solar power even in such regions as evidenced by countries like Germany or UK itself which have substantial amounts of installed capacity.
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: Friday 12th of January 2024
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th 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.
