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Solar PV Analysis of Culburra, Australia
Culburra, New South Wales, Australia is a decent location for generating solar energy year-round. The amount of energy you can get from the sun varies throughout the year. In summer, you can expect around 6.41 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops to 4.35 kWh/day in autumn and further decreases to 3.16 kWh/day in winter before increasing again to 5.74 kWh/day in spring.
This means that solar panels will produce the most electricity during summer and spring when the sun shines longer and more intensely, while production will be lower during autumn and especially winter due to shorter days and less intense sunlight.
To maximize your year-round solar energy production at this location, it's recommended that your fixed panel installation is tilted at an angle of 31 degrees facing north.
There may be certain local factors that could affect your solar production such as environmental conditions like shadows from nearby trees or buildings which could block sunlight from reaching your panels; topography such as hills or other geographical features that might obstruct sunlight; weather patterns including heavy cloud cover or frequent storms; and other local factors like dust or bird droppings on panels which could reduce their efficiency.
To overcome these potential issues:
1) Install your system in a place with minimal shading from nearby structures or trees.
2) Regularly clean your panels to remove any dirt or bird droppings.
3) Monitor local weather patterns so you know what times of day/year are best for generating power.
4) If there are hills blocking the sun, consider using mountings that allow you to adjust the angle of your panels so they're always facing directly towards the sun.
Overall though, Culburra is a good spot for harnessing solar power thanks to its southern subtropical climate with plenty of sunshine throughout most of the year.
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 Culburra
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -34.9304549, Longitude: 150.7580271 (Culburra, 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 Culburra, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Culburra, Australia (Lat/Long -34.9304549, 150.7580271) 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 Culburra, 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 Culburra, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19° North in Summer | 40° North in Autumn | 50° 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 Culburra, 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 Culburra, 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 Culburra, Australia
Culburra is located in New South Wales, Australia, and is characterized by a coastal topography. It has flat terrain with sandy beaches along the coast of the Tasman Sea. The area also includes some low-lying hills and grasslands.
For large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, flat or gently sloping areas are preferred as they require less site preparation, which can significantly reduce installation costs. Additionally, these sites should have high solar irradiance levels and minimal shading from trees or other structures.
Given these considerations, the grasslands and open spaces around Culburra could potentially be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. However, it's important to note that environmental impact assessments would need to be conducted before any such projects could proceed.
Moreover, Australia has high levels of sunlight year-round which makes it an ideal location for solar power generation. Areas further inland from Culburra where there are larger expanses of undeveloped land may also be suitable for large-scale solar PV projects if they meet the necessary criteria regarding sun exposure and terrain suitability.
A detailed feasibility study including factors like local weather patterns (cloud cover), land ownership issues (private vs public lands), proximity to power grid infrastructure etc., would need to be carried out by professionals in the field before deciding on a specific location for such a project.
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.
