How much money does Solar saves in the United Kingdom?

Yes, solar in the United Kingdom pays you back in 5 years.

The United Kingdom is located on the North-west coast of Europe.

It consists of:

• England, Wales, and Scotland. They are together called the island of Great Britain
• And the Northern portion of the island of Ireland

Design by yashkumar8

The United Kingdom lies between the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

And it shares its international borders with the Republic of Ireland.

The total land area of the United Kingdom is 2,48,532 km².

• England: 132,938 km²
• Scotland: 80,239 km²
• Wales: 21,225 km²
• Northern Ireland:  14,130 km²
• Total: 2,48,532 km²

Thus, making it the 7^th largest island country in the world.

The mainland areas lie between the latitude 49° North to 59° North and longitude 8° West to 2° East.

It has a temperate type of climate with some areas of Scotland being tundra and sub-artic.

The climate of the United Kingdom

The climate of the UK is influenced by its proximity to the North Atlantic Ocean.

Its climate is maritime, moist, and temperate.

The western regions of the UK are moist, wet, and windy as they are being closest to the Atlantic Ocean.

The eastern UK is drier, cooler, and less windy.

The United Kingdom has 4 main seasons:

a) Spring Season: March to May

In the spring season, there are chances of snowfall in early March and the showers may extend up to mid-May.

b) Summer Season: June to August

In the summer season, the temperature may exceed 30° C.

c) Autumn: September to November

The western regions close to the Atlantic Ocean experience more hurricanes due to the depressions in the ocean.

d) Winter: December to February

The Northern region of England and the highlands of Scotland receive a good amount of snowfall.

The temperature fall below the freezing point.

Peak Sun Hours (PSH) in the United Kingdom

The Peak Sun Hours (PSH) tell the sunlight intensity over a particular location on a specific day.

1 PSH = 1000 W/m² of sunlight in 1 hour

The higher PSH indicates that a region receives a good amount of solar energy and with fewer solar panels one can meet the energy demands.

The part of sunlight undergoes scattering when it reaches the earth’s atmosphere.

• The component of sunlight which hits the earth’s surface directly is called Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI).
• The other part scattered and diffused in the earth’s atmosphere is called the Diffuse Horizontal Irradiation (DHI).

And the sum of diffused and the direct component of the sunlight is called the Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI).

GHI (Global Horizontal Irradiance) = DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance) + DHI (Diffused Horizontal Irradiance)

While sizing the solar panels the value of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) is taken.

How many Peak Sun Hours does the UK get?

The United Kingdom has 92 counties and receives an average daily PSH of 2.87.

This value is the average daily PSH of 92 counties which are tabulated below:

S.No	Shire/County	Peak Sun Hours (PSH)
1	Aberdeenshire	2.6
2	Anglesey	3.06
3	Angus, Scotland	2.75
4	County Antrim	2.65
5	Argyll	2.65
6	County Armagh	2.65
7	Ayrshire	2.6
8	Banffshire	2.6
9	Bedfordshire	3.09
10	Berkshire	3.06
11	Berwickshire	2.75
12	Brecknockshire	3.06
13	Buckinghamshire	3.06
14	Buteshire	2.6
15	Caernarfon	2.81
16	Caithness	2.6
17	Cambridgeshire	3.09
18	Ceredigion	2.81
19	Carmarthenshire	3.09
20	Cheshire	2.81
21	Clackmannanshire	2.75
22	Cornwall	3.24
23	Cromartyshire	2.6
24	Cumberland	2.81
25	Denbighshire	3.09
26	Derbyshire	2.84
27	Devon	3.56
28	Dorset	3.06
29	Down	3.09
30	Dumfriesshire	2.75
31	Dunbartonshire	2.6
32	Durham	2.84
33	East Lothian	2.75
34	Essex	3.06
35	Fermanagh	2.69
36	Fife	2.75
37	Flintshire	2.81
38	Glamorgan	3.09
39	Gloucestershire	3.09
40	Hampshire	3.06
41	Herefordshire	3.09
42	Hertfordshire	3.06
43	Huntingdonshire	3.06
44	Inverness-shire	2.6
45	Kent	3.06
46	Kincardineshire	2.6
47	Kinross-shire	2.75
48	Kirkcudbrightshire	2.65
49	Lanarkshire	2.75
50	Lancashire	2.81
51	Leicestershire	3.09
52	Lincolnshire	2.84
53	Londonderry	2.77
54	Merionethshire	2.81
55	Middlesex	3.06
56	Midlothian	2.75
57	Monmouthshire	3.09
58	Montgomeryshire	3.09
59	Morayshire	2.6
60	Nairnshire	2.6
61	Norfolk	3.09
62	Northamptonshire	3.09
63	Northumberland	2.84
64	Nottinghamshire	2.84
65	Orkney	2,60
66	Oxfordshire	3.09
67	Peeblesshire	2.75
68	Pembrokeshire	2.98
69	Perthshire	2.75
70	Radnorshire	3.09
71	Renfrewshire	2.6
72	Ross-shire	2.6
73	Roxburghshire	2.75
74	Rutland	3.09
75	Selkirkshire	2.75
76	Shetland	2.6
77	Shropshire	3.09
78	Somerset	3.09
79	Staffordshire	3.09
80	Stirlingshire	2.75
81	Suffolk	2.75
82	Surrey	3.06
83	Sussex	3.06
84	Sutherland	2.6
85	Tyrone	2.69
86	Warwickshire	3.09
87	West Lothian	2.75
88	Westmorland	2.81
89	Wigtownshire	2.65
90	Wiltshire	3.06
91	Worcestershire	3.09
92 93	Yorkshire Average	2.84 2.87

