The Potential for Solar Power in Yorkshire

Yorkshire offers significant potential for harnessing solar power and helping drive a cleaner future, due to its natural landscape and abundant sunlight. Solar power is generated by converting sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells, and this is a clean, renewable energy source that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our historic dependence on fossil fuels.

Why Yorkshire is Good for Solar Power

Yorkshire receives a significant amount of sunlight throughout the year – up to 1,500 hours of sunshine annually, making it an ideal location for solar power generation for both domestic and larger-scale adoptions alike. The region’s diverse landscape, with its mix of urban and rural areas, offers a variety of opportunities for solar installations, including rooftop solar panels for homes and businesses, as well as large-scale solar farms.

Yorkshire is also home to significant potential for rooftop solar installations in cities like Leeds and Sheffield, as well as larger solar farms in the countryside. In fact, Yorkshire and the Humber has seen a 221% increase in solar installations, with Leeds and Sheffield having almost 200,000 homes with solar installations.

At East Yorkshire Solar, we care about the environmental benefits of solar energy, as solar energy provides emission-free energy and ends a reliance on fossil fuels. Solar energy makes a truly positive impact on the environment, and as a long-term investment, the advantages of transitioning to solar outweigh the original costs for the customer too.

Factors Affecting Solar Power Potential

Whilst the potential for solar power in Yorkshire is apparent and growing, there are several factors that can influence the potential for solar power in Yorkshire. These include:

• Sunlight Availability: Yorkshire receives over 60 days of sunlight throughout the year, with obvious variations between seasons and regions. However, the region’s climate is generally suitable for solar power generation, especially as the Met Office’s State of the UK Climate report shows how recent decades have been warmer and sunnier than the 20th century.
• Roof Orientation and Shading: The orientation and tilt of a roof can affect the amount of sunlight that solar panels can capture. South-facing roofs with minimal shading are ideal for solar installations. Westerly or easterly-facing roofs are also good ideas for direction, whereas any north-facing roofs are least likely to get maximum sunlight throughout the day.
• Roof Condition: The condition of a roof must be suitable for supporting the weight of solar panels, too. Roofs with structural issues or damage may not operate with maximum efficiency, and some will require repairs or reinforcement before solar panel installation begins.
• Grid Connection: Access to the electricity grid is essential for exporting excess solar power generated. Grid connection procedures and regulations vary by region, but having access to greater grid connectivity is important to ensuring the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
• Government Policies and Incentives: Government policies and financial incentives can significantly impact the adoption of solar power. These incentives may include feed-in tariffs, VAT reductions, a Smart Export Guarantee, other tax credits and grants.

Solar Power Projects in Yorkshire

There are solar power projects underway or that have been completed in Yorkshire, demonstrating the region’s potential for renewable energy. These projects include:

• Burstwick Service Station: At East Yorkshire Solar, we worked on a project at Burstwick Service Station near Hull to help generate 19,000kWh, with 37 solar panels being installed. We were able to substantially reduce Burstwick Service Station’s reliance on the national grid, meaning they could save over £4,500 per annum.
• Skeeby Solar Farm: This 55MW North Yorkshire solar farm is the largest operational solar farm in the region.
• Statkraft Solar Farm in East Yorkshire: Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy has recently announced plans for a 500MW solar farm is due to begin in 2025.
• Yorkshire Water Solar Programme: Yorkshire Water has a solar programme that is intended to install 90MW of power over 150 sites by 2030.
• Fenwick Solar Farm: In the north of Doncaster, Fenwick Solar Project Limited is planning to install solar photovoltaic (PV) generating panels.
• Solar Together West Yorkshire: This group-buying scheme helps homeowners and businesses in West Yorkshire access competitive deals on solar panel installations.

The Benefits of Solar Power

There are a range of benefits associated with installing solar panels and we’ve listed some of these below:

• Environmental Benefits: Solar power is a clean and sustainable energy source that produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution. It helps reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which are responsible for climate change and air pollution.
• Economic Benefits: Installing solar panels can save homeowners and businesses money on their electricity bills. Additionally, the solar industry creates jobs and stimulates economic growth.
• Energy Independence: By generating their own electricity, homeowners and businesses can become more energy independent and less reliant on traditional power grids.
• Lower Costs for Customers: Homeowners who install solar panels could make substantial savings on their bills, which we will detail further below.

The Future of Solar Power in Yorkshire

As you can see, the future of solar power in Yorkshire looks promising, and whilst technology continues to advance and costs decrease, solar power becomes increasingly affordable and accessible. Government policies and incentives can further drive the adoption of solar power, making it a major contributor to the region’s renewable energy mix.

A benefit of solar panels is that they can also be installed on a variety of buildings, be it residential or commercial. In fact, it is estimated that solar panels can cut the average Yorkshire home’s electricity bills by 70%, with the typical three-bedroom home saving over £440 a year by installing solar panels.

At a time when the cost of solar panels is reducing too, now is as good a time as ever to consider installing solar panels. It is not however just domestic solar power that has many tangible benefits, commercial uses are increasing in demand. At East Yorkshire Solar, we provide EV chargers, as well as agricultural solar panels, solar panels for hotels and schools, colleges and universities.

Why Choose East Yorkshire Solar?

We aim to be a leading provider for quality domestic and commercial solar services across Yorkshire. At East Yorkshire Solar, we have an array of services to help you have peace of mind, from a 25- year warranty on our solar panels to an optional remote monitoring service that can detect system issues and let you know of opportunities for improvements in the performance of your solar system.

Here are some of the reasons you should consider choosing East Yorkshire Solar for your solar installation:

• Expertise: With years of experience across our team, we have the knowledge and ability to tackle commercial solar projects of all sizes.
• Professionally Qualified: We are members of HES (Home Insulation & Energy Systems Contractors Scheme), and we are an accredited installer of Solar PV with MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme); an internationally recognised quality and safety scheme for small-scale renewable energy technologies. We are also an approved contractor with the NIC EIC (The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.) Furthermore, we have undergone rigorous assessment to become a Which? Trusted Trader.
• Quality Assurance: We use only the highest-quality products and adhere to strict installation standards when we install.
• Customer Focus: From the initial consultation to our after-sales support, our priority at East Yorkshire Solar is to exceed your expectations and give you ultimate customer satisfaction.
• Local Advantage: As a local company, we know the unique needs of businesses up and down Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, so we can provide tailored solutions to meet your needs.

Get Started

Yorkshire has the potential to become a leader in solar power generation. With its abundant sunlight, diverse landscape and growing interest in renewable energy, our region is well-positioned to harness the power of the sun and contribute to a sustainable future through a wider rollout of solar energy.

Whilst not as optimal as some areas of southern England, Yorkshire’s mix of urban and rural environments, supportive policies and commitment to renewable energy make solar a viable and promising option for meeting energy needs sustainably. Yorkshire’s typically milder climate also helps with the risk of overheating too.

We hope this blog has taken an informative look at the potential for solar power in Yorkshire. At East Yorkshire Solar, we specialise in a comprehensive range of solar services, including Solar PV panels, Electrical Vehicle chargers and other renewable energy solutions, alongside other electrical and digital services.

Contact us today to learn how our local team can deliver top-notch service or discuss your solar requirements.