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Solar PV Analysis of Mildura, Australia
Mildura, Victoria, Australia is a pretty good place to generate solar energy all year round, but it's not perfect. The amount of energy you can get from solar panels varies throughout the year. In summer, you can expect about 8.72 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. This drops to about 4.85kWh/day in autumn and even lower to 3.18kWh/day in winter. However, it goes back up to around 6.60 kWh/day in spring.
So basically, the best time for generating solar power in Mildura is during summer and spring when there's more sunlight available each day.
To make the most out of your solar panels throughout the year in Mildura, Victoria, they should be tilted at an angle of 29 degrees facing North - this is because Australia is located on the southern hemisphere so facing north means your panels will get more sunlight.
As for other factors that could affect how much power you can get from your solar installation: Mildura has a semi-arid climate with hot summers which might cause some efficiency loss due to overheating but this doesn't usually have a significant impact on overall performance.
There aren't any major geographical features like mountains or tall buildings that would block sunlight from reaching your panels either - which is great!
The only potential issue could be dust storms since Mildura does experience them occasionally and dust accumulation on panel surfaces could reduce their efficiency slightly over time - but again this isn't usually significant unless there's been a really big storm or if they're not cleaned regularly.
So as long as you keep your panels clean and install them at the right angle, you should be able to generate quite a bit of power from them all year round!
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 Mildura
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -34.2068859, Longitude: 142.1366852 (Mildura, 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 29° North in Mildura, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Mildura, Australia (Lat/Long -34.2068859, 142.1366852) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 29° 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 Mildura, 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 Mildura, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 29° 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 | 39° North in Autumn | 49° North in Winter | 27° 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 Mildura, 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 Mildura, 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 Mildura, Australia
Mildura is located in the Sunraysia region of Victoria, Australia. The topography around Mildura is largely flat and semi-arid, with low-lying scrubland and sandy soils. The area has a hot Mediterranean climate with long hours of sunshine, making it highly suitable for solar energy production.
The region immediately surrounding Mildura would be most suitable for large-scale solar PV installations due to its flat terrain and high sun exposure. Areas to the north and west of the city are particularly ideal as they are less populated, reducing potential conflicts over land use.
Another factor that makes this location advantageous for large-scale solar PV projects is its proximity to existing infrastructure. Mildura is already connected to Victoria's electricity grid, which would facilitate the transmission of power generated by a solar farm.
It's worth noting that there already exists a significant presence of solar power in this region - The Karadoc Solar Farm near Mildura is one of the largest in Victoria with an output capacity of 112 MWp.
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: 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.