Units produced by a 5-kW solar power system in the UK

Before knowing how many electricity units a 5-kW solar power system produces.

Let us know about the working of a solar power system.

The solar power system is an arrangement of different devices which are when connected capture sunlight and generate solar electricity to run electrical appliances.

The basic solar power system functions as follows:

Basic Solar Power System by yashkumar8

The Working

Solar panels are the first interface between the sun and electrical appliances.

They absorb the sunlight and convert it into direct current.

The current has a constant value with time.

The solar panels work when there is sunlight.

At night, they do not produce current.

But we can store the solar energy in the batteries.

Which can be used anytime when needed.

The current from the solar panel goes inside the battery through the solar charge controller.

The solar charge controller regulates the charging of the battery and also prevents the backflow of the current from the battery to the solar panels.

You know that most of our electrical appliances run on alternating current (AC).

But the solar panels and the batteries produce direct current.

Therefore, we need someone who can convert DC into AC.

The solar inverter does this very efficiently.

The losses in the solar power system

However, before converting sunlight into usable electricity, the complete solar power system undergoes many losses.

These losses could be:

• Dirt loss: power loss due to dirt accumulated on the solar panel surface
• Shading loss: the shade of nearby buildings or trees on the panel surface reduces its power production.
• Transfer loss: When energy is transferred from one point to another such as from solar panels to the battery and the inverter. Some of it gets lost in this process.
• Conversion loss: In a solar power system, the energy undergoes many conversions such as sunlight into Direct Current energy to chemical energy to AC. In this process, some energy is lost as heat to the environment.
• Degradation losses: With time the solar power system losses its production.

If I add all these losses then they can eat up to 30% of the total power produced by the solar panels.

For example, 5-kW solar panels when losses are considered produce 3.5 kW of power.

When I talk about the energy produced.

Then it can be calculated as:

Energy Produced (kWh) = Actual power produced (kW) x PSH of the region where solar panels are installed.

Units produced

Let us see the energy produced in 92 counties based on their average daily PSH values.

