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| How long will a solar panel take to pay for itself in the north? | How long will a solar panel take to pay for itself in the north? |
| (7 months later) | |
| Having battled through the wettest summer in over 100 years, we northerners might be tempted to up sticks and move down south in search of sunnier climes. | Having battled through the wettest summer in over 100 years, we northerners might be tempted to up sticks and move down south in search of sunnier climes. |
| It's no great surprise that southern cities get on average more hours of sunshine per year than the north, but Met Office statistics show that the difference is not actually that great. Overall, the north of England lies not so far behind the south for annual hours of sunshine, with 1484.4 hours and 1589.7 hours respectively. That works out at just under 20 minutes extra sunshine for southern England per day, over the course of a year. | It's no great surprise that southern cities get on average more hours of sunshine per year than the north, but Met Office statistics show that the difference is not actually that great. Overall, the north of England lies not so far behind the south for annual hours of sunshine, with 1484.4 hours and 1589.7 hours respectively. That works out at just under 20 minutes extra sunshine for southern England per day, over the course of a year. |
| The amount of sunlight a city gets is directly linked to the amount of electricity that a solar panel in that location can generate. Historically speaking, the appeal of free electricity has been greater in the south. | The amount of sunlight a city gets is directly linked to the amount of electricity that a solar panel in that location can generate. Historically speaking, the appeal of free electricity has been greater in the south. |
| Renewable energy specialists EvoEnergy have now released figures showing how many years it takes for the average solar panel installation to pay for itself. They show that installing panels in the north remains a good deal. | Renewable energy specialists EvoEnergy have now released figures showing how many years it takes for the average solar panel installation to pay for itself. They show that installing panels in the north remains a good deal. |
| Unsurprisingly, cities in the south came out tops, with Plymouth, Exeter and Truro named as the three cities with the highest return on investment for domestic solar panel installations. In Plymouth, it takes only 8.4 years for a domestic solar panel installation to pay for itself, compared with the national average of 9.5 years. | Unsurprisingly, cities in the south came out tops, with Plymouth, Exeter and Truro named as the three cities with the highest return on investment for domestic solar panel installations. In Plymouth, it takes only 8.4 years for a domestic solar panel installation to pay for itself, compared with the national average of 9.5 years. |
| Here's how the figures break down for cities in the north of England: | Here's how the figures break down for cities in the north of England: |
| As you might expect, most northern cities come in either on or above the national average for payback years. Anomalies in the data, such as the contrast between Hull and Wakefield can be explained by slight regional variations in measured ground solar irradiance and differing levels of cloud cover. | As you might expect, most northern cities come in either on or above the national average for payback years. Anomalies in the data, such as the contrast between Hull and Wakefield can be explained by slight regional variations in measured ground solar irradiance and differing levels of cloud cover. |
| Steven Hall, from the Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Science at the University of Hull explains why Hull bucks the trend for the north: | Steven Hall, from the Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Science at the University of Hull explains why Hull bucks the trend for the north: |
| It is most likely because the prevailing wind in most of the North is West to East from the Atlantic. All the wet air of the Gulf stream reaches the west coast first (drenching Manchester, which is why it is a rainy city), then has to go over the Pennines to visit Leeds and then still has the Yorkshire Wolds to rain on before reaching Hull. | It is most likely because the prevailing wind in most of the North is West to East from the Atlantic. All the wet air of the Gulf stream reaches the west coast first (drenching Manchester, which is why it is a rainy city), then has to go over the Pennines to visit Leeds and then still has the Yorkshire Wolds to rain on before reaching Hull. |
| As such we have more sunny, dry days per year than our Yorkshire and Lancashire contemporaries, so contrary to the popular quip... it's never dull in Hull! | As such we have more sunny, dry days per year than our Yorkshire and Lancashire contemporaries, so contrary to the popular quip... it's never dull in Hull! |
| Amy Byard is a BA broadcast journalism graduate of Leeds university. | Amy Byard is a BA broadcast journalism graduate of Leeds university. |
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