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Solar PV Analysis of Port Macquarie, Australia
Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia is a pretty good place for solar energy production all year round. During the summer, each kilowatt of installed solar can generate about 6.55 kilowatt-hours per day. In autumn, it drops to around 4.33 kilowatt-hours per day, and in winter it's even lower at about 3.62 kilowatt-hours per day. However, in spring it picks up again with around 5.87 kilowatt-hours per day.
The best time to generate solar power here would be during the summer and spring when the sun shines longer and brighter than other seasons.
When installing solar panels at this location, tilting them at an angle of 28 degrees towards the North will get you maximum sunlight exposure throughout the year.
As for potential issues that might affect your solar energy production in Port Macquarie - there are a few things to consider:
1) Weather: Although Port Macquarie has many sunny days suitable for generating solar power, overcast or rainy days will reduce your system's output.
2) Topography: If there are hills or large buildings casting shadows on your panels during certain times of the day or year this could reduce their efficiency.
3) Environmental factors: Large trees or other vegetation could also cast shadows on your panels reducing their effectiveness.
To overcome these obstacles:
- Install your panels in a location with minimal shadowing from buildings or landscape features.
- Trim any nearby trees that might block sunlight from reaching your panels.
- Regularly clean and maintain your panels as dust or bird droppings can also reduce their efficiency.
In summary - Port Macquarie is generally a great place for generating solar energy thanks to its sunny climate but remember to consider local factors like weather patterns and potential shading issues when installing your system!
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 Port Macquarie
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -31.4580174, Longitude: 152.8974657 (Port Macquarie, 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 28° North in Port Macquarie, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Port Macquarie, Australia (Lat/Long -31.4580174, 152.8974657) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 28° 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 Macquarie, 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 Macquarie, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 28° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15° North in Summer | 37° North in Autumn | 46° 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 Port Macquarie, 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 Macquarie, 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 Macquarie, Australia
Port Macquarie is located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, about 390 km north of Sydney. The topography around Port Macquarie is diverse - it's situated at the mouth of the Hastings River and surrounded by beaches, but also features rolling hills and farmland inland.
The area has a mix of flat coastal plains which gradually rise to steep hills and plateaus further inland. It's this variety in topography that makes certain areas more suitable for large-scale solar PV installations than others.
Large-scale solar PV installations typically require large tracts of relatively flat land that are free from shading (from trees or buildings) and have good sun exposure. Given this, the flat coastal plains around Port Macquarie would be quite suitable for such installations.
However, other factors also need to be considered such as proximity to transmission lines (for feeding the generated electricity into the grid), environmental impact assessments (to ensure minimal disruption to local flora and fauna), soil suitability (for installing solar panel mounts), access to water (for cleaning panels) etc.
In terms of specific nearby areas suited for large-scale solar PV:
1. Wauchope: Located westward from Port Macquarie with significant open farmland.
2. Kempsey: Located northward along the coast with similar geographical conditions.
3. Taree: Further south along the coast with vast expanses of open land.
4. Inland regions towards Walcha: These regions have less dense tree cover making them potentially viable options if transmission line access can be managed.
Remember these are generalised suggestions; a detailed site-specific assessment would still be necessary before deciding on any location for a large-scale solar PV installation.
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
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.
