Rockingham, Western Australia, located in the Southern Sub Tropics, offers a favorable environment for solar PV energy generation throughout the year. The city's geographical position at latitude -32.335 and longitude 115.8128 provides ample sunlight for photovoltaic systems to produce electricity efficiently.

Seasonal Solar Performance

Solar energy production in Rockingham varies significantly across the seasons. Summer stands out as the most productive period, with an impressive average daily output of 8.80 kWh per kW of installed solar capacity. Spring follows as the second-best season, generating 6.98 kWh/day. Autumn sees a moderate decrease in production at 4.60 kWh/day, while winter experiences the lowest output at 3.20 kWh/day.

The substantial difference between summer and winter production highlights the impact of seasonal variations on solar energy generation in this region. However, even during the least productive winter months, solar panels continue to generate a meaningful amount of electricity.

Optimal Panel Placement

To maximize year-round solar energy production in Rockingham, fixed solar panels should be installed at a tilt angle of 27 degrees facing North. This angle has been calculated to optimize energy capture across all seasons, taking into account the Earth's elliptical orbit and the location's specific solar elevation angles.

Environmental Considerations

While Rockingham generally provides favorable conditions for solar energy production, there are a few environmental factors to consider:

1. Coastal location: Rockingham's proximity to the ocean may expose solar installations to salt spray, which can potentially corrode equipment over time. To mitigate this, using marine-grade materials and applying protective coatings to solar panels and mounting systems is advisable.

2. Wind: The area can experience strong winds, particularly during storm seasons. Ensuring that solar panels are securely mounted and using wind-resistant racking systems can help prevent damage and maintain optimal panel positioning.

3. Dust and pollen: Like many Australian locations, Rockingham can experience periods of increased dust and pollen in the air. Regular cleaning of solar panels, potentially with automated cleaning systems in larger installations, can help maintain peak efficiency.

By addressing these factors during installation and maintenance, solar energy systems in Rockingham can operate at high efficiency, taking full advantage of the location's generous solar resources throughout the year.

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 Rockingham

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -32.335, Longitude: 115.8128 (Rockingham, 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 Rockingham, Australia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Rockingham, Australia (Lat/Long -32.335, 115.8128) 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 Rockingham, 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 Rockingham, 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 Rockingham, 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 Rockingham, 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 Rockingham, Australia

The topography around Rockingham, Australia, located at latitude -32.335 and longitude 115.8128, is characterized by a diverse coastal landscape. Situated on the western coast of Australia, Rockingham features a relatively flat terrain with some gentle undulations. The area is part of the Swan Coastal Plain, which extends along the Indian Ocean coastline. To the west of Rockingham lies the Indian Ocean, with sandy beaches and shallow coastal waters. The shoreline is punctuated by small bays and inlets, creating a picturesque coastal environment. Offshore, there are several islands, including Garden Island, which provides some protection to the mainland coast. Moving inland from the coast, the terrain gradually rises, but remains generally low-lying. The landscape is dotted with small hills and ridges, interspersed with areas of flat land. These gentle elevations rarely exceed 50 meters above sea level, creating a rolling topography that is typical of the region.

Suitability for Large-Scale Solar PV

When considering areas nearby Rockingham for large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, several factors come into play. The most suitable locations would be found inland, away from the immediate coastal zone. These areas offer several advantages for solar PV development: Firstly, the inland regions tend to have more open, flat terrain. This type of landscape is ideal for solar farms as it requires minimal land preparation and allows for efficient layout of solar panels. The gently rolling hills can also be advantageous, as south-facing slopes (in the Southern Hemisphere) can maximize solar exposure. Secondly, areas further from the coast are less likely to be affected by salt spray, which can be detrimental to solar panel efficiency and longevity. The inland areas also tend to have less cloud cover compared to coastal regions, ensuring more consistent solar radiation throughout the year. Thirdly, the regions east and northeast of Rockingham, extending towards the agricultural areas, offer vast tracts of land that are less densely populated. These areas provide ample space for large-scale solar installations without conflicting with urban development or prime agricultural land. It's worth noting that while the immediate vicinity of Rockingham may not be ideal for large-scale solar farms due to urban development and coastal factors, the broader region within a 50-100 kilometer radius offers numerous potential sites. These areas combine favorable topography with the necessary space and solar resources to support significant solar PV projects. In conclusion, while Rockingham itself is characterized by a coastal topography, the surrounding inland areas present promising opportunities for large-scale solar PV development, leveraging the region's abundant sunshine and suitable terrain.

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.