Solar PV Analysis of Surbiton, United Kingdom
In simpler terms, the location at Surbiton, England, United Kingdom is pretty decent for generating energy through solar panels throughout the year. However, it's not perfect all year round because of seasonal variations in sunlight.
During summer and spring, you can expect to generate quite a bit of electricity from your solar panels - about 5.13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day in summer and 4.36 kWh/day in spring for each kilowatt of solar panel installed. This means that these seasons are the best times to produce solar energy at this location.
On the other hand, autumn and winter see a drop in production due to less sunlight – about 2.31 kWh/day in autumn and only around 1.07 kWh/day during winter months per each kilowatt of installed solar panel.
To get the most out of your panels throughout the year, they should be tilted at an angle facing south by about 44 degrees; this will maximize their exposure to sun rays over different periods in a year.
There could be some local factors which might affect how much power you can generate from your panels though. For instance, weather conditions like heavy cloud cover or fog could reduce sunlight reaching your panels and hence decrease energy production.
As far as preventative measures go: if there are trees or buildings casting shadows on where you plan to install your panels then trimming branches or selecting another spot with more direct sunshine would help increase efficiency. Also regular cleaning is important because dirt or bird droppings can block light too!
So overall while Surbiton isn't ideal all-year-round for solar power generation due its variable weather patterns across seasons; with careful planning it's definitely possible to harness substantial amounts of clean renewable energy from sun here!
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 Surbiton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.3878, Longitude: -0.2945 (Surbiton, 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 Surbiton, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Surbiton, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.3878, -0.2945) 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 Surbiton, 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 Surbiton, 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 | 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 Surbiton, 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 Surbiton, 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 Surbiton, United Kingdom
Surbiton is located in the Greater London area of England, United Kingdom. The topography around Surbiton is relatively flat and urbanized with some gently rolling hills. It's a suburban area with housing, commercial buildings, parks and other infrastructure.
Regarding solar PV installations, flat areas are generally more suitable as they require less work for installation and maintenance. Therefore, any large open spaces or rooftops in the Surbiton area would be potentially suitable for solar panel installation.
However, considering that it's a densely populated urban/suburban region, the availability of large-scale open spaces might be limited. Hence rooftop solar installations on commercial buildings or residential houses could be an effective option.
It's also important to note that factors like local climate (amount of sun exposure), building regulations and local planning policies should also be considered when assessing suitability for solar PV installations.
The nearby regions such as Kingston upon Thames or Richmond Park might have potential locations for larger scale ground-mounted systems due to their relatively larger green/open spaces compared to Surbiton itself.
In summary, while there may not necessarily be vast expanses of land suited to large-scale ground-mounted solar farms within Surbiton itself due to its urban nature, opportunities likely exist for smaller scale rooftop-based systems which can collectively make a significant contribution towards renewable energy generation.
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: Tuesday 2nd of April 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.
