Oakford, Western Australia represents a very good location for year-round solar energy generation, though with significant seasonal variations typical of its Southern Sub Tropical climate zone.

Seasonal Solar Performance

The solar energy output at Oakford shows strong seasonal patterns that reflect the region's climate. Summer delivers exceptional performance at 8.83kWh per day per kW of installed solar capacity, making it the prime season for solar generation. Spring also provides excellent output at 6.96kWh per day per kW, representing the second-best period for solar energy production. Autumn sees a notable decline to 4.55kWh per day per kW, while winter represents the lowest production period at 3.13kWh per day per kW. Despite this winter minimum, the location still generates meaningful solar energy throughout the year, indicating reliable year-round viability for solar installations.

Optimal Installation Configuration

For maximum year-round solar production at Oakford, solar panels should be installed at a fixed tilt angle of 27 degrees facing north. This angle has been calculated to optimize total annual energy output by accounting for the sun's varying elevation throughout the year and weighting for actual solar irradiance conditions.

Environmental and Weather Factors

Several local factors at Oakford can potentially impact solar energy production and should be considered during installation:

• Dust and debris accumulation - Western Australia's dry climate and agricultural activities can lead to dust settling on panels
• Bird activity - Rural locations often experience bird droppings that can shade panels
• Seasonal weather patterns - Winter cloud cover and occasional storms may temporarily reduce output
• Vegetation growth - Trees and shrubs can create shading issues if not properly managed

Preventative Measures for Optimal Performance

To maximize solar energy production at this location, several preventative measures should be implemented during installation and ongoing maintenance. Regular cleaning schedules help address dust accumulation, with more frequent cleaning recommended during dry periods or after dust storms. Proper site selection during installation should ensure panels are positioned away from existing trees and potential future vegetation growth. Installing bird deterrents and maintaining clear access paths for cleaning can prevent wildlife-related production losses. Investing in a monitoring system allows for quick identification of performance issues, while ensuring adequate spacing between panel rows prevents self-shading during lower sun angles in winter months.

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 Oakford

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -32.2035, Longitude: 115.9364 (Oakford, 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 27° North in Oakford, Australia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Oakford, Australia (Lat/Long -32.2035, 115.9364) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 27° 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 Oakford, 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 Oakford, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 27° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
16° North in Summer	37° North in Autumn	47° North in Winter	25° 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 Oakford, 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 Oakford, 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 Oakford, Australia

Topography and Terrain

Oakford sits within the Perth metropolitan region of Western Australia, positioned on the Swan Coastal Plain approximately 35 kilometers southeast of Perth's central business district. The area is characterized by relatively flat to gently undulating terrain typical of the coastal plain environment, with elevations generally ranging from 20 to 60 meters above sea level. The landscape consists predominantly of sandy soils overlying clay substrates, creating well-draining conditions across much of the region.

The topography around Oakford features broad, open agricultural land interspersed with scattered rural residential properties and remnant bushland. The terrain slopes very gently westward toward the Indian Ocean, creating excellent drainage patterns that prevent waterlogging issues common in flatter coastal areas. Rolling hills are minimal, with most elevation changes being gradual and subtle rather than steep or dramatic.

Native vegetation in the area includes wandoo and jarrah woodlands on slightly elevated areas, with banksia and melaleuca species dominating lower-lying zones. Much of the original vegetation has been cleared for agriculture, leaving large expanses of open farmland that provide clear sight lines across the landscape.

Optimal Areas for Large-Scale Solar Development

The agricultural zones immediately north and east of Oakford present the most promising opportunities for utility-scale solar photovoltaic installations. These areas feature extensive cleared farmland with minimal tree cover, providing the open exposure essential for solar energy generation. The gently sloping terrain in these zones offers natural drainage while maintaining relatively level surfaces that simplify construction and panel installation processes.

Cleared pastoral lands extending toward Byford and Mundijong represent particularly suitable locations due to their combination of flat topography, minimal shading obstacles, and existing agricultural zoning that may accommodate renewable energy development. The sandy soils in these areas provide stable foundations for solar mounting systems while allowing for effective drainage during Western Australia's winter rainfall period.

Areas southeast of Oakford toward Jarrahdale also show strong potential, particularly where previous agricultural activities have created large open spaces. The slightly elevated positions in this direction offer excellent exposure to solar radiation while maintaining the gentle gradients that facilitate efficient installation and maintenance access.

The western approaches toward Mundijong Road corridor present additional opportunities, with substantial cleared agricultural properties that benefit from minimal topographical constraints. These locations combine favorable terrain characteristics with proximity to existing electrical infrastructure, potentially reducing connection costs for large-scale solar developments.

Rural properties along the eastern boundaries of the area, where the terrain begins transitioning toward the Darling Scarp foothills, offer mixed suitability depending on specific site characteristics. While some elevated positions provide excellent exposure, others may face challenges from increased vegetation density and steeper gradients that could complicate development processes.

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.