Solar PV Analysis of York, United Kingdom
The location in York, England, United Kingdom is moderately ideal for generating energy via solar PV year-round. The amount of electricity you can generate from solar power depends on the season. In summer, each kW of installed solar can produce about 5.09kWh/day, which is quite good because the days are longer and there's more sunlight. Spring also offers a decent output with around 4.27kWh/day per kW.
However, during autumn and winter, the production drops significantly due to shorter days and less sunlight - you can expect only about 2.08kWh/day in autumn and even less in winter at just 0.96kWh/day per kW of installed solar.
Therefore, if you're planning to install a solar system here, it would be most productive during spring and summer months while output will be lower during autumn and winter.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting your panels at an angle of 46 degrees towards the south will help maximise total year-round production from your solar PV system as it aligns best with the sun's path across the sky throughout different seasons.
As for local factors that could affect your solar production: York experiences cloudy weather quite often which could reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels hence lowering their efficiency. Moreover, occasional snowfall in winters might cover up your panels blocking sunlight completely until cleared off.
To counteract these issues:
1) Consider installing more efficient or additional panels to compensate for reduced light conditions.
2) Regular maintenance including cleaning off any dust or debris (including snow) that accumulates on them will ensure they perform optimally.
3) If cloudiness is frequent enough to significantly affect performance then tracking systems may be considered; these adjust panel orientation throughout the day maximizing exposure to available light.
Remember though that these measures involve additional costs so weigh them against potential benefits before deciding upon implementation.
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 York
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: 53.9573, Longitude: -1.0837 (York, 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 York, United Kingdom
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in York, United Kingdom (Lat/Long 53.9573, -1.0837) 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 York, 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 York, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37° 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 York, 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 York, 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 York, United Kingdom
York, United Kingdom is located in a relatively flat region of North Yorkshire. The landscape is characterized by low-lying plains with occasional gentle hills. This type of topography can be ideal for large-scale solar PV installations since it provides vast expanses of land that could potentially be used for solar farms.
The areas most suited to large-scale solar PV would likely be the open farmlands and fields surrounding York, where there are fewer obstructions such as buildings or trees to block sunlight. These areas include regions towards the east and southeast of York, like Elvington, Wheldrake and Dunnington which offer wide open spaces.
However, it's important to note that suitability also depends on other factors including local climate (amount of sunshine), land use restrictions, proximity to power grids for transmission and local community support or opposition. Therefore a detailed feasibility study should always be conducted before deciding on specific locations.
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: Thursday 4th 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.
