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Solar PV Analysis of Devonport, Australia
Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, is a decent location for generating solar energy throughout the year. However, it's not ideal because the amount of sunlight varies greatly depending on the season. In simpler terms, if you have solar panels installed in this location and they are capable of producing 1 kilowatt (kW) of power, you can expect them to generate different amounts of energy each day depending on the time of year.
During summer, your panels will produce about 7.55 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day. This is when they'll be most effective because there's more sunlight and longer days.
In autumn and spring, your panels will produce less energy - around 3.62 kWh/day in autumn and 5.47 kWh/day in spring.
Winter is when your panels will be least effective due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sun; they'll only generate about 1.97 kWh/day during this season.
To get the most out of your solar installation throughout the year at this location, it's best to tilt your solar panel at an angle facing North by about 35 degrees from horizontal level ground surface which helps capture maximum sunlight over a year.
As for local factors that could affect solar production: Devonport has fairly stable weather patterns but does experience some cloud cover and rainfall which could reduce output from time to time especially during winter months when cloud cover can be more persistent or heavy rainfalls occur frequently resulting in lesser sunshine hours than usual.
It's also important to consider any physical obstructions like tall buildings or trees that might block sunlight from reaching your panels as these can significantly reduce their efficiency too.
To mitigate these issues:
1) You could install adjustable mounting systems that allow you to change panel angles according to seasonal changes maximizing exposure towards incoming sunlight.
2) For potential obstructions like trees or buildings casting shadows onto panels; strategic placement avoiding such shadow-casting structures would be ideal during installation.
3) Regular cleaning and maintenance of panels are essential too, as dust or debris can also reduce their efficiency.
Remember, while Devonport may not have the most consistent solar energy potential year-round, it's still a good location for solar power generation especially during summer months.
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 Devonport
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -41.1800656, Longitude: 146.3502862 (Devonport, 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 35° North in Devonport, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Devonport, Australia (Lat/Long -41.1800656, 146.3502862) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 35° 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 Devonport, 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 Devonport, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 35° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° North in Summer | 45° North in Autumn | 56° North in Winter | 34° 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 Devonport, 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 Devonport, 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 Devonport, Australia
Devonport is located in the northern part of Tasmania, Australia. The topography around Devonport is characterized by a mixture of flat and hilly terrains. It has coastal plains towards the Bass Strait and rises into small hills inland. The city itself is relatively flat, situated on the Mersey River's estuary.
As for large-scale solar PV projects, areas with flat terrain would be most suitable as they provide easy installation and maintenance access. Considering Devonport's geographical location, it might be challenging to find vast expanses of unused flat land due to its proximity to both urban development and natural reserves.
However, Tasmania generally receives less solar irradiation compared to mainland Australia due to its latitude and often cloudy weather conditions. Therefore it might not be the optimal location for large-scale solar PV projects when compared with other regions in Australia like Queensland or Western Australia that receive more sunlight annually.
Nonetheless, if a large-scale solar project were considered in this area, potential sites could include underutilized industrial lands or agricultural fields where such installations would not interfere significantly with existing land use. Additionally, rooftop installations on large commercial or industrial buildings could also be an option.
Before any project implementation though detailed site-specific studies including sun-path analysis (solar irradiance), land-use factors (environmental impact assessment), grid connectivity feasibility etc., should always be conducted by professionals in the field.
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: 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.
