resource assessment Archives - Clean Power Research

When it comes to solar resources, 2014 was anything but average

SolarAnywhere Posts | Mar 13, 2015

Solar resources naturally vary from year to year, and 2014 was no exception. While the 2014 average monthly solar resource map shows expected patterns, with the greatest energy output in the southwest, the real story is revealed by the PV power variance map. The PV...

Using ground plus satellite solar irradiance data to reduce risk, increase project profitability

SolarAnywhere Posts | Nov 13, 2014

If you stopped by the Clean Power Research booth (#118) at the most recent Solar Power International (SPI) Conference in Las Vegas, you would have noticed a tall metal frame supporting some measurement equipment. While this structure could have passed for a new-age...

When it comes to understanding solar resource risk, not all datasets are created equal

SolarAnywhere Posts | Aug 28, 2014

When it comes to ensuring that solar investments live up to power-production expectations, one important element is understanding the uncertainty of the solar resource. The lower the uncertainty of the background solar resource, the higher the likelihood a solar...

Intersolar North America 2014: The year of O&M and bankability

SolarAnywhere Posts | Jul 24, 2014

I often hear complaints that solar tradeshows aren’t offering much that is new and exciting—but I beg to differ. Every year I see trends emerging—trends that are often overlooked until months after the show. Intersolar North America was no exception. This year I was...

Just how great was the solar resource in 2013 in California? Record setting!

SolarAnywhere Posts | Apr 2, 2014

2013 marked the driest year on record in most regions of California. While this weather pattern led to many brown lawns and thirsty reservoirs, clear skies allowed many locations to experience well above-average PV energy generation potential. To better understand...