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Solar PV Analysis of Port Fairy, Australia
Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia is a decent location for generating energy via solar PV throughout the year, but it's not perfect. The amount of energy that can be produced varies quite a bit depending on the season.
In summer, you can expect to generate about 7.45 kWh per day for each kW of installed solar power. This is the best time of year for solar energy production in Port Fairy because there's more sunlight and longer days.
In autumn and spring, you can still generate a fair amount of energy - about 3.71 kWh per day in autumn and 5.82 kWh per day in spring for each kW of installed solar power.
Winter is the least ideal time as you'd only get around 2.46 kWh per day due to shorter daylight hours and less intense sunlight.
For maximum efficiency throughout the year, your solar panels should be fixed at an angle facing 33 degrees North. This position will allow them to capture as much sunlight as possible over the course of a year.
As with any location though, local factors like weather conditions or topography could affect your ability to generate electricity from solar power here.
Port Fairy has relatively mild weather but it does experience some rainfall throughout the year which might reduce output on rainy or cloudy days - particularly in winter when rain is most common and sunlight least abundant.
Also consider potential obstructions like buildings or trees that might shade your panels from direct sunlight if they're nearby; these would reduce how much electricity you could produce from your panels too.
To ensure greater energy production despite these challenges:
1) Choose an unobstructed spot for installing your panels where they'll get full sun exposure all day.
2) Regularly clean off any dust or bird droppings that accumulate on your panels - these block light just like shade does.
3) Consider installing additional equipment like trackers (which adjust panel position with sun movement) or batteries (which store excess power for use when sunlight is low) to optimize your system's performance.
Overall, while Port Fairy isn't the absolute best spot for solar power, it still has potential if you plan carefully and make the most of what sunlight is available.
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 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 Port Fairy
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -38.3806327, Longitude: 142.2294039 (Port Fairy, 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 33° North in Port Fairy, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Port Fairy, Australia (Lat/Long -38.3806327, 142.2294039) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 33° 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 Port Fairy, 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 Port Fairy, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 33° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22° North in Summer | 43° North in Autumn | 53° North in Winter | 31° 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 Port Fairy, 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 Port Fairy, 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 Port Fairy, Australia
Port Fairy is a coastal town in Victoria, Australia. The topography of the area is primarily flat with mild undulations. It's characterized by coastal plains and grasslands, with the Moyne River flowing through it.
The region has a temperate maritime climate, which means it receives a moderate amount of sunlight throughout the year. However, being close to the coast also means there can be frequent cloud cover and foggy conditions which may affect solar efficiency.
In terms of large-scale solar PV installations, areas that are flat and receive high amounts of sunlight would be most suitable. In this context, lands that are not used for agriculture or residential purposes in the broader Moyne Shire might be suitable for such installations.
However, it should be noted that while flat open spaces are generally good for solar farms due to ease of installation and maintenance along with optimal sun exposure; factors like local climate conditions (amount of sunny days), proximity to electrical grids (for power transmission), land costs and environmental impact assessments also play crucial roles in deciding whether an area is suited for large-scale solar PV or not.
Therefore thorough feasibility studies including these aspects would need to be conducted before determining specific sites around Port Fairy as most suited for large-scale solar PV 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.
