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Solar PV Analysis of Broken Hill, Australia
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia is a pretty good place to generate energy with solar panels throughout the year. The amount of energy you can get from your solar panels changes with the seasons. In summer, you can expect about 8.94 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels you have. This decreases in autumn to about 5.39 kWh/day, and even further in winter to about 3.93 kWh/day before increasing again in spring to around 7.19 kWh/day.
The best time of year for generating solar power at this location would be during the summer months when sunlight is most abundant, followed by spring and autumn respectively while winter would be least productive due to less sunlight.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round at Broken Hill, New South Wales, it's recommended that they are installed at an angle facing 28 degrees North which allows them to catch as much sunlight as possible.
There may be a few things in Broken Hill that could make it harder for your solar panels to work well like dust storms which are common and could cover up your panels reducing their efficiency or tall buildings or trees that might cast shadows on them; however these factors aren't significant enough not use solar power altogether.
To ensure greater energy production despite these factors, regular cleaning especially after dust storms will keep the surface clear for maximum absorption of sunlight; also careful positioning away from potential shadow casting structures will help too if feasible.
In conclusion, Broken Hill provides a fairly ideal environment for generating decent amounts of electricity through solar power across different seasons with simple measures like optimal installation angle and regular maintenance boosting its productivity even more.
Note: The Southern Sub Tropics extend from -23.5° latitude South down to -35° 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 Broken Hill
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -31.9595859, Longitude: 141.4608138 (Broken Hill, 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 28° North in Broken Hill, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Broken Hill, Australia (Lat/Long -31.9595859, 141.4608138) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 28° 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 Broken Hill, 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 Broken Hill, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 28° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16° North in Summer | 37° North in Autumn | 47° North in Winter | 25° 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 Broken Hill, 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 Broken Hill, 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 Broken Hill, Australia
Broken Hill, Australia is located in the far west outback of New South Wales. The topography around Broken Hill is generally flat and semi-arid, characterized by vast plains, occasional hills and sparse vegetation due to its location within the Barrier Ranges. It's a region with high solar exposure throughout the year.
Considering these factors, large-scale solar PV would be most suited in areas that are flat and open for maximum sun exposure. The vast plains surrounding Broken Hill provide ample space for such installations. Also, areas away from residential zones would be ideal to avoid potential issues with glare or aesthetic concerns.
The Broken Hill Solar Plant is a great example of utilizing this type of landscape for renewable energy generation. It's one of the largest in Australia and generates enough electricity to power approximately 17,000 homes annually.
However, it's also important to consider other factors such as accessibility for installation & maintenance crews and proximity to power grids or storage facilities when selecting sites for large-scale solar PV projects.
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: 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.
