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Solar PV Analysis of Horsham, Australia
Horsham, Victoria, Australia is a fairly decent location for solar energy generation. This location has varying levels of solar power production throughout the year. In simple terms, you can expect more energy production in summer and spring compared to autumn and winter.
In summer, each kilowatt of solar installed can produce about 8.58 units of electricity daily. Spring also performs well with an average daily output of 6.26 units per kilowatt installed. But in autumn and winter, the output drops to 4.44 units and 2.79 units per day respectively.
To maximize your yearly solar energy production at this location, it's best to tilt your panels at an angle of 31 degrees facing North if they are fixed installations (not movable). This is because Horsham is located in the Southern Hemisphere where sunlight comes from the north.
However, there may be some local factors that could impact how much energy you generate from your solar panels at this location:
1) Weather: Cloudy or rainy weather reduces sunlight which can lower your system's performance.
2) Environmental: Large trees or buildings casting shadows on your panels will reduce their effectiveness.
3) Topography: The physical layout or elevation changes in Horsham could affect how much sunlight reaches your panels depending on where they're installed.
To mitigate these factors:
1) Weather: While you cannot control the weather, using high-efficiency PV modules can help capture more light during less sunny periods.
2) Environmental: Make sure to install your panels where there are minimal obstructions blocking sunlight throughout the day.
3) Topography: If possible, select a site for installation that has maximum exposure to sun based on local topography.
In conclusion, while Horsham isn't perfect for year-round high-levels of solar generation due its seasonal variations and potential local challenges like weather patterns or obstructions; with good planning and implementation - including positioning panels at the ideal angle - it's certainly a viable location for solar energy production.
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 491 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 Horsham
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -36.7166715, Longitude: 142.1996597 (Horsham, 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 Horsham, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Horsham, Australia (Lat/Long -36.7166715, 142.1996597) 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 Horsham, 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 Horsham, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° North in Summer | 41° North in Autumn | 51° 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 Horsham, 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 Horsham, 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 Horsham, Australia
Horsham, Australia is located in the Wimmera region of Victoria. The topography around Horsham is relatively flat and consists of plains, with some low-lying hills. It has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cool winters.
The flat topography around Horsham would be ideal for large-scale solar PV installations because it would allow for maximum exposure to sunlight without obstruction from hills or mountains. In addition, the semi-arid climate means that there are many clear days throughout the year which increases solar irradiation levels.
Areas to the north and west of Horsham, such as Nhill or Dimboola, where there is plenty of open space and less tree coverage could be suitable locations for large-scale solar PV installations. However, any decision on where to locate a solar farm would also need to take into account other factors such as proximity to existing power infrastructure for connection to the grid and potential impacts on local flora and fauna.
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: Friday 12th of August 2022
Last Updated: Wednesday 26th of June 2024
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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.
