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Solar PV Analysis of Surfside, Australia
The location at Surfside, New South Wales, Australia is quite suitable for generating energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout the year. This place gets a good amount of sunlight in all seasons which can be converted into electricity using solar panels. The amount of energy that can be generated varies with each season.
In summer, you can expect to generate around 6.53 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for every kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity. This is the best time of the year for solar energy production due to longer daylight hours and higher sun intensity.
During autumn, this figure drops slightly to 4.32 kWh/day per kW due to shorter daylight hours and lower sun intensity but it's still pretty decent.
Winter sees a further drop in solar production because there are even fewer daylight hours and the sun's intensity is at its lowest point during this time of year; you can expect around 3.07 kWh/day per kW.
Spring sees an increase again up to about 5.75 kWh/day per kW as daylight hours increase and the sun becomes more intense again.
To maximise total yearly power output from your solar PV system at this location, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32 degrees towards North - this will ensure they're optimally positioned to capture as much sunlight as possible throughout different times of the day and across different seasons.
As far as local factors that could potentially hinder solar production are concerned, it would largely depend on specific site characteristics like shading from nearby buildings or trees which could block sunlight from reaching your panels; these should ideally be avoided or mitigated where possible when installing your system so that they don't negatively impact its performance too much.
Weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or storms might also temporarily affect panel efficiency but these are usually short-term effects and not a major concern over the long run unless such weather events occur very frequently.
Overall, Surfside, New South Wales seems to be a pretty good location for solar PV generation throughout the year. Just make sure your panels are installed correctly and positioned optimally to capture as much sunlight as possible, and that potential shading or weather-related issues are properly addressed.
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 Surfside
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -35.6987638, Longitude: 150.1941743 (Surfside, 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 32° North in Surfside, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Surfside, Australia (Lat/Long -35.6987638, 150.1941743) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 32° 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 Surfside, 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 Surfside, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 32° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20° North in Summer | 41° North in Autumn | 51° North in Winter | 29° 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 Surfside, 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 Surfside, 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 Surfside, Australia
Surfside, Australia is located in the southeastern part of the country, along the coast of New South Wales. The topography around Surfside is characterized by a mix of flat coastal plains and rolling hills, with some steeper inclines as you move further inland towards the Great Dividing Range. The area is largely residential and commercial but there are also patches of forested areas nearby.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat open spaces with high sun exposure are ideal. These conditions allow for maximum absorption of sunlight by the solar panels. In this region, potential areas could be found on cleared land or agricultural fields that are not in use or on rooftops of large commercial buildings in urban areas.
However, actual suitability would depend on several factors such as local laws and regulations regarding land use and renewable energy projects, proximity to power grids for easy integration and distribution of generated electricity, among other considerations like cost-effectiveness.
As Surfside is a coastal area known for its beaches and tourism industry - any proposed project would also need to take into account potential impacts on local ecosystems (like bird migration patterns) or visual aesthetics which might affect tourism.
It's also worth noting that while Australia has significant solar potential due to its high levels of sunlight year-round - it's not just about geographical location but also infrastructure capacity (i.e., can existing power grids handle additional input from a large scale solar farm?) which should be considered when planning such 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.
