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Solar PV Analysis of Buninyong, Australia
The location at Buninyong, Victoria, Australia, is fairly good for producing solar energy year-round. However, the amount of energy that can be generated varies depending on the season.
In summer, you can expect to generate a lot of energy - about 7.85 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of solar panels installed. This is because the days are long and usually sunny.
In autumn and spring, you'll generate less energy - about 3.96 and 5.78 kilowatt-hours per day respectively for each kilowatt of solar panels installed - because there's less sunlight.
Winter will yield the least amount of energy - only about 2.51 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of solar panels installed - due to short days and often overcast skies.
For a fixed panel installation at this location, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle of 32 degrees facing north in order to get the most sunlight over the course of a year.
As far as local factors that could impede solar production in Buninyong, there aren't many significant ones but some things should be considered:
1) Weather: Cloudy or rainy days will reduce your system’s output; however this has been accounted for in average calculations.
2) Shadows: Buildings or trees casting shadows on your system can reduce its efficiency.
3) Dust & Dirt: These can accumulate on your system reducing its efficiency but regular cleaning can mitigate this.
4) Temperature: Solar PV systems are actually less efficient when they get too hot (over about 25 degrees Celsius), so during extremely hot summer days their output might decrease somewhat.
To ensure greater power production from your solar installation despite these challenges:
- Install panels where they won't be shaded by buildings or trees
- Clean them regularly
- Consider using cooling mechanisms if temperatures frequently rise above 25 degrees Celsius
In conclusion, Buninyong is a fairly good location for solar energy production. The most ideal times to generate solar power are during the longer, sunnier days of summer and spring. There are a few environmental factors that could impact production, but these can be managed with some planning and maintenance.
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 Buninyong
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -37.650278, Longitude: 143.883889 (Buninyong, 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 32° North in Buninyong, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Buninyong, Australia (Lat/Long -37.650278, 143.883889) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Buninyong, 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 Buninyong, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° North in Summer | 42° North in Autumn | 52° North in Winter | 30° 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 Buninyong, 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 Buninyong, 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 Buninyong, Australia
Buninyong is located in the state of Victoria, Australia. The area around Buninyong is characterized by undulating hills and valleys with a mix of farmland and forested areas. It's situated at the base of an extinct volcano, Mount Buninyong.
The topography could present some challenges for large-scale solar PV installations due to the hilly terrain. However, there are still potential locations that could be suitable for such projects. These include relatively flat farmlands or cleared areas where there would be minimal shading from trees or hills.
In terms of specific nearby areas that might be most suited to large-scale solar PV, it would depend on a number of factors including land availability and ownership, proximity to existing electricity infrastructure for grid connection, local planning regulations and community attitudes towards renewable energy projects.
Given its location in Victoria which has a relatively high solar irradiation level compared to other parts of Australia (especially during summer), any open spaces with good sun exposure throughout the year could potentially be suitable for solar PV installations. This might include agricultural lands that are not currently in productive use or other open spaces near existing power lines or substations.
It should also be noted that while the hilly terrain could pose some challenges for traditional ground-mounted solar farms, it might also present opportunities for innovative solutions like floating solar panels on water bodies or integrating smaller scale solar installations into existing buildings and structures.
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.