S.No	Shire/County	Peak Sun Hours	Energy Produced by 5 kW solar system per day (kWh)
1	Aberdeenshire	2.6	9.1
2	Anglesey	3.06	10.7
3	Angus, Scotland	2.75	9.6
4	County Antrim	2.65	9.3
5	Argyll	2.65	9.3
6	County Armagh	2.65	9.3
7	Ayrshire	2.6	9.1
8	Banffshire	2.6	9.1
9	Bedfordshire	3.09	10.8
10	Berkshire	3.06	10.7
11	Berwickshire	2.75	9.6
12	Brecknockshire	3.06	10.7
13	Buckinghamshire	3.06	10.7
14	Buteshire	2.6	9.1
15	Caernarfon	2.81	9.8
16	Caithness	2.6	9.1
17	Cambridgeshire	3.09	10.8
18	Ceredigion	2.81	9.8
19	Carmarthenshire	3.09	10.8
20	Cheshire	2.81	9.8
21	Clackmannanshire	2.75	9.6
22	Cornwall	3.24	11.3
23	Cromartyshire	2.6	9.1
24	Cumberland	2.81	9.8
25	Denbighshire	3.09	10.8
26	Derbyshire	2.84	9.9
27	Devon	3.56	12.5
28	Dorset	3.06	10.7
29	Down	3.09	10.8
30	Dumfriesshire	2.75	9.6
31	Dunbartonshire	2.6	9.1
32	Durham	2.84	9.9
33	East Lothian	2.75	9.6
34	Essex	3.06	10.7
35	Fermanagh	2.69	9.4
36	Fife	2.75	9.6
37	Flintshire	2.81	9.8
38	Glamorgan	3.09	10.8
39	Gloucestershire	3.09	10.8
40	Hampshire	3.06	10.7
41	Herefordshire	3.09	10.8
42	Hertfordshire	3.06	10.7
43	Huntingdonshire	3.06	10.7
44	Inverness-shire	2.6	9.1
45	Kent	3.06	10.7
46	Kincardineshire	2.6	9.1
47	Kinross-shire	2.75	9.6
48	Kirkcudbrightshire	2.65	9.3
49	Lanarkshire	2.75	9.6
50	Lancashire	2.81	9.8
51	Leicestershire	3.09	10.8
52	Lincolnshire	2.84	9.9
53	Londonderry	2.77	9.7
54	Merionethshire	2.81	9.8
55	Middlesex	3.06	10.7
56	Midlothian	2.75	9.6
57	Monmouthshire	3.09	10.8
58	Montgomeryshire	3.09	10.8
59	Morayshire	2.6	9.1
60	Nairnshire	2.6	9.1
61	Norfolk	3.09	10.8
62	Northamptonshire	3.09	10.8
63	Northumberland	2.84	9.9
64	Nottinghamshire	2.84	9.9
65	Orkney	2.6	9.1
66	Oxfordshire	3.09	10.8
67	Peeblesshire	2.75	9.6
68	Pembrokeshire	2.98	10.4
69	Perthshire	2.75	9.6
70	Radnorshire	3.09	10.8
71	Renfrewshire	2.6	9.1
72	Ross-shire	2.6	9.1
73	Roxburghshire	2.75	9.6
74	Rutland	3.09	10.8
75	Selkirkshire	2.75	9.6
76	Shetland	2.6	9.1
77	Shropshire	3.09	10.8
78	Somerset	3.09	10.8
79	Staffordshire	3.09	10.8
80	Stirlingshire	2.75	9.6
81	Suffolk	2.75	9.6
82	Surrey	3.06	10.7
83	Sussex	3.06	10.7
84	Sutherland	2.6	9.1
85	Tyrone	2.69	9.4
86	Warwickshire	3.09	10.8
87	West Lothian	2.75	9.6
88	Westmorland	2.81	9.8
89	Wigtownshire	2.65	9.3
90	Wiltshire	3.06	10.7
91	Worcestershire	3.09	10.8
92	Yorkshire	2.84	9.9
93	Average	2.87	10.0

It is calculated as follows:

For Aberdeenshire, the average daily PSH is 2.6.

The 5-kW solar power system after considering losses (30%) will produce 3.5 kW (5-kW x 0.7).

The energy produced for the day would be 3.5 kW x 2.6 PSH

= 9.1 kWh

1 unit = 1 kWh

Similarly, the other values are calculated.

Saving from 5-kW solar in the UK

The average grid price in the UK is 0.41 USD/kWh (September 2022).

The units produced by the 5-kW solar power system in a day when multiplied by the grid price, you get your solar savings for the day.

Similarly, you can find the 1 year saving by multiplying the units produced by the solar power system by 365 days.

The average saving in 1 year is $ 1500.

I can tabulate my findings as follows:

S.No	Shire/County	Peak Sun Hours	Energy produced by 5-kW solar power system	Grid Price (USD/kWh)	Saving per day (USD)	1 year saving
1	Aberdeenshire	2.6	9.1	0.41	3.7	1362
2	Anglesey	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
3	Angus, Scotland	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
4	County Antrim	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388
5	Argyll	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388
6	County Armagh	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388
7	Ayrshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
8	Banffshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
9	Bedfordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
10	Berkshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
11	Berwickshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
12	Brecknockshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
13	Buckinghamshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
14	Buteshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
15	Caernarfon	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
16	Caithness	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
17	Cambridgeshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
18	Ceredigion	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
19	Carmarthenshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
20	Cheshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
21	Clackmannanshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
22	Cornwall	3.24	11.3		4.6	1697
23	Cromartyshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
24	Cumberland	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
25	Denbighshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
26	Derbyshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
27	Devon	3.56	12.5		5.1	1865
28	Dorset	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
29	Down	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
30	Dumfriesshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
31	Dunbartonshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
32	Durham	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
33	East Lothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
34	Essex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
35	Fermanagh	2.69	9.4		3.9	1409
36	Fife	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
37	Flintshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
38	Glamorgan	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
39	Gloucestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
40	Hampshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
41	Herefordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
42	Hertfordshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
43	Huntingdonshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
44	Inverness-shire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
45	Kent	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
46	Kincardineshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
47	Kinross-shire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
48	Kirkcudbrightshire	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388
49	Lanarkshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
50	Lancashire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
51	Leicestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
52	Lincolnshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
53	Londonderry	2.77	9.7		4.0	1451
54	Merionethshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
55	Middlesex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
56	Midlothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
57	Monmouthshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
58	Montgomeryshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
59	Morayshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
60	Nairnshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
61	Norfolk	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
62	Northamptonshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
63	Northumberland	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
64	Nottinghamshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
65	Orkney	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
66	Oxfordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
67	Peeblesshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
68	Pembrokeshire	2.98	10.4		4.3	1561
69	Perthshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
70	Radnorshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
71	Renfrewshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
72	Ross-shire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
73	Roxburghshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
74	Rutland	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
75	Selkirkshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
76	Shetland	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
77	Shropshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
78	Somerset	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
79	Staffordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
80	Stirlingshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
81	Suffolk	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
82	Surrey	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
83	Sussex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
84	Sutherland	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362
85	Tyrone	2.69	9.4		3.9	1409
86	Warwickshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
87	West Lothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440
88	Westmorland	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472
89	Wigtownshire	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388
90	Wiltshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603
91	Worcestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618
92	Yorkshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488
93	Average	2.87	10.0		4.1	1503

