Wollongbar, New South Wales, Australia offers a generally favorable location for solar PV energy generation, with seasonal variations in electricity output throughout the year. This Southern Sub-Tropical location experiences notable differences in solar production across meteorological seasons.

Seasonal Solar Production

Solar panels in Wollongbar generate their highest output during summer, producing an average of 6.84kWh per day for each kilowatt of installed capacity. Spring follows as the second most productive season with 5.95kWh/day per kW. Production decreases in autumn to 4.38kWh/day per kW, with winter seeing the lowest generation at 3.87kWh/day per kW.

This seasonal pattern creates a significant difference between summer and winter production, with summer generating approximately 77% more electricity than winter months for the same solar installation.

Optimal Panel Installation

For fixed solar panel installations in Wollongbar, the ideal tilt angle to maximize year-round energy production is 26 degrees facing North. This angle optimizes the annual solar harvest by accounting for the sun's changing position throughout the year and the location's specific latitude.

Environmental and Weather Considerations

Several factors could potentially impact solar production in Wollongbar:

• Tree coverage and vegetation: The Northern Rivers region has significant vegetation that could cast shadows on panels, reducing efficiency.
• Coastal humidity and salt spray: Being relatively close to the coast, salt accumulation on panels can degrade performance over time.
• Summer storms and heavy rainfall: The subtropical climate brings periodic heavy downpours that temporarily reduce solar generation.
• Morning fog in cooler months: Valley fog can delay morning solar production, particularly in winter and autumn.

Preventative Measures

To maximize solar production in Wollongbar, consider these installation practices:

• Perform thorough shade analysis before installation, ensuring panels are positioned away from trees or structures that cast shadows.
• Install panels with quality anti-reflective coatings that perform well in high-humidity environments.
• Consider regular cleaning schedules, especially during dry periods when dust accumulation is higher.
• Use micro-inverters or power optimizers if partial shading is unavoidable, allowing unshaded panels to continue producing at maximum capacity.
• Consider a slight adjustment to panel orientation if afternoon cloud patterns are consistent throughout the year.

Despite the seasonal variations, Wollongbar's overall solar potential remains good, with the annual average production indicating that solar PV systems are a viable renewable energy option for this location.

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 Wollongbar

Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -28.8138, Longitude: 153.3924 (Wollongbar, 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 26° North in Wollongbar, Australia

To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Wollongbar, Australia (Lat/Long -28.8138, 153.3924) throughout the year, you should tilt your panels at an angle of 26° 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 Wollongbar, 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 Wollongbar, Australia. As mentioned earlier, for fixed-panel solar PV installations, it is optimal to maintain a 26° North tilt angle throughout the year.

Overall Best Summer Angle	Overall Best Autumn Angle	Overall Best Winter Angle	Overall Best Spring Angle
13° North in Summer	35° North in Autumn	44° North in Winter	23° 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 Wollongbar, 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 Wollongbar, 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 Wollongbar, Australia

The landscape surrounding Wollongbar in northeastern New South Wales presents a diverse topographical profile characteristic of Australia's eastern coastal region. Wollongbar itself sits on an elevated plateau approximately 140 meters above sea level, offering expansive views of the surrounding countryside. This plateau forms part of the broader Alstonville Plateau, a distinctive geological feature of the Northern Rivers region. The terrain around Wollongbar features gentle undulations with scattered hills and valleys. To the east, the land gradually descends toward the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 20 kilometers away. The coastal plains near Ballina provide relatively flat expanses before meeting the sea. Moving westward from Wollongbar, the landscape becomes progressively more rugged as it approaches the foothills of the Great Dividing Range.

Waterways and Drainage

Several significant waterways influence the topography of the region. The Wilson River flows to the north of Wollongbar, while Emigrant Creek and its tributaries carve valleys through the plateau to the southeast. These waterways have, over time, created distinctive drainage patterns that segment the plateau into smaller landforms. The rich volcanic soils of the region support lush vegetation, with remnants of subtropical rainforest scattered throughout the area. Agricultural development has transformed much of the natural landscape, with macadamia orchards, sugar cane fields, and various horticultural enterprises dominating the plateau and surrounding lowlands.

Potential Solar Development Areas

For large-scale solar photovoltaic development, several nearby areas present favorable conditions. The relatively flat agricultural lands to the south and southeast of Wollongbar, extending toward Alstonville and Wardell, offer potential sites with minimal topographical challenges. These areas benefit from cleared land with limited shading issues from natural features. The coastal plains between Ballina and Lennox Head also present opportunities for solar development. These expanses feature minimal elevation changes and fewer obstacles that might cast shadows across solar arrays. The open nature of these areas allows for efficient configuration of large-scale installations. Areas to the west of Wollongbar, toward Lismore, include some cleared agricultural land on gentler slopes that could accommodate solar infrastructure with modest grading requirements. These locations maintain proximity to existing electrical infrastructure while offering sufficient space for substantial installations.

Topographical Constraints

Not all areas near Wollongbar are suitable for large-scale solar development. The steeper slopes and valleys to the northwest, particularly as the terrain rises toward the Nightcap Range, present significant challenges for solar installation. These areas would require extensive earthworks and might experience shading from surrounding hills during parts of the day. The densely vegetated corridors along waterways also pose constraints, both from environmental protection perspectives and practical installation challenges. Additionally, the more dissected portions of the plateau with numerous small valleys and drainage lines would complicate the establishment of contiguous solar arrays. The region's subtropical climate influences the effectiveness of solar generation, with the Northern Rivers experiencing distinct wet and dry seasons. While topographically suitable areas exist, considerations regarding drainage during intense rainfall events would need to factor into site selection and engineering design for any large-scale solar development in the vicinity of Wollongbar.

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.