Bordertown, South Australia, located at latitude -36.3062 and longitude 140.7764 in the Southern Temperate Zone, offers varying effectiveness for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. This location experiences significant seasonal fluctuations in solar energy production that are worth understanding when considering solar installation.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Bordertown perform best during summer months, generating an impressive 8.51kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 6.13kWh/day per kW. Production decreases considerably during autumn to 4.34kWh/day, while winter shows the lowest output at just 2.71kWh/day per kW of installed capacity.

This seasonal pattern creates a more than three-fold difference between the best and worst production periods, with summer generating over three times the electricity compared to winter months. The substantial drop in winter production is typical of locations in the Southern Temperate Zone, where the sun's path is lower in the winter sky.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Bordertown, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 31 degrees facing North. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize the capture of solar energy across all seasons, taking into account the location's latitude and the sun's varying position throughout the year.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several environmental factors could potentially impact solar production in Bordertown:

• Dust accumulation from the region's agricultural activities may reduce panel efficiency if not regularly cleaned
• Occasional summer heatwaves can slightly reduce panel efficiency as solar panels become less efficient at very high temperatures
• Winter frost in the mornings may temporarily reduce output until it melts away
• Sporadic dust storms, though uncommon, can significantly diminish production when they occur

To mitigate these challenges, installing panels with a self-cleaning angle (the recommended 31 degrees helps with this), implementing regular cleaning schedules, and using quality inverters that operate efficiently across temperature ranges are recommended. Additionally, selecting panels with good temperature coefficients will help maintain better performance during hot summer days.

Overall, Bordertown presents a good location for solar energy production with excellent summer and spring generation, though winter installations would benefit from oversizing to compensate for the seasonal reduction in output.

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 501 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 Bordertown

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -36.3062, Longitude: 140.7764 (Bordertown, 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 Bordertown, Australia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bordertown, Australia (Lat/Long -36.3062, 140.7764) 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 Bordertown, 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 Bordertown, 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 Bordertown, 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 Bordertown, Australia.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Bordertown, Australia

The landscape surrounding Bordertown, Australia, is characterized by gently undulating plains, typical of the Murray Mallee region in southeastern South Australia. Situated at an elevation of approximately 100 meters above sea level, Bordertown sits within a transitional zone between the flatter Murray plains to the west and the slightly more elevated terrain of western Victoria to the east. The topography in this area features subtle variations rather than dramatic changes in elevation. The land generally consists of low rolling hills and broad, open spaces with minimal obstruction to the horizon in many directions. This relatively flat terrain was formed over millions of years as ancient seabeds receded and wind and water erosion shaped the landscape.

Soil and Vegetation

The soils around Bordertown are predominantly sandy loams and mallee-type soils, with some areas featuring clay subsoils. Native vegetation historically consisted of mallee eucalypt woodlands, though much of the region has been cleared for agricultural purposes. The remaining natural vegetation includes scattered eucalyptus trees, native grasses, and low shrubs adapted to the semi-arid conditions.

Water Features

While there are no major rivers directly through Bordertown itself, the broader region includes seasonal creeks and drainage lines that flow during wet periods. The Tatiara Creek is a notable local watercourse. The area also features some ephemeral wetlands and salt pans that fill after significant rainfall events.

Optimal Areas for Solar PV Development

The most suitable areas for large-scale solar photovoltaic development near Bordertown would be the extensive agricultural plains to the north and west of the township. These areas offer several advantages: The flat to gently undulating terrain requires minimal earthworks for installation, significantly reducing construction costs. These northern and western sectors receive excellent solar exposure throughout the day with minimal shadowing effects from topographical features. Agricultural land that has already been cleared provides ready-made spaces where installation can proceed without additional land clearing requirements. The well-developed road network in these areas facilitates easier access for construction and maintenance of solar facilities. Particularly promising are the slightly elevated areas approximately 5-10 kilometers northwest of Bordertown, where the combination of gentle north-facing slopes and proximity to existing electrical infrastructure creates ideal conditions for solar development. These areas typically experience less seasonal flooding than some of the lower-lying regions to the south. The eastern approaches to Bordertown, while still suitable, feature slightly more variable terrain with some areas of denser vegetation that might require additional clearing. The southern sectors, which include more low-lying areas with occasional seasonal inundation, would generally be less optimal for large-scale installations. Given the overall favorable topography across much of the region, site selection would likely be more influenced by factors such as proximity to transmission infrastructure, land ownership patterns, and current land use rather than by significant topographical limitations.

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!

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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.