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Solar PV Analysis of Brighton, Australia
Brighton, South Australia, is a reasonably good location for generating solar energy throughout the year. However, the amount of electricity that can be produced varies significantly depending on the season.
In summer and spring, you're likely to get a high output of solar power because these are typically sunnier seasons. Specifically, in summer you can expect about 7.93 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar panels and in spring this figure is around 6.26 kWh/day per kW.
In contrast, autumn and winter produce less sunlight so your solar panels won't generate as much power during these months - roughly 4.50 kWh/day per kW in autumn and just 2.94 kWh/day per kW in winter.
To maximize your overall yearly production from your solar panels at this location, it's recommended to tilt them at an angle of 30 degrees facing north.
As for local factors that could potentially impact your solar production; Brighton is known to have quite mild weather but does experience some cloud cover throughout the year which could reduce sunlight exposure on cloudy days or periods with heavy rain or storms. It's also worth noting that any large buildings or trees nearby could cast shadows over your panels reducing their efficiency too.
To mitigate against these potential issues when installing your system; make sure there's no shade falling on where you plan to install them especially during peak sun hours (between about 9am-3pm). Also consider using high-quality panels which are more efficient at converting light into electricity even under less than ideal conditions such as low light or partial shading.
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 Brighton
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -35.0171, Longitude: 138.5245 (Brighton, 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 30° North in Brighton, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Brighton, Australia (Lat/Long -35.0171, 138.5245) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 Brighton, 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 Brighton, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19° North in Summer | 39° North in Autumn | 50° North in Winter | 28° 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 Brighton, 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 Brighton, 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 Brighton, Australia
Brighton is located in South Australia, near the city of Adelaide. The topography of this area is relatively flat with some gentle rolling hills. It is situated near the coastline which means that it may be subject to coastal winds and salt spray.
The climate in Brighton, Australia is a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cool wet winters. This makes it well-suited for solar PV installations as there are many days of sunshine throughout the year.
Areas most suited for large-scale solar PV would be those with large open spaces that receive ample sunlight throughout the year. In terms of specific locations, areas north or east of Brighton might be suitable as they are further from the coast (reducing potential issues related to wind and salt) and have more open space available for large-scale installations.
However, any decision on where to place large-scale solar PV should take into account other factors such as proximity to existing power infrastructure, land use restrictions, environmental considerations etc., so a thorough site assessment would need to be conducted before making a final decision.
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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Article Details for Citation
Author: Aaron Robinson
Publisher: profileSOLAR.com
First Published: Sunday 5th of May 2024
Last Updated: Monday 21st of July 2025
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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.
