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Solar PV Analysis of Woolgoolga, Australia
Woolgoolga, New South Wales, Australia is a decent place for generating solar power all year round. The amount of energy you can get from solar panels depends on the season. In summer, you can expect to generate about 6.88 kilowatt-hours per day for each kilowatt of solar panels installed. This amount drops to 4.39 in autumn and 3.67 in winter but increases again to 5.99 in spring.
The best times of year to generate solar power at this location would be during the summer and spring months when sunlight hours are longer and the sun is more intense.
If you're planning on installing fixed panel solar installations at this location, it's recommended that your panels are tilted at an angle of 27 degrees facing North for optimal performance throughout the year.
There could also be local factors like environmental conditions or weather that may affect how much energy your solar panels can produce. For example, Woolgoolga has a subtropical climate which means it experiences heavy rainfall especially during summer and autumn which may reduce sunlight exposure on some days.
The town is also surrounded by national parks with tall trees that could potentially cast shadows over your panels depending on their location thereby reducing their efficiency.
To mitigate these issues, consider placing your installation where it will have unobstructed access to sunlight most of the day throughout the year – away from tall trees or buildings if possible – and make sure they are properly weather-sealed against moisture damage due to heavy rainfalls common in this region.
In summary, while Woolgoolga presents some challenges for maximum efficiency due to its climate and topography; with proper placement consideration and seasonal adjustments, it still offers good potential for harnessing solar energy all-year-round.
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 Woolgoolga
Seasonal solar PV output for Latitude: -30.1131728, Longitude: 153.1933837 (Woolgoolga, 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 Woolgoolga, Australia
To maximize your solar PV system's energy output in Woolgoolga, Australia (Lat/Long -30.1131728, 153.1933837) 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 Woolgoolga, 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 Woolgoolga, 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 Woolgoolga, 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 Woolgoolga, 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 Woolgoolga, Australia
Woolgoolga, Australia is located on the eastern coast of the country, in New South Wales. The topography of Woolgoolga is largely coastal with sandy beaches and a relatively flat terrain. It is surrounded by water bodies in the east (the Pacific Ocean) and has hilly regions towards its west.
The flat areas near Woolgoolga would be most suited for large-scale solar PV installations due to their exposure to sunlight. Areas further inland that are clear of dense vegetation or forest cover could also be suitable for solar panel installation as they would likely receive a good amount of sunlight throughout the day.
However, it's important to note that suitability for large-scale solar PV also depends on other factors such as local climate conditions (including average hours of sunlight), soil stability, proximity to power grids for transmission and local environmental regulations among others. A detailed site-specific assessment would be necessary before deciding on a location for large-scale solar PV installation.
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
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.
