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Solar PV Analysis of Drummond Cove, Australia
Drummond Cove, Western Australia, is a fairly good location for generating solar energy year-round. The amount of energy you can expect to produce from each kilowatt of installed solar varies by season: it's highest in summer at 8.68 kilowatt-hours per day, followed by spring at 7.80 kWh/day, autumn at 5.55 kWh/day and winter at 4.11 kWh/day.
To get the most out of your solar panels all year round in Drummond Cove, they should be installed with a tilt angle facing 25 degrees North. This will maximize the amount of sunlight hitting the panels throughout different times of the year.
However, there might be local factors that could affect solar production in this area such as environmental or weather conditions and topography (the physical features) of land where installation is planned.
For example:
1) Cloudy Weather: Western Australia can have periods of cloudy weather which can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching your panels and thus lower energy production.
2) Dust and Dirt: These can accumulate on your panels over time and block sunlight from reaching them which reduces their efficiency.
3) Shade: Any objects like trees or buildings that cast shadows on your panels will also reduce their efficiency.
Preventative measures to ensure greater energy production include:
1) Regular Cleaning: Regularly cleaning your solar panels helps remove dust and dirt accumulation ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight.
2) Proper Placement: Make sure no objects cast shadows onto your installation site especially during peak sun hours (usually between 9am-3pm).
3) Weather-resistant Equipment: Using equipment designed to withstand local weather conditions would help maintain efficiency even during less-than-ideal conditions.
Overall though, despite these potential challenges Drummond Cove is still a good location for generating solar power due its high daily average sunshine hours especially during summer months when sun's rays are most intense.
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 Drummond Cove
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -28.6726504, Longitude: 114.6154432 (Drummond Cove, 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 25° North in Drummond Cove, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Drummond Cove, Australia (Lat/Long -28.6726504, 114.6154432) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 25° 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 Drummond Cove, 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 Drummond Cove, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 25° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12° North in Summer | 33° North in Autumn | 44° North in Winter | 22° 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 Drummond Cove, 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 Drummond Cove, 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 Drummond Cove, Australia
Drummond Cove is located in Western Australia, and the topography of this area is generally flat to gently undulating. The region is characterized by coastal plains with sandy and loamy soils, which gradually rise to low limestone ridges inland.
The surrounding areas are mostly semi-arid with sparse vegetation, making it a suitable location for large-scale solar PV installations. Specifically, areas towards the east of Drummond Cove that are away from the coast would be most suited for such installations due to their higher sun exposure and less marine influence.
However, there are also other factors that need to be considered when determining the suitability of an area for large-scale solar PV installations. These include access to transmission infrastructure, land use restrictions or conflicts (e.g., nature reserves or agricultural land), proximity to load centers (to minimize transmission losses), as well as social acceptance and regulatory considerations.
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!
Citation Guide
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.
