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Solar PV Analysis of Wellington, Australia
The location at Wellington, New South Wales, Australia, which is located in the Southern Sub Tropics, can produce a decent amount of energy from solar panels all year round. However, the amount of energy produced varies depending on the season.
In summer and spring, you can expect to generate more energy compared to autumn and winter. Specifically, you could get around 8.28 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day for each kilowatt (kW) of solar installed in summer and around 6.33 kWh/day per kW in spring. These are pretty good numbers that mean your solar panels will be working hard during these seasons.
On the other hand, during autumn and winter your panels won't produce as much - about 5.14 kWh/day per kW in autumn and only about 3.38 kWh/day per kW in winter.
If you're installing fixed solar panels here it's best to tilt them at an angle of 29 degrees facing North - this will give you the most overall energy production throughout the year.
As for factors that might get in the way of your solar power production at this location: there may be some local weather conditions such as cloud cover or fog that could reduce sunlight exposure on some days; however these are not typically significant enough to drastically affect your overall annual output.
Local topography could also be a factor if there are hills or buildings casting shadows over your panels; but again this would need to be quite significant to have a major impact on production levels.
To ensure maximum efficiency from your installation it's important to keep any potential obstructions like trees or structures away from where they might cast shadows over your panels; regular cleaning is also necessary so dirt or dust doesn't build up on them reducing their effectiveness over time.
In summary: Wellington NSW is generally a good spot for generating solar power with higher outputs expected during summer and spring months; with careful installation and maintenance you can optimise your panels for best year-round performance.
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 Wellington
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -32.5520391, Longitude: 148.9492902 (Wellington, 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 Wellington, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Wellington, Australia (Lat/Long -32.5520391, 148.9492902) 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 Wellington, 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 Wellington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16° North in Summer | 38° North in Autumn | 47° North in Winter | 26° 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 Wellington, 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 Wellington, 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 Wellington, Australia
Wellington, Australia is located in the state of New South Wales and is characterized by a mix of flat plains and hilly terrain. The region overall has a relatively diverse topography with agricultural lands, forests, and some mountainous areas.
For large-scale solar PV installations, flat or gently sloping lands are generally preferred as they minimize installation costs and maximize efficiency. Therefore, the plains around Wellington could be suitable for such installations. However, it's important to consider other factors such as land use policies, proximity to power grids for easy transmission of the generated electricity, local climate conditions including average sunlight hours etc.
In terms of sunlight availability - Wellington enjoys a warm temperate climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year which makes it an ideal location for harnessing solar energy.
However before proceeding with any plans for large-scale solar PV installations in these areas or elsewhere around Wellington detailed feasibility studies would need to be conducted taking into account all relevant environmental and socio-economic factors.
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.