Price of 5-kW solar in the UK

The price of any solar power system depends on many factors such as:

• Type of configuration (On-grid or Off-grid system)
• Type of roof and the installation cost
• Technology and quality of solar panels and other equipment used in the system
• Energy needs

Therefore, to get the right value we talk about the averages.

The average price of a 5-kW solar power system (without battery) with good quality solar panels costs you around £ 6000 or $ 7615.

However, the cost may vary ±10% due to the above-mentioned factors.

I will be taking this average cost for finding the payback of the 5-kW solar power system.

Payback period of 5-kW solar in the UK

The average payback period of a 5-kW solar power system is 5 years.

It can be calculated as follows:

Payback period (years) = Total cost of the system/ saving per year

The average cost of a 5-kW solar power system without baa battery backup in the n UK is $ 7615.

And

The average saving per year is $ 1503.

Putting these values in the above formula, we get

= $7615/$1503

= 5 years

A 5-kW solar power system in the United Kingdom pays you back in 5 years.

However, the payback period for different counties varies because of the different values of PSH.

Solar Feasibility Spreadsheet

Let us look at the payback period of various counties in the UK:

S.No	Price of a 5 kW system	Peak Sun Hours	The energy produced by a 5-kW solar power system	Grid Price (USD/kWh)	Saving per day (USD)	1 year saving	Price of 5 kW system	Payback (years)
1	Aberdeenshire	2.6	9.1	0.41	3.7	1362	$7,600.00	5.6
2	Anglesey	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
3	Angus, Scotland	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
4	County Antrim	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388		5.5
5	Argyll	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388		5.5
6	County Armagh	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388		5.5
7	Ayrshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
8	Banffshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
9	Bedfordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
10	Berkshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
11	Berwickshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
12	Brecknockshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
13	Buckinghamshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
14	Buteshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
15	Caernarfon	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
16	Caithness	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
17	Cambridgeshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
18	Ceredigion	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
19	Carmarthenshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
20	Cheshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
21	Clackmannanshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
22	Cornwall	3.24	11.3		4.6	1697		4.5
23	Cromartyshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
24	Cumberland	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
25	Denbighshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
26	Derbyshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
27	Devon	3.56	12.5		5.1	1865		4.1
28	Dorset	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
29	Down	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
30	Dumfriesshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
31	Dunbartonshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
32	Durham	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
33	East Lothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
34	Essex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
35	Fermanagh	2.69	9.4		3.9	1409		5.4
36	Fife	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
37	Flintshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
38	Glamorgan	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
39	Gloucestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
40	Hampshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
41	Herefordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
42	Hertfordshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
43	Huntingdonshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
44	Inverness-shire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
45	Kent	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
46	Kincardineshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
47	Kinross-shire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
48	Kirkcudbrightshire	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388		5.5
49	Lanarkshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
50	Lancashire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
51	Leicestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
52	Lincolnshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
53	Londonderry	2.77	9.7		4.0	1451		5.2
54	Merionethshire	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
55	Middlesex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
56	Midlothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
57	Monmouthshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
58	Montgomeryshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
59	Morayshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
60	Nairnshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
61	Norfolk	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
62	Northamptonshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
63	Northumberland	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
64	Nottinghamshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
65	Orkney	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
66	Oxfordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
67	Peeblesshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
68	Pembrokeshire	2.98	10.4		4.3	1561		4.9
69	Perthshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
70	Radnorshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
71	Renfrewshire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
72	Ross-shire	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
73	Roxburghshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
74	Rutland	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
75	Selkirkshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
76	Shetland	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
77	Shropshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
78	Somerset	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
79	Staffordshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
80	Stirlingshire	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
81	Suffolk	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
82	Surrey	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
83	Sussex	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
84	Sutherland	2.6	9.1		3.7	1362		5.6
85	Tyrone	2.69	9.4		3.9	1409		5.4
86	Warwickshire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
87	West Lothian	2.75	9.6		3.9	1440		5.3
88	Westmorland	2.81	9.8		4.0	1472		5.2
89	Wigtownshire	2.65	9.3		3.8	1388		5.5
90	Wiltshire	3.06	10.7		4.4	1603		4.7
91	Worcestershire	3.09	10.8		4.4	1618		4.7
92	Yorkshire	2.84	9.9		4.1	1488		5.1
93	Average	2.87	10.0		4.1	1503		5.1

