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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) today announced a new 3D modelling tool that will allow consumers to estimate the benefits of installing rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the tool was part of a suite of updates to the Australian Solar Map, developed by the Australian PV Institute (APVI) with $436,000 of ARENA support.

The new, freely available tool allows consumers and installers to select a rooftop and receive an estimate of annual electricity generation, financial savings and emissions offset from installing solar panels

“It currently includes data for central areas of six Australian cities and the technology provides a platform that may be expanded to cover more regions of Australia.

“The interactive map allows users to zoom down to rooftop level and see the surrounding shading, orientation and solar resource available.

“Users then have the ability to alter the system design and customise the feed in their area to improve the accuracy of savings estimates.”

More than 19,000 people have already visited the solar map website.

APVI CEO Lisa Miller said the maps are important resources for understanding the increasing role of PV in Australia, incorporating live generation data, historical information and interactive tools

“This map is an important part of the work of the APVI to support the increased development and use of PV via research, analysis and information,” said Ms Lisa Miller.

The new modelling tool and solar maps are available at: pv-map.apvi.org.au

This project is part of ARENA’s knowledge sharing activities and addresses identified gaps in renewable energy mapping and forecasting.

The solar maps involve a collaboration that includes data from the Bureau of Meteorology, PVOutput.org, the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Clean Energy Regulator.

About APVI

The Australian PV Institute is a not-for-profit, member based organisation which focuses on data analysis, independent and balanced information, and collaborative research, both nationally and internationally. Our objective is to: support the increased development and use of PV via research, analysis and information. In addition to Australian activities, we provide the structure through which Australia participates in two International Energy Agency (IEA) programs PVPS (Photovoltaic Power Systems), made up of a number of activities concerning various aspects of PV, and SHC (Solar Heating and Cooling), concerned with new solar thermal products and services

Last updated 25 July 2019
Last updated
25 July 2019
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