Solar Energy Potential in Gordonvale, Queensland

Gordonvale, Queensland, Australia offers a promising location for solar PV energy generation, situated in the tropical region where sunlight remains relatively consistent throughout the year. This location experiences distinct wet and dry seasons rather than the traditional four seasons found in temperate climates. The energy production from solar PV systems in Gordonvale varies across the meteorological seasons. During Spring, panels achieve their peak performance, generating an impressive 6.92kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Summer follows as the second most productive season with 6.24kWh/day, while Autumn yields 5.29kWh/day. Winter represents the least productive period, though still delivering a respectable 4.58kWh/day per kilowatt installed. For maximum year-round energy production in Gordonvale, fixed solar panels should be installed at a 15-degree tilt facing North. This specific angle has been calculated to optimize annual energy capture based on the location's latitude and solar elevation patterns throughout the year.

Environmental Considerations

Several significant environmental factors can affect solar production in Gordonvale:

• Tropical cyclones and severe storms during the wet season (typically November through April) can damage solar installations if not properly secured.
• Heavy rainfall and cloud cover during the wet season can temporarily reduce solar output.
• High humidity levels can lead to accelerated degradation of equipment if not properly rated for tropical conditions.
• Dust accumulation during the dry season can gradually diminish panel efficiency.

Preventative measures for these conditions include installing cyclone-rated mounting systems anchored to withstand high winds, selecting marine-grade components resistant to corrosion, implementing automated cleaning systems or regular maintenance schedules, and using micro-inverters or power optimizers to minimize the impact of partial shading from cloud cover. Despite these challenges, Gordonvale's location offers excellent solar potential, particularly during the dry season when clear skies predominate. The relatively consistent year-round production makes it a suitable location for solar PV installations with proper environmental safeguards in place.

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 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 Gordonvale

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -17.0924, Longitude: 145.7805 (Gordonvale, 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 15° North in Gordonvale, Australia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Gordonvale, Australia (Lat/Long -17.0924, 145.7805) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 15° 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 Gordonvale, 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 Gordonvale, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 15° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
1° North in Summer	23° North in Autumn	33° North in Winter	11° 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 Gordonvale, 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 Gordonvale, Australia.

Our calculation method

1. Solar Position:
   We determine the Sun's position on the Winter solstice using the location's latitude and solar declination.
2. Shadow Projection:
   We calculate the shadow length cast by panels using trigonometry, considering panel tilt and the Sun's elevation angle.
3. 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 Gordonvale, Australia

Gordonvale is a small town located in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 23 kilometers south of Cairns. The topography around Gordonvale is notably diverse and visually striking, characterized by a combination of flat agricultural plains, rolling hills, and dramatic mountain formations. The town itself sits on relatively flat terrain within the Mulgrave River valley. This valley forms part of a broader coastal plain that extends between the Great Dividing Range and the Coral Sea. To the immediate west of Gordonvale stands the iconic Walsh's Pyramid (Djarragun), an impressive, naturally pyramid-shaped mountain that rises to 922 meters above sea level. This distinctive landmark is actually an isolated peak separated from the main range and is believed to be the highest free-standing natural pyramid in the world.

Surrounding Landscape Elements

The eastern side of Gordonvale transitions toward coastal lowlands that eventually meet the Coral Sea. These lowlands are predominantly used for sugarcane cultivation, with the flat terrain making it ideal for agriculture. The Mulgrave River winds through this landscape, creating fertile alluvial soils that have supported the region's agricultural industry for generations. To the west and southwest, beyond Walsh's Pyramid, the terrain becomes increasingly mountainous as it forms part of the Great Dividing Range. These mountains feature steep slopes covered in tropical rainforest vegetation, representing some of the oldest continuous rainforest in the world. The elevation rises significantly in this direction, with numerous peaks and valleys creating a complex topographical profile. The north and south of Gordonvale continue along the coastal plain, though with occasional hills and smaller mountain formations interrupting the otherwise flat landscape. Throughout this region, the combination of volcanic soil deposits and consistent rainfall has created exceptionally fertile ground.

Solar PV Potential Areas

When considering areas most suited for large-scale solar photovoltaic installations near Gordonvale, several factors must be considered including terrain flatness, existing land use, and environmental sensitivity. The flat agricultural lands that extend east and southeast of Gordonvale present promising opportunities for solar development. These areas already experience human modification through sugarcane farming, potentially making them easier to repurpose for solar installations from a regulatory perspective. The flat terrain would minimize construction costs and maximize efficiency of panel placement. Areas to the northeast toward Cairns, where some cleared, gently sloping terrain exists, could also be suitable for solar development. These locations offer good exposure to sunlight with minimal shadowing effects from the mountains to the west. Several cleared plateaus and gentler slopes in the foothills west of Gordonvale, but before the steeper mountain terrain begins, might also be considered. These elevated positions could potentially receive excellent sun exposure throughout the day, though construction costs would be higher than on completely flat terrain. It's worth noting that the immediate areas around the Mulgrave River would likely be unsuitable due to flooding risks and environmental protections. Similarly, the mountainous regions to the west with their steep slopes and dense rainforest vegetation would present significant challenges for development and would likely face environmental protection restrictions as they contain valuable tropical rainforest ecosystems. The most practical approach would likely involve utilizing portions of the agricultural land that may be less productive or areas that have already been cleared but are not currently under intensive cultivation. This would balance the need for suitable topography with minimizing environmental impact and competing land uses.

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

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.