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Solar Energy Potential in the UK and the Reduction in Electrical Appliances.
Theory
The UK cannot achieve a balanced use of renewable photovoltaic energy because of its geographic location on the Earth. At best it can only use photovoltaic energy at varying levels of input and output.
Therefore photovoltaic energy; at its current energy level in the UK; will never replace fossil fuels.
This is turn changes the current use of electrical appliances after fossil fuels are phased out.
Definitions
Solar Insolation
‘Insolation is the solar radiation that reaches the earth's surface. It is measured by the amount of solar energy received per square centimetre per minute. Insolation affects temperature. The more the insolation, the higher the temperature.’
Source: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insolation
The UK's annual insolation is in the range of 750–1,100 kilowatt-hours per square metre (kWh/m²). London receives 0.52 and 4.74 kWh/m² per day in December and July, respectively.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) assumes an average capacity factor of 9.7% for solar photovoltaics in the UK.
South of UK; Bristol across to Norwich; 1100kWh/m² annual sun insolation.
Midlands of UK; Swansea across and up to Kingston Upon Hull; 1000kWh/m² annual sun insolation.
North of UK, N Ireland, Mid and North Wales; 900kWh/m² annual sun insolation.
Scotland; 750-900kWh/m² annual sun insolation.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_Kingdom
The average total annual sunshine in the United Kingdom is 1339.7 hours, which is just under 30% of the maximum possible (The maximum hours of sunshine possible in one year is approximately 4476 hours).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_United_Kingdom#Sunshine_and_cloud
Out of 1 year of 365 days. 8760 hours. 4380 hours. 50% are night conditions.
There is an average 4476 – 4380 = 96 day variance for parts of the year.
Allowing for the total average per year of 1339.7 hours.
This allows for 30% of the year to use photovoltaic panels.
Combining this with the sun insolation in kWh/m² the potential for photovoltaics and battery storage can be related to each part of the UK.
Method
Each area of the UK is examined in terms of its annual sun insolation, the amount able to be stored per hour, the number of photovoltaic panels, the number of batteries to store the energy, the energy lost to discharge over time.
Conclusions are then drawn.
South of UK; Bristol across to Norwich
1100kWh/m² annual sun insolation over 1339.7 hours per year.
0.82Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
820Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
This would require 9 x 100w photovoltaic panels.
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
600 watts for 1 hour.
300 watts for 2 hours.
150 watts for 4 hours.
75 watts for 8 hours
1 watt for 24 hours.
This energy input would require 820 / 600Wh = 2 x12v, 110Ah leisure batteries.
Midlands of UK; Swansea across and up to Kingston Upon Hull
1000kWh/m² annual sun insolation over 1339.7 hours per year.
0.74Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
740Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
This would require 8 x 100w photovoltaic panels.
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
600 watts for 1 hour.
300 watts for 2 hours.
150 watts for 4 hours.
75 watts for 8 hours
1 watt for 24 hours.
This energy input would require 820 / 600Wh = 2 x 12v, 110Ah leisure batteries.
North of UK, N Ireland, Mid and North Wales
900kWh/m² annual sun insolation over 1339.7 hours per year.
0.67kWh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
670Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
This would require 7 x 100w photovoltaic panels.
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
600 watts for 1 hour.
300 watts for 2 hours.
150 watts for 4 hours.
75 watts for 8 hours
1 watt for 24 hours.
This energy input would require 820 / 600Wh = 2 x 12v, 110Ah leisure batteries.
Scotland
750-900kWh/m² annual sun insolation over 1339.7 hours per year.
0.55kWh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
550Wh/m²/hr on average to be collected and stored per hour.
This would require 6 x 100w photovoltaic panels.
Assume a 12v, 110Ah leisure battery as storage. Storing 1200 Wh.
Assume a 50% discharge. Storing 600 Wh.
600 watts for 1 hour.
300 watts for 2 hours.
150 watts for 4 hours.
75 watts for 8 hours
1 watt for 24 hours.
This energy input would require 820 / 600Wh = 1 x 12v, 110Ah leisure batteries.
Conclusions
The further North you move in the UK, the less solar input, the less energy potential, the less efficient a photovoltaic panel becomes, the less energy that can be stored in batteries, the less energy that can be released for use.
The whole UK is naturally stratified into different solar potential energy bands and so different energy storage potential and energy output.
Those in the South of the UK will have more solar energy potential and more energy use potential.
The number of electrical appliances reflects this natural constraint.
The number of electrical appliances and the time each can be used reduces the further North you move in the UK.
The effects of this; post the end of fossil fuel use; in relation to domestic spaces, appliance use, watts per appliance, hours use of appliance per day, watt hours per day, solar energy in Midlands, North and Scotland are shown in the attached excel spreadsheet.
References
Source: https://www.frequencycast.co.uk/howmanywatts.html
Source: https://www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support/how-much-electricity-am-i-using
The average electricity usage per household in the UK is 4648 kWh per year.
Source: http://www.onaverage.co.uk/consumption-averages/average-electricity-usage
3 or 4 bedroom house an electricity usage of 3100kWh.
5+ bedrooms house an electricity usage of 4600kWh.
Source: https://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/average-energy-bill
3940kWh annual energy usage.
Source: https://www.electriciancourses4u.co.uk/useful-resources/how-much-electricity-does-your-home-use/
An average of 3940kWh per home.
Source: https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/energy-guides/how-much-electricity-does-a-home-use.html
Ofgem suggest the following for yearly energy consumption by user group.
Low energy user 2000kWh electricity
Medium energy user 3100kWh electricity
High energy user 4600kWh electricity
Source: https://www.ukpower.co.uk/home_energy/property-type-user-type
Average from above kWh per house/ yr. 3741kWh/yr
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
12/01/2018
14/10/2020
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