Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, United Kingdom presents a challenging location for year-round solar energy generation, with significant seasonal variations that make it less than ideal for consistent solar power production throughout the year.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at this coastal location varies dramatically across the seasons. Summer provides the strongest performance at 4.94 kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it an excellent time for solar generation. Spring also offers good production levels at 4.19 kWh per day per kW, creating a solid secondary peak season. However, the location faces significant challenges during the darker months. Autumn drops considerably to just 1.88 kWh per day per kW, while winter produces a mere 0.83 kWh per day per kW. This represents a six-fold difference between the best and worst performing seasons, creating substantial gaps in energy production during the colder months.

Optimal Panel Configuration

For fixed panel installations at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, England, the ideal tilt angle is 46 degrees facing south to maximize total year-round solar production. This angle is calculated by analyzing daily solar elevation angles, determining optimal panel positions, and weighting these by solar irradiance data while accounting for Earth's elliptical orbit.

Environmental and Weather Challenges

Several significant factors at this coastal location can impede solar production and require careful consideration during installation:

• Salt air corrosion: Being directly on the coast, panels and mounting systems face constant exposure to salt-laden air that can corrode metal components and degrade electrical connections over time
• High winds: Coastal locations experience stronger and more frequent wind events that can damage panels or mounting systems if not properly secured
• Marine fog and mist: Coastal weather patterns often include fog, mist, and low-hanging clouds that reduce solar irradiance even during daylight hours
• Storm exposure: The exposed coastal position increases vulnerability to severe weather events including storms with high winds, driving rain, and potential hail

Preventative Installation Measures

To combat these environmental challenges and maximize energy production, several preventative measures should be implemented:

• Corrosion-resistant materials: Use marine-grade aluminum or stainless steel mounting systems and ensure all electrical connections have proper weatherproof sealing rated for coastal environments
• Enhanced structural support: Install reinforced mounting systems designed for high wind loads, with additional anchoring points and wind-resistant panel configurations
• Regular maintenance schedule: Implement frequent cleaning to remove salt deposits and regular inspections to identify corrosion or weather damage before it impacts performance
• Protective coatings: Apply anti-corrosion treatments to metal components and consider panels with enhanced weather-resistant coatings designed for harsh coastal conditions

While Saltburn-by-the-Sea can generate reasonable solar energy during spring and summer months, the combination of poor winter performance and challenging coastal conditions makes it a less than ideal location for year-round solar energy generation without significant investment in robust, marine-grade installation systems and ongoing maintenance.

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 Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 54.5883, Longitude: -0.9745 (Saltburn-by-the-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 46° South in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 54.5883, -0.9745) 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 Saltburn-by-the-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 Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 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	67° South in Winter	46° 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 Saltburn-by-the-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 Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 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 Saltburn-by-the-Sea, United Kingdom

Topography Around Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Saltburn-by-the-Sea sits dramatically on the North Yorkshire coastline where the Cleveland Hills meet the North Sea. The town itself is positioned on towering sandstone cliffs that rise approximately 120 feet above sea level, creating one of the most striking coastal landscapes in northern England. These cliffs are part of a geological formation that extends along much of this stretch of the Heritage Coast, characterized by layers of sandstone, limestone, and ironstone that have been carved by centuries of marine erosion. The immediate topography around Saltburn is defined by steep cliff faces to the north and east where the land drops sharply to the sea, while to the south and west the terrain transitions into the gentler rolling foothills of the North York Moors. The Cleveland Hills form a dramatic backdrop to the town, with their distinctive escarpment visible from many vantage points. These hills are part of the larger North York Moors upland area and create a natural amphitheater effect around the coastal settlements. Moving inland from Saltburn, the landscape gradually rises through a series of undulating hills and valleys. The terrain becomes increasingly rural and agricultural, with fields separated by traditional dry stone walls and hedgerows. Small becks and streams flow eastward through these valleys toward the coast, creating natural drainage channels that have shaped the local topography over millennia.

Suitable Areas for Large-Scale Solar PV Development

The most promising locations for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations around Saltburn lie in the gently sloping agricultural areas approximately 2-5 kilometers inland from the coast. These areas benefit from being sufficiently elevated to avoid coastal weather extremes while maintaining relatively flat or south-facing slopes that are ideal for solar panel orientation. The farmland between Saltburn and the villages of Skelton-in-Cleveland and Brotton offers particularly suitable conditions. This area features large, open fields with minimal shading from trees or buildings, and the topography consists of gentle undulations rather than steep gradients. The soil composition in this region, primarily clay-based with good drainage, provides stable foundations for solar infrastructure while the field boundaries are well-established, making site planning more straightforward. Further southwest, the area around Guisborough presents excellent opportunities for solar development. The terrain here is characterized by broad, shallow valleys with south and southwest-facing slopes that would maximize solar exposure throughout the day. The agricultural land use in this region means there are fewer planning constraints compared to more densely populated areas, and the existing field systems provide natural boundaries for solar installations. The elevated plateau areas between the coastal settlements and the steeper Cleveland Hills escarpment also show promise for solar development. These locations benefit from being above the immediate coastal influence while remaining below the more challenging terrain of the moors proper. The relatively stable weather patterns at these elevations, combined with good accessibility via existing farm roads and proximity to electrical infrastructure, make them practical choices for large-scale renewable energy projects. Areas to avoid for solar development include the immediate coastal strip, where salt spray and extreme weather conditions would impact equipment longevity, and the steeper valley sides where installation would be technically challenging and potentially visually intrusive. The designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty within the North York Moors would also face significant planning restrictions, making the intermediate agricultural zones the most viable options for substantial solar installations.

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.