.svg)
Solar PV Analysis of Albury, Australia
The location at Albury, New South Wales, Australia is pretty good for generating energy through solar panels all year round. The amount of energy you can expect to get from each kilowatt of solar power installed changes with the seasons. You'll get the most energy in summer, about 8.19 kilowatt-hours per day, and the least in winter, about 2.45 kilowatt-hours per day. Autumn and spring fall somewhere in between with 4.47 and 6.13 kilowatt-hours per day respectively.
To get the most out of your solar panels throughout the year at this location, it's best to tilt them at an angle of 31 degrees facing North (remember we are in Southern Hemisphere). This will maximize their exposure to sunlight over the course of a year.
As for potential issues that could affect your solar production in Albury - there could be a few things to consider depending on local conditions:
1) Trees or buildings casting shade on your panels can reduce their output significantly - so it's important to install them where they'll have clear access to sunlight.
2) Dust or bird droppings can also cover up parts of your panels and reduce their efficiency - regular cleaning can help avoid this problem.
3) Finally, while Albury doesn't usually experience extreme weather events like cyclones or hailstorms which could damage panels; high winds may potentially be an issue if not properly secured during installation.
In summary, Albury is generally a great place for solar power due its sunny climate especially during summer months but care should be taken when installing and maintaining systems here due these potential issues mentioned above.
Note: The Southern Temperate Zone extends from -35° latitude South down to -66.5° latitude.
So far, we have conducted calculations to evaluate the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in 491 locations across Australia. This analysis provides insights into each city/location's potential for harnessing solar energy through PV installations.
Link: Solar PV potential in Australia by location
Solar output per kW of installed solar PV by season in Albury
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -36.0751193, Longitude: 146.9094852 (Albury, Australia), based on our analysis of 8760 hourly intervals of solar and meteorological data (one whole year) retrieved for that set of coordinates/location from NASA POWER (The Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources) API:
Ideally tilt fixed solar panels 31° North in Albury, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Albury, Australia (Lat/Long -36.0751193, 146.9094852) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 31° North for fixed panel installations.
As the Earth revolves around the Sun each year, the maximum angle of elevation of the Sun varies by +/- 23.45 degrees from its equinox elevation angle for a particular latitude. Finding the exact optimal angle to maximise solar PV production throughout the year can be challenging, but with careful consideration of historical solar energy and meteorological data for a certain location, it can be done precisely.
We use our own calculation, which incorporates NASA solar and meteorological data for the exact Lat/Long coordinates, to determine the ideal tilt angle of a solar panel that will yield maximum annual solar output. We calculate the optimal angle for each day of the year, taking into account its contribution to the yearly total PV potential at that specific location.
Seasonally adjusted solar panel tilt angles for Albury, Australia
If you can adjust the tilt angle of your solar PV panels, please refer to the seasonal tilt angles below for optimal solar energy production in Albury, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 31° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° North in Summer | 41° North in Autumn | 51° North in Winter | 29° North in Spring |
Our recommendations take into account more than just latitude and Earth's position in its elliptical orbit around the Sun. We also incorporate historical solar and meteorological data from NASA's Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) API to assign a weight to each ideal angle for each day based on its historical contribution to overall solar PV potential during a specific season.
This approach allows us to provide much more accurate recommendations than relying solely on latitude, as it considers unique weather conditions in different locations sharing the same latitude worldwide.
Calculate solar panel row spacing in Albury, Australia
We've added a feature to calculate minimum solar panel row spacing by location. Enter your panel size and orientation below to get the minimum spacing in Albury, Australia.
Our calculation method
- Solar Position:
We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination. - Shadow Projection:
We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle. - Minimum Spacing:
We add the shadow length to the horizontal space occupied by tilted panels.
This approach ensures maximum space efficiency while avoiding shading during critical times, as the Winter solstice represents the worst-case scenario for shadow length.
Topography for solar PV around Albury, Australia
Albury is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. The topography of this area is mostly flat with some gentle hills, making it ideal for farming and agriculture. The land around Albury consists mainly of fertile plains, with the Murray River running along its northern boundary.
The climate in Albury is characterized by hot summers and mild winters, which makes it a suitable location for solar PV installations. Areas to the north and west of Albury are particularly suitable due to their high levels of sunlight exposure throughout the year.
In terms of large-scale solar PV installations, areas with flat terrain would be most suited as it allows for easier installation and maintenance. This includes regions like Thurgoona to the north-east or Lavington to the north-west which have ample open spaces that could accommodate such projects.
However, any decision on large-scale solar PV would need to take into account factors beyond just topography and climate – including proximity to existing power infrastructure (for connection to the grid), local planning regulations, potential environmental impacts, etc.
Australia solar PV Stats as a country
Australia ranks 7th in the world for cumulative solar PV capacity, with 19,076 total MW's of solar PV installed. This means that 10.70% of Australia's total energy as a country comes from solar PV (that's 2nd in the world). Each year Australia is generating 742 Watts from solar PV per capita (Australia ranks 2nd in the world for solar PV Watts generated per capita). [source]
Are there incentives for businesses to install solar in Australia?
Yes, there are a variety of incentives available in Australia to businesses wanting to install solar energy. These include:
1. Renewable Energy Target (RET): The RET provides businesses with financial assistance for installing and operating renewable energy systems such as solar panels. Businesses may be eligible to receive certificates that can be sold or traded on the open market for additional income.
2. Feed-in Tariffs: Some states offer feed-in tariffs which pay businesses for generating and exporting excess electricity from their solar panel system back into the grid during peak demand periods.
3. Solar Credits: The Solar Credits program provides households and small business owners with an upfront discount when purchasing a new solar system, based on the amount of renewable energy generated by the system over its lifetime.
4. Tax Breaks: Small business owners may be able to claim tax deductions on certain expenses associated with installing a solar power system, including installation costs, maintenance expenses and interest payments related to financing arrangements taken out specifically for this purpose.
Do you have more up to date information than this on incentives towards solar PV projects in Australia? Please reach out to us and help us keep this information current. Thanks!
Citation Guide
Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Friday 12th of August 2022
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
Compare this location to others worldwide for solar PV potential
The solar PV analyses available on our website, including this one, are offered as a free service to the global community. Our aim is to provide education and aid informed decision-making regarding solar PV installations.
However, please note that these analyses are general guidance and may not meet specific project requirements. For in-depth, tailored forecasts and analysis crucial for feasibility studies or when pursuing maximum ROI from your solar projects, feel free to contact us; we offer comprehensive consulting services expressly for this purpose.
Helping you assess viability of solar PV for your site
Calculate Your Optimal Solar Panel Tilt Angle: A Comprehensive Guide
Enhance your solar panel's performance with our in-depth guide. Determine the best tilt angle using hard data, debunk common misunderstandings, and gain insight into how your specific location affects solar energy production.
