As summer approaches in the North East of England, solar panel owners have a golden opportunity to maximise their energy production. The longer summer days provide an excellent chance to optimise your solar energy system. Here’s how North East solar can help prepare your setup for the peak season ahead.

Understanding Your Solar Potential

The North East receives approximately 1,350 hours of sunshine annually, with the summer months offering significantly longer daylight hours. During summer solstice, we experience nearly 17 hours of daylight, which is a substantial increase from winter’s 7-8 hours. This extended solar window means your panels have more time to generate electricity, making summer the prime time for energy harvesting.

Upcoming projects like the Burtree Lane Solar Farm in Darlington demonstrate the region’s solar potential. This 50MW solar installation will power approximately 15,000 homes annually, proving that the North East can effectively harness solar energy despite its northerly location.

Pre-Summer Maintenance Essentials

Professional Inspection

Arrange a professional inspection before peak season arrives. Technicians can identify and address issues that might compromise efficiency, such as:

• Loose connections
• Inverter problems
• Monitoring system glitches

Optimisation Techniques

Check Your Panel Angle

For fixed panels in the North East, the optimal year-round tilt is approximately 35-40 degrees. However, if your mounting system allows for seasonal adjustments, summer is the time to adjust. During summer months, a slightly flatter angle of around 30 degrees can increase energy capture as the sun sits higher in the sky.

Clear Shading Obstacles

Summer foliage can create new shading issues that weren’t present during winter:

• Trim back trees and bushes that may have grown since last season
• Consider removing or relocating items that might cast shadows on your panels
• Remember that even partial shading can significantly reduce overall system performance

Upgrade Your Monitoring System

Modern monitoring systems provide real-time data on your system’s performance:

• Install a smart monitoring system if you don’t have one already
• Set up alerts for performance drops or system issues
• Use historical data to compare performance year-on-year

Making the Most of Summer Production

Battery Storage Investment

With longer production hours, summer is the perfect time to capitalise on battery storage systems. By storing excess daytime production, you can use solar energy during evening hours, reducing grid dependency.

Time High-Energy Activities

Schedule energy-intensive activities like laundry, dishwashing, and electric vehicle charging during peak solar production hours (typically 10am-4pm).

Case Study: Burtree Lane Solar Farm

The summer 2025 solar project, Burtree Lane Solar Farm in Darlington serves as an excellent example of the North East’s growing solar capabilities. This 49.9MW solar development spanning approximately 100 hectares demonstrates the region’s commitment to renewable energy:

• Scale: The project will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes annually
• Environmental Benefits: The farm will save about 21,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year
• Community Integration: The project includes a Community Benefit Fund of £15,000 per year (index-linked) for local initiatives
• Biodiversity Enhancements: Native hedgerow planting, wildflower meadows, and bird/bat boxes are being installed to boost local wildlife
• Agricultural Compatibility: The land remains available for sheep grazing between and beneath panels, maintaining agricultural use

The estimated success of Burtree Lane shows that large-scale solar installations can thrive in the North East climate when properly designed and positioned. Homeowners can apply the same principles of careful positioning, regular maintenance, and environmental consideration on a smaller scale.

Looking Ahead

The North East’s solar potential continues to grow. Projects like Burtree Lane demonstrate the region’s commitment to renewable energy, with tangible benefits for communities including educational initiatives and biodiversity enhancements.

Remember that proper maintenance and optimisation aren’t just about maximising summer production as they extend your system’s lifespan and improve your return on investment year-round.

By working with North East Solar, you’ll be well-positioned to capture every possible kilowatt-hour during the North East’s “Hot Solar Summer” of 2025.