Whitman Laboratories — United Kingdom

Whitman Laboratories is a 1 MW solar power plant in England, United Kingdom. It is operated by Whitman Laboratories. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 425 homes (estimated). It ranks #2855 of 2,860 United Kingdom power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 6.6% of United Kingdom's electricity; the national grid averages 217 gCO₂/kWh (64.4% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GBR0006198.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000826686; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 1 MW, Whitman Laboratories is below the median solar plant in United Kingdom (5 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of United Kingdom solar capacity

less than 0.1% of 8,703 MW across 1,170 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

696 of 804 dated solar plants in United Kingdom are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest solar plants in United Kingdom

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Whitman Laboratories.

Local climate & thermal context

This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 51.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 17% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 59/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #1170 largest solar power plant of 1170 in United Kingdom by capacity.

United Kingdom has 1170 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 8,703 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Lovedean Farm · Solar · 4.5 MW · England
• Barley Wood Farm Lane (Gaston Lane - resubmission) · Solar · 5.4 MW · England
• Land to the north and south of Cakers Lane (Wilsom) · Solar · 11 MW · England
• Wilsom Farm · Solar · 11 MW · England
• Southleigh Landfill · Waste · 3.5 MW · England
• Southwick Estate · Solar · 48 MW · England

Location

Coordinates 51.006, -0.9515 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions