Australia · New South Wales (NSW)
Solar panel hotspots: what they are and why they matter in New South Wales
Hotspots are localised areas of overheating on a solar panel, typically caused by cell damage, micro-cracks, or persistent shading. They are the leading cause of accelerated panel degradation and are best detected via thermal imaging. Here's what you need to know.
New South Wales has a temperate climate with 5.2 peak sun hours per day.
Related issues
Cell hotspots
commonLocalised overheating in individual cells caused by micro-cracks, shading, or manufacturing defects. Best detected via thermal imaging.
Typical loss: 5–20%
Check your New South Wales system
Use our free Solar Loss Checker to get a personalised diagnosis.
Check my systemBased on conservative solar performance modelling and published degradation data
NRELIEA-PVPSSunSpecPVsyst+ published research
Updated April 2026 · Structured performance modelling
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