SUN AND AUSTRALIA’S FLOODS

3TIER Solar Anomaly Map Shows Correlation with Australian Floods
July 20, 2011 (3TIER)

"…[A] solar performance map of Australia [from 3TIER® illustrtates] a substantial drop in the country's typically abundant solar resource during December 2010. This anomaly correlates with the widespread flooding experienced during January 2011 and demonstrates the importance of using long-term reference data for determining solar project feasibility."

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"3TIER's Australian solar performance analysis shows that during December 2010 large portions of the country saw a 5-15% decrease in solar irradiance compared to the long-term average. Areas in northeastern Australia saw decreases of over 20%, including parts of Queensland, New South Wales (NSW), and Victoria where flooding and precipitation were most concentrated. While these conditions are unusual, this type of analysis dispels the perception that solar energy is always consistent from year to year. It also underscores the need for thorough resource assessments prior to investing in solar projects…"