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Solar PV Analysis of Sawtell, Australia
Sawtell, New South Wales, Australia is a decent location for generating solar energy throughout the year due to its subtropical climate. The amount of energy you can get from your solar panels varies with the seasons. In summer, you can expect to generate about 6.88 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar panels installed. In autumn, this drops to about 4.39 kWh/day and further drops to 3.67 kWh/day in winter before rising again in spring to approximately 5.99 kWh/day.
This means that your solar panels will be most effective during the summer and spring months when there's more sunlight available for longer periods of the day compared to autumn and winter months where daylight hours are shorter and sunlight intensity is lower.
To maximize your yearly energy production from your solar PV system at this location, it's best if you tilt your panels at an angle of around 27 degrees facing northward which aligns them better with the sun's path across the sky.
As far as environmental or other local factors that could affect solar production at this location are concerned, there don't seem to be any significant ones mentioned here but it's always good practice to consider potential shading issues from nearby trees or buildings which could block sunlight reaching your panels especially during peak sun hours. Also consider weather patterns like frequent cloud cover or fog which could reduce sunlight availability.
To address these potential issues ensure that when installing your system it’s positioned away from shade as much as possible and regularly clean off any dust or bird droppings on the panel surfaces so they can absorb as much sunlight as possible without obstruction.
Remember also that even though winter produces less energy than other seasons due to shorter days and lower sun intensity, a well-installed system should still provide a reasonable amount of power during these times.
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 Sawtell
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -30.3679471, Longitude: 153.0995008 (Sawtell, 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 Sawtell, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Sawtell, Australia (Lat/Long -30.3679471, 153.0995008) 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 Sawtell, 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 Sawtell, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14° North in Summer | 36° North in Autumn | 45° North in Winter | 24° 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 Sawtell, 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 Sawtell, 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 Sawtell, Australia
Sawtell is located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia. The area is characterized by a coastal landscape with flat plains and gentle rolling hills. It is situated near the Boambee Creek and is surrounded by dense vegetation and forested areas, including Bongil Bongil National Park to the south. To the west, there are more pronounced hills as part of Great Dividing Range.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are generally preferred due to easier installation and maintenance, as well as optimal sun exposure. Given this criteria, the flat plains around Sawtell would be suitable for such installations.
However, it's important to note that other factors should also be taken into consideration when determining suitability for large-scale solar PV installations. These include local climate conditions (such as average sunlight hours), potential impact on local ecosystems and wildlife (especially given Sawtell's proximity to national parks), availability of infrastructure for power transmission, land ownership issues among others.
In addition to these factors, it would also be beneficial if such an installation was placed close to existing power infrastructure in order to reduce costs associated with transmitting the generated electricity over long distances. Thus locations closer towards urban settlements or existing power lines might be more suitable from an economic perspective.
As a final note: while Sawtell itself may not have large expanses of unused flat land due its small size and coastal location - nearby agricultural lands could potentially serve as sites for solar farms if they meet all necessary requirements.
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.
