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Solar PV Analysis of Red Cliffs, Australia
Red Cliffs, Victoria, Australia is a pretty good spot for generating energy using solar panels year-round. The amount of energy you can get from solar panels depends on how much sunlight they receive. In Red Cliffs, during the summer months, each kilowatt of installed solar can produce about 8.72 kilowatt-hours per day. In autumn and spring, this drops to about 4.85 and 6.60 kilowatt-hours per day respectively while in winter it's around 3.18 kilowatt-hours per day.
This means that the best time to generate solar power at this location would be during the summer when sunlight is most abundant followed by spring and autumn; winter would be the least ideal due to less sunlight.
To make sure you're getting as much energy as possible from your panels throughout the year, they should be tilted at an angle of 29 degrees facing North if you have a fixed panel installation.
As far as potential obstacles go in Red Cliffs that could hinder your solar production - there aren't any major ones that stand out significantly enough to mention here such as excessive cloud cover or heavy pollution which are common issues in other areas.
However, like any other place on earth, local weather patterns could occasionally reduce sun exposure (like overcast days or dust storms), and physical obstructions like buildings or trees might block some sunlight if not properly planned for during installation.
To prevent these issues affecting your power production too much: carefully choose where you install your solar panels - ideally somewhere with clear sky visibility most of the time; keep them clean so dust or debris doesn't block out light; and consider installing more than one panel so even if one is shaded at times others still capture light.
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 Red Cliffs
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -34.3083479, Longitude: 142.186535 (Red Cliffs, 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 Red Cliffs, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Red Cliffs, Australia (Lat/Long -34.3083479, 142.186535) 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 Red Cliffs, 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 Red Cliffs, 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 | 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 Red Cliffs, 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 Red Cliffs, 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 Red Cliffs, Australia
The Red Cliffs area is located in the state of Victoria, Australia. This region is known for its flat plains and relatively low elevation, with an average height above sea level of around 50 meters. The topography consists mostly of flat agricultural land and sparse vegetation, making it ideal for solar PV installations.
The climate in this area is classified as semi-arid, receiving moderate to low rainfall throughout the year. It also experiences high sunlight exposure with hot summers and mild winters.
Considering these factors, large-scale solar PV installations would be most suited to the open plains surrounding Red Cliffs where there are fewer obstructions such as trees or buildings that could potentially block sunlight. These areas include:
1. The vast agricultural lands north-east of Red Cliffs along Calder Highway.
2. The open spaces south-west towards Irymple and Mildura.
3. The flatlands west towards Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.
However, any decision to install solar panels should also take into account other factors like land ownership rights, proximity to power grids for energy transmission and potential environmental impacts on local ecosystems or farmlands.
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.
