.svg)
Solar PV Analysis of Gerringong, Australia
Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia is a pretty good place for generating solar power throughout the year. The amount of energy you can produce from solar panels varies with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to generate a lot of energy - about 6.41 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of installed panels. In autumn and spring, you'll generate less but still a reasonable amount - around 4.35 and 5.74 kilowatt-hours per day respectively. Winter will see the least production with about 3.16 kilowatt-hours per day.
So basically, summer is the best time for producing solar power in Gerringong due to longer daylight hours and more intense sunlight while winter is less ideal because of shorter days and weaker sunlight.
If you're installing solar panels in Gerringong, it's recommended that they be tilted at an angle of 31 degrees facing North to get the most sun exposure throughout the year.
As far as local factors that might impact your solar power production go, there could be some potential issues given Gerringong's coastal location like salt spray which could corrode your system over time or high winds that could cause physical damage to your panels or move them out of their optimal position for catching sunlight.
To prevent these issues from affecting your system's performance too much: consider using components made from materials resistant to corrosion; ensure your system is properly secured against wind; regular cleaning and maintenance can also help keep everything running smoothly despite any challenging environmental conditions.
In conclusion: Gerringong has its challenges when it comes to generating solar power but overall it's still a very viable location especially if preventative measures are taken during installation and regular maintenance is carried out afterwards.
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 Gerringong
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -34.7471735, Longitude: 150.8271609 (Gerringong, 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 Gerringong, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Gerringong, Australia (Lat/Long -34.7471735, 150.8271609) 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 Gerringong, 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 Gerringong, 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 | 49° 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 Gerringong, 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 Gerringong, 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 Gerringong, Australia
Gerringong, Australia is located on the east coast of New South Wales. The topography of the area is characterized by a mix of coastal plains and rolling hills. The region is home to lush greenery, farmlands and vineyards, with the Pacific Ocean to its east.
The region receives a good amount of sunlight throughout the year making it suitable for solar PV installations. However, due to its hilly terrain and agricultural activities, large-scale solar farms might be challenging to implement without careful planning.
Areas most suited for large-scale solar PV would likely be flat open lands or rooftops in urban areas. Some potential areas could include:
1) Unused farmlands: These can be converted into solar farms without disrupting agricultural activities.
2) Industrial areas: Large rooftops in industrial zones could house commercial scale rooftop solar systems.
3) Brownfields: Abandoned or underused industrial sites can also be repurposed for renewable energy projects like solar farms.
4) Coastal regions: If regulations allow, coastal regions with less elevation can also serve as potential sites due to their flat terrain.
It's important that these locations are carefully assessed for factors such as sun exposure (solar irradiance), proximity to power grids (for easy transmission), environmental impact and land use policies before implementing large-scale Solar PV projects.
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
Tell Us About Your Work
We love seeing how our research helps others! If you've cited this article in your work, we'd be delighted to hear about it. Drop us a line via our Contact Us page or on X, to share where you've used our information - we may feature a link to your work on our site. This helps create a network of valuable resources for others in the solar energy community and helps us understand how our research is contributing to the field. Plus, we occasionally highlight exceptional works that reference our research on our social media channels.
Feeling generous?
Share this with your friends!
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.
