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Solar PV Analysis of The Entrance, Australia
The Entrance, in New South Wales, Australia, is a pretty decent spot for generating solar energy all year round. It's not perfect, but it's better than many other places. You can expect to generate different amounts of energy depending on the season. In summer and spring, you'll get more power because the sun is out longer and stronger - about 6.73 and 5.83 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of solar panels installed. Autumn isn't too bad either with around 4.26 kilowatt-hours per day per kilowatt installed. Winter is the weakest season with just about 3.37 kilowatt-hours per day per kilowatt installed.
To get the most out of your solar panels in this location throughout the year, you should tilt them at an angle of 30 degrees towards the north.
As far as local factors that could affect your solar production at The Entrance go - there are a few things to consider but they're not major issues that would stop you from installing solar panels here altogether.
Firstly, like anywhere else in Australia or indeed worldwide, weather can impact how much sun your panels get - cloudy days will produce less energy than clear ones but over time this averages out fairly well thanks to our sunny climate overall.
Secondly, topography or physical features of the landscape could potentially be an issue if there are hills or buildings casting shadows over where you want to install your panels during peak sunlight hours.
Lastly on environmental factors; birds dropping "gifts" onto your panels can reduce their efficiency so regular cleaning might be necessary depending on local bird populations!
In terms of preventative measures against these potential issues:
1) Make sure you site your panel installation carefully considering potential shade from hills/buildings.
2) Regular maintenance including cleaning off any bird droppings will ensure maximum efficiency.
3) Perhaps invest in a backup power source such as a generator or battery storage system for those rare occasions when the weather isn't in your favor.
Overall, The Entrance is a good spot for solar power generation with just a few manageable challenges to keep in mind.
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 The Entrance
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -33.3448256, Longitude: 151.4932299 (The Entrance, 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 30° North in The Entrance, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in The Entrance, Australia (Lat/Long -33.3448256, 151.4932299) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 30° 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 The Entrance, 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 The Entrance, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 30° North tilt angle throughout the year.
| Overall Best Summer Angle | Overall Best Autumn Angle | Overall Best Winter Angle | Overall Best Spring Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17° North in Summer | 39° North in Autumn | 48° North in Winter | 27° 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 The Entrance, 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 The Entrance, 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 The Entrance, Australia
The Entrance is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is a coastal town, situated between Tuggerah Lake and the Pacific Ocean. The topography around this area typically consists of flat to gently sloping terrain with sandy beaches along the coast and some low-lying hills inland.
The region has a mix of residential areas, commercial districts, and natural spaces including water bodies and parks. There are also agricultural lands further inland.
As for large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping areas are usually preferred as they require less site preparation work and can accommodate larger arrays more easily. Therefore, less developed or open rural/agricultural lands would be most suited for such projects in terms of topography.
However, it's important to note that factors other than topography also play crucial roles in determining suitability for solar PV installations. These include sunlight availability (solar irradiance), land use restrictions or regulations (zoning laws), proximity to electrical grids for power transmission, environmental considerations (like biodiversity impacts), etc.
In terms of sunlight availability specifically - Central Coast NSW does receive good amounts of sunshine throughout the year which could potentially make it suitable for solar energy generation projects given other factors align favorably too.
However specific feasibility studies would need to be conducted by relevant professionals before any definite conclusions can be drawn regarding suitability of specific sites near The Entrance for large-scale solar PV installations.
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.
