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Solar PV Analysis of Hervey Bay, Australia
Hervey Bay in Queensland, Australia is a pretty good spot for generating energy through solar power all year round. It gets a decent amount of sunlight each day throughout the different seasons, with summer being the best time for solar energy production. The amount of electricity you can get from each kilowatt of installed solar varies by season: it's highest in summer (7.05 kWh/day) and lowest in winter (4.41 kWh/day), but even during winter, it's still not too bad.
To get the most out of your solar panels over the course of the year, you should tilt them at an angle facing 23 degrees North. This will maximize their exposure to the sun and increase overall energy production.
The local environment around Hervey Bay is generally favorable for solar power generation as well - it's mostly flat land with some hills, surrounded by water bodies like the Coral Sea and Great Sandy Strait that don't obstruct sunlight. However, there are other factors to consider that could potentially affect solar production here.
For example, if you're thinking about setting up large-scale solar installations in nearby agricultural lands or open spaces like Maryborough or Torbanlea, you'll need to look into things like land use restrictions and possible environmental impacts on local plants and animals. You should also check soil type to make sure it can support your installation structurally.
Furthermore, Hervey Bay has a coastal climate which means plenty of sunshine but also potential cloud cover or dust storms that could reduce efficiency of your panels from time to time; so having regular maintenance plans would be beneficial.
In short though - Hervey Bay is generally a great place for harnessing solar power with just few minor challenges that can be managed with proper planning and maintenance.
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 Hervey Bay
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -25.2881539, Longitude: 152.7676633 (Hervey Bay, 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 23° North in Hervey Bay, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Hervey Bay, Australia (Lat/Long -25.2881539, 152.7676633) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 23° 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 Hervey Bay, 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 Hervey Bay, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 23° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9° North in Summer | 31° North in Autumn | 40° North in Winter | 19° 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 Hervey Bay, 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 Hervey Bay, 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 Hervey Bay, Australia
Hervey Bay, Australia is located on the eastern coast of Australia in Queensland. The topography of Hervey Bay is relatively flat with a few rolling hills, and it's surrounded by water bodies including the Coral Sea and Great Sandy Strait. It has a coastal climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year.
The region around Hervey Bay consists mainly of agricultural lands and open spaces, as well as some forested areas. These open spaces could potentially be suitable for large-scale solar PV installations due to their flat topography and high exposure to sunlight.
Areas such as Maryborough to the south-west or Torbanlea to the west could be potential sites for large-scale solar PV installations due to their relative flatness, open lands, and proximity to existing infrastructure like roads and power lines which would facilitate construction and connection to grid.
However, any decision about where exactly a solar farm should be located would need detailed site-specific studies considering not only topography but also factors like land use restrictions, environmental impacts (such as effects on local flora/fauna), soil type (for foundation stability), local climate conditions (like frequency of cloud cover or dust storms that might affect solar panel efficiency), proximity to electricity grid connections etc.
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: 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.
