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Solar PV Analysis of George Town, Australia
George Town, Tasmania, Australia has the potential to generate a decent amount of solar energy throughout the year. However, its effectiveness varies greatly depending on the season.
In summer, you can expect to generate quite a lot of electricity with around 7.55 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This is because there are more hours of sunlight and less cloud cover during this season.
In autumn and spring, you can still generate a reasonable amount of power - about 3.62 kWh/day in autumn and 5.47 kWh/day in spring per kW installed.
However, winter sees a significant drop in production due to fewer daylight hours and more cloudy days – only about 1.97 kWh/day per kW installed can be expected.
To maximize your total yearly solar energy production at this location, it's recommended that your solar panels are fixed at an angle tilted 35 degrees towards the north. This angle is optimal for capturing as much sunlight as possible throughout the year.
There could be some local factors that might affect your solar energy production in George Town though:
1) Weather: Tasmania often experiences cloudy weather which could reduce sunlight exposure.
2) Topography: If there are hills or tall buildings blocking direct sunlight from reaching your panels.
3) Environmental: Large trees or other vegetation may also cast shadows over your installation site which would reduce efficiency.
To overcome these challenges:
- Choose an installation site with minimal shadowing from trees or buildings.
- Regularly clean and maintain your panels to ensure they're operating efficiently.
- Consider using tracking systems that move the panels to follow the sun across the sky if cloud cover isn't too heavy – this will help increase their exposure to direct sunlight.
- Install additional capacity (more panels), if space allows, especially if you want to rely on solar power during winter months when generation is lower.
Overall though, George Town can be a good location for solar energy generation, especially during the sunnier months of the year.
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 George Town
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -41.1057634, Longitude: 146.8265348 (George Town, 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 George Town, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in George Town, Australia (Lat/Long -41.1057634, 146.8265348) 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 George Town, 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 George Town, 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 | 33° 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 George Town, 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 George Town, 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 George Town, Australia
George Town, Australia is located on the northeastern coast of Tasmania. The topography of this area is characterized by a mix of coastal plains and hilly regions. The town itself sits along the Tamar River estuary, surrounded by water bodies including Bass Strait to its north.
The region experiences a temperate maritime climate with relatively consistent sunlight throughout the year, making it potentially suitable for solar PV installations. However, specific suitability would depend on detailed analysis of factors like annual sunlight hours, cloud cover patterns, land availability and use restrictions etc.
Areas most suited for large-scale solar PV installations would be flat regions with minimal shading from nearby hills or vegetation and close proximity to electrical grid connections for ease of power transmission. These could include agricultural lands or other open spaces around George Town that are not currently being used intensively.
It's worth noting that Tasmania as a whole is known more for its hydropower resources due to its significant river systems and mountainous terrain in many areas - this could potentially impact the relative attractiveness or priority given to large-scale solar developments in the region.
Lastly, any such project would need to comply with local planning regulations and environmental considerations - especially given Tasmania's focus on maintaining its natural landscapes and biodiversity.
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.
