Solar PV Analysis of Sutton, United Kingdom
The location at Sutton, England, United Kingdom is decent for generating solar energy year-round, but it's not the best. It's better in some seasons than others.
In simple terms, how much electricity you can generate from solar panels depends on how strong the sunlight is. In Sutton, England, during summer and spring when days are longer and sunnier, you can expect to generate more electricity - around 5.13 kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 4.36 kilowatt-hours per day in spring for every kilowatt of solar panels installed.
However, during autumn and winter when days are shorter with less sunlight, electricity generation drops significantly - down to around 2.31 kWh/day in autumn and even lower to about 1.07 kWh/day in winter.
So if you're thinking about installing solar panels here, they'll be most effective during the warmer months of the year.
To get as much power as possible from your panels throughout the year at this location you should tilt them towards south at an angle of approximately 44 degrees.
There could be a few things that might make it harder for your solar panels to work well here though – like weather conditions or local factors such as buildings blocking sunlight or birds dropping waste on your panels which reduces their effectiveness.
Preventative measures include ensuring there are no obstructions like tall trees or buildings shading your panel installation area; regular cleaning of the panel surfaces so bird droppings or dust don't block out light; installing devices that deter birds from nesting near your system; using high quality components resistant to severe weather conditions etc.. Also consider battery storage solutions so excess energy produced during sunny periods isn’t wasted but stored for use later when sunshine may be lacking.
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 Sutton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 51.3503, Longitude: -0.2014 (Sutton, 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 Sutton, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sutton, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 51.3503, -0.2014) 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 Sutton, 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 Sutton, 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 | 54° 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 Sutton, 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 Sutton, 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 Sutton, United Kingdom
Sutton, United Kingdom is situated in the southern part of Greater London. The topography of this region is relatively flat with some gentle hills. It's generally urbanized and suburban, but there are also a number of parks and open spaces.
Regarding solar PV installations, they can be installed in various settings including buildings (residential, commercial, industrial), open land areas or even water bodies if floating solar systems are considered. Given the urban nature of Sutton, rooftops - particularly those on commercial or industrial buildings - could be suitable for large-scale solar PV due to their size.
Open land areas could also be used for ground-mounted solar farms if such spaces are available and not being used for other purposes like agriculture or conservation. However, it must be noted that these would require planning permissions which might not always be easy to obtain in densely populated areas.
In terms of sunlight availability which is crucial for solar power generation efficiency: Sutton has moderate levels of sunlight throughout the year with more sunshine during summer months (around 4-6 hours per day) compared to winter months (around 1-2 hours per day). Therefore while it may not have as much sun as some other parts of the world known for their high levels of irradiance like Spain or California; it still receives enough sunlight to make use of photovoltaic technology viable.
It's important though before any installation takes place that detailed site surveys and assessments are conducted by professionals in order to ensure feasibility and optimize system design according to specific local conditions.
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!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Tuesday 16th of July 2024
Last Updated: Tuesday 16th of July 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.
