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Solar PV Analysis of Darwin, Australia
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia is a great place for solar energy production throughout the year due to its tropical location. It gets steady sunlight most of the year, making it ideal for solar PV (photovoltaic) systems that convert sunlight directly into electricity.
The amount of energy you can generate from a solar PV system depends on how much sunlight hits your panels. In Darwin, Northern Territory, you can expect to generate around 5.49 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of your system in summer, 6.09 kWh/day in autumn, 6.05 kWh/day in winter and as high as 7.05 kWh/day in spring.
In simple terms, this means that if you have a 1 kW solar panel system installed at your home or business in Darwin, Northern Territory, it could produce between about 5 and 7 units of electricity each day depending on the season - enough to power typical household appliances like fridges and washing machines.
To get the most out of your solar PV system all year round in Darwin, Northern Territory, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle of around 13 degrees facing northwards. This allows them to catch as much sunlight as possible over the course of each day.
However, there might be some local factors that could affect how well a solar PV system works here:
1) Wet Season: While consistent sunshine is good news for generating lots of electricity from your panels during dry seasons; heavy rainfall and cloud cover during wet seasons may reduce output temporarily.
Preventative Measure: Regular cleaning and maintenance will ensure optimal performance even after heavy rainfalls or dust storms.
2) High Temperature: Solar panels can lose efficiency if temperatures get too hot.
Preventive Measure: Ensure adequate ventilation around panels so they don't overheat under intense sun rays common here.
3) Cyclones: Being located in cyclone-prone area might pose risk to physical damage to panels.
Preventive Measure: Proper installation and use of durable, cyclone-rated mounting equipment can help withstand strong winds.
4) Shading: Buildings, trees or other structures could cast shadows on the panels, reducing their efficiency.
Preventive Measure: Choose a location for your solar PV system that gets unobstructed sunlight for most of the day.
Despite these challenges, with proper planning and maintenance, a solar PV system in Darwin can provide a reliable source of clean energy throughout the year.
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 490 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 Darwin
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -12.4583, Longitude: 130.8418 (Darwin, 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 13° North in Darwin, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Darwin, Australia (Lat/Long -12.4583, 130.8418) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 13° 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 Darwin, 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 Darwin, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 13° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4° South in Summer | 19° North in Autumn | 28° North in Winter | 6° 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 Darwin, 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 Darwin, 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 Darwin, Australia
Darwin, Australia is located in the Northern Territory and lies on the Timor Sea. The city itself is flat with an elevation close to sea level. It's surrounded by undulating hills and plateaus, with some areas of wetlands, particularly towards the coast.
The topography around Darwin includes coastal areas, floodplains, low hills and ridges. The city itself is built on a low bluff overlooking Darwin Harbour flanked by Frances Bay to the east and Cullen Bay to the west.
As for solar PV potential, it's important to note that Darwin has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. However, it experiences high levels of sunlight year-round which makes it suitable for solar power generation.
Large-scale solar PV projects would be most suited in areas that are relatively flat for easy installation and maintenance of panels; not prone to flooding which could damage infrastructure; have good access roads for construction and ongoing maintenance; have proximity to transmission lines or substations for connection into grid.
Considering these factors, less densely populated outskirts or rural areas surrounding Darwin may be most suited due to availability of land space. This includes regions like Noonamah or Humpty Doo which are relatively flat compared with other nearby locations.
However, detailed feasibility study considering multiple factors including environmental impact assessments would be required before deciding on specific sites.
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: Wednesday 3rd of August 2022
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