Best solar panels for the UK

Its location beyond 49° North makes it a colder place.

And its (western region) proximity to the North-Atlantic Ocean makes it wetter and moist.

These parameters of the United Kingdom will help us in deciding the best solar panels for it.

i) Salt and Mist Resistant

The parts which are nearer to the North Atlantic Ocean are wetter and moist.

The air in these locations contains water and salt content which when come in contact with solar panels can corrode them fast.

Therefore, for these locations, we need solar panels which are salt and mist resistant.

The IEC 61701 shows that the solar panels are resistant to salt and mist.

ii) Highly Efficient

Due to its location (away from the equator), the sunlight falls obliquely over it.

The average Peak Sun hours in the UK is 2.87.

It receives less sunlight than the locations or regions which are close to the equator.

Therefore, to get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels must be very efficient and give the right tilt to the ground.

Top brands such as REC, LG, and SunPower are having solar panels with the technologies such as Mono-PERC, half-cut solar cell technology, giving them efficiencies close to 22%.

Read: Know the 7 most efficient solar panels in the world

iii) Strong Solar Panels

During Autumn, the western regions close to the Atlantic Ocean experience more hurricanes due to the Atlantic depressions at this time.

Therefore, the solar panels have to be strong enough to withstand the wind pressure.

It is decided by its wind load rating (defined in Pascals)

Also, in the winter and spring, we witness snowfall in the United Kingdom.

The solar panels installed on the house roof should have high strength to bear the snow weight.

It is defined by snow load rating (measured in Pascals)

The strength of the solar panel is decided by its combined ability to withstand wind pressure and snow weight.

The higher the rating, the strong the solar panel.

The REC solar panels are one of the strongest solar panels available in the market with its Alpha series having:

• Wind load rating of 4000 Pascals and
• Snow load rating as 7000 Pascals.

iv) Long Warranties

Solar panels carry the major portion of the total cost of the system.

Therefore, any defect in them must be secured and addressed promptly.

Solar panels with long warranties are preferable.

Any solar panel has two types of warranty.

One is a product warranty which covers any manufacturing defect in the solar panel such as breaking of the diode, premature wear and tear, etc. for a certain time.

Another is a performance warranty which assures that the solar panel is going to produce a certain percentage of Pmax even after 25 years.

For example, a manufacturer says that its 400-watt (Pmax) solar panel is going to produce 80% of its Pmax after 25 years.

It means that in the 25^th year, it will produce 320 watts (80% of 400 watts).

The average product warranty is for 10 years and the performance warranty is usually for 25 years.

Read: Know the best places for solar energy

Conclusion

• A 5-kW solar power system installed in the United Kingdom saves you £ 1180 ($ 1500) every year.
• The mainland areas of the United Kingdom lie between the latitude 49° North to 59° North and longitude 8° West to 2° East.
• It has temperate type of climate with some areas in Scotland are tundra and sub-artic.
• The PSH in the UK is 2.87 and a 5-kW solar power system after compensating for the losses produces an average of 10 units per day when given a right tilt with the ground.
• It has a payback period of 5 years.
• The average residential electricity price in the United Kingdom is 0.41 USD (September 2022).
• Solar panels installed in the places of high electricity prices will save you more.

You might have seen in the previous posts that certain locations despite having good sunshine have a payback period more than that of the UK.

The UK despite having low sunlight intensity than other places is having low payback period or attractive solar power system.

It is because its residential electricity price is high.

It is among the top 10 costliest places to have a residential electricity price of 0.41 USD/kWh. This makes that installing solar in the UK will have more savings due to high electricity rates.