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Solar PV Analysis of Bucasia, Australia
Bucasia, Queensland, Australia is a promising location for generating energy through solar PV systems year-round due to its tropical climate. This means it gets consistent sunlight throughout most of the year.
The amount of energy that can be generated varies by season:
- In summer, each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar can generate 6.84 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.
- In autumn, this decreases slightly to 5.42 kWh/day per kW.
- Winter sees the lowest production with 4.72 kWh/day per kW.
- Spring has the highest potential with 6.99 kWh/day per kW.
So while you can produce solar energy all year round at this location, spring and summer are the most productive seasons.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, tilting the panels at an angle of 19 degrees North will maximize total yearly production from your solar PV system.
As for local factors that could affect solar production in Bucasia:
1) Weather: Despite being in the tropics where there's plenty of sunlight year-round, Bucasia does have a wet season which could reduce sunlight exposure and thus lower energy generation during those periods.
2) Topography: The area is relatively flat which is ideal for installing solar panels as it avoids shading issues caused by hills or mountains.
To counteract these potential impediments:
1) For weather-related issues like heavy rainfall or cloud cover during wet seasons, using high-quality panels that perform well under different weather conditions would be beneficial.
2) As for topographical challenges such as shading from trees or buildings - choosing an open site without obstructions would be best when installing your solar panels to ensure maximum sun exposure throughout the day.
Overall though these factors aren't significant enough to outweigh Bucasia's excellent potential for generating substantial amounts of renewable energy through solar power systems all year round.
Note: The Tropics are located between 23.5° North and -23.5° South of the equator.
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 Bucasia
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -21.0353655, Longitude: 149.1589657 (Bucasia, 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 19° North in Bucasia, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Bucasia, Australia (Lat/Long -21.0353655, 149.1589657) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 19° 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 Bucasia, 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 Bucasia, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 19° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5° North in Summer | 27° North in Autumn | 36° North in Winter | 15° 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 Bucasia, 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 Bucasia, 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 Bucasia, Australia
Bucasia is located in the Mackay Region on the coast of Queensland, Australia. The topography of Bucasia and its surrounding areas is relatively flat with low-lying coastal plains. It is situated near the Coral Sea, with sandy beaches and mangroves along the shore. Further inland, there are some agricultural lands and sugar cane fields.
For large-scale solar PV projects, areas that are most suitable would be those with a high amount of sunlight throughout the year, flat terrain for easy installation and maintenance of solar panels, and proximity to power grids for easier energy transmission.
Considering these factors, regions slightly inland from Bucasia could be potential sites for large-scale solar PV installations. These include rural or agricultural lands around Mackay or further west where land may not be as intensively used. The region experiences abundant sunshine throughout the year which makes it suitable for solar energy generation.
However, specific site selection would require detailed analysis including aspects such as local climate conditions (e.g., cloud cover), land ownership and usage rights, environmental impact assessments among others.
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: Saturday 17th of February 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.
