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Solar PV Analysis of Kiama Downs, Australia
Kiama Downs, New South Wales, Australia is a fairly good location for generating solar power all year round. The amount of energy you can generate with solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In Kiama Downs, the sunniest season is Summer, where each kilowatt of installed solar can produce about 6.41 kilowatt-hours per day. Autumn produces slightly less at 4.35 kWh/day and Spring sees an increase to 5.74 kWh/day. Winter has the least sunlight with about 3.16 kWh/day per kW of installed solar.
The best time to generate solar power in Kiama Downs would be during the Spring and Summer months when there's more sunlight available for longer periods during the day.
If you're planning on installing fixed panel solar PV at this location, it's recommended that you tilt your panels at an angle of 31 degrees facing North to get the most energy throughout the year.
However, there are some factors in Kiama Downs that might affect how much energy your panels can produce such as weather conditions or local environment features like tall trees or buildings that could block sunlight from reaching your panels.
For instance, if it’s often cloudy or rainy then this will reduce the amount of sunlight available for your panels to convert into electricity; likewise if there are tall trees or buildings nearby these could cast shadows over your panels reducing their effectiveness too.
To help ensure greater energy production in relation to these factors it would be beneficial to place your solar installation where it will have clear access to direct sunlight throughout most of the day and year – so avoiding shadows from nearby obstructions as much as possible; also consider using high-quality durable panel materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions like heavy rain or strong winds without getting damaged or losing efficiency over time.
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 Kiama Downs
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -34.6408533, Longitude: 150.8502612 (Kiama Downs, 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 Kiama Downs, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Kiama Downs, Australia (Lat/Long -34.6408533, 150.8502612) 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 Kiama Downs, 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 Kiama Downs, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18° North in Summer | 40° North in Autumn | 49° North in Winter | 28° 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 Kiama Downs, 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 Kiama Downs, 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 Kiama Downs, Australia
Kiama Downs is located on the southeastern coast of Australia, in the state of New South Wales. The topography of this area is characterized by a mix of coastal plains and rolling hills. It's not far from Saddleback Mountain to the west and Minnamurra River to the north, while to its east lies Jones Beach facing Tasman Sea.
The area has a relatively high solar irradiation level which makes it suitable for solar PV installations. However, due to its hilly terrain and residential development, large-scale ground-mounted solar farms might be challenging to implement within Kiama Downs itself.
However, areas with flatter terrains such as agricultural lands or industrial zones could potentially be more suited for large-scale solar PV projects. Areas further inland that have less residential development and flatter terrain could also be more suitable for such projects.
It's also important to consider factors like proximity to power grids for energy transmission and local regulations regarding land use when determining where best to install large-scale solar PV systems.
As always, detailed feasibility studies would need to be conducted before any decisions are made about specific locations for large-scale renewable energy 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!
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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.
