Solar PV Analysis of Saint Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom
The location at Saint Leonards-on-Sea, England, UK, can be considered as moderately suitable for generating energy via solar PV throughout the year. Summer and spring are the most ideal seasons for solar energy production due to higher sun exposure. During these seasons, you can expect to generate around 5.67kWh/day and 5.24kWh/day respectively per kW of installed solar. On the other hand, autumn and winter have less sun exposure resulting in lower energy generation levels - about 2.54kWh/day in autumn and only about 1.10kWh/day in winter per kW of installed solar.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting the panels at an angle of 43 degrees towards south will help maximize total year-round production from your solar PV system.
There could be some local factors that might affect the efficiency of your solar panels such as weather conditions or topography features like large trees or buildings blocking sunlight access to your panels.
The area is known for its rainy weather which could limit sunlight exposure especially during colder months (autumn/winter). To mitigate this issue, it is recommended to install a system that allows efficient water drainage from your panels surface so they can capture as much sunlight as possible even on rainy days.
As for topography features like large trees or buildings that could block direct sunlight access to your panels; it's important when installing your system to consider these factors and position them where they will receive maximum sun exposure throughout the day/year.
In conclusion, while Saint Leonards-on-Sea has potential for generating decent amounts of energy via Solar PV especially during summer/spring; considering local weather patterns/topography features when installing/positioning your system will help ensure greater energy production year-round.
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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 50.8546, Longitude: 0.5362 (Saint Leonards-on-Sea, 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 43° South in Saint Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Saint Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 50.8546, 0.5362) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 43° 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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea, 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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 43° 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 | 53° South in Autumn | 64° South in Winter | 43° 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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea, 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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea, 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 Saint Leonards-on-Sea, United Kingdom
Saint Leonards-on-Sea is located in the southern part of England, near the coast. The topography of this region is relatively flat with gentle slopes towards the sea. It has a mix of urban and rural areas with some open fields and farmland.
For large-scale solar PV installations, open, flat areas are ideal as they allow for easy installation and maximum sunlight exposure. Hence, rural areas around Saint Leonards-on-Sea would be most suitable for such installations. These include regions to its north and east where there are larger expanses of open land.
However, several factors need to be considered before installing solar PV panels such as local planning regulations especially in an area like Saint Leonards-on-Sea which has many conservation areas. Also important are the average hours of sunlight received per day throughout the year (solar irradiance), proximity to grid connections or power demand locations, environmental impact assessments etc.
A detailed site survey along with feasibility study would be required to identify specific suitable sites for large-scale solar PV installation around Saint Leonard-on-sea.
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: Monday 5th of February 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
