3TIER Launches Next Generation Wind and Solar Prospecting Tools Highest resolution global datasets detail seasonal variability

3Tier, 23 February 2010, 11:41am

PRESS RELEASE: 3TIER(r) today announced the release of a new suite of global Wind and Solar Prospecting Tools that will change the way renewable energy professionals decide where to develop renewable resources by providing immediate access to seasonal variability data, which is critical to understanding a site's energy potential.

"3TIER has delivered the next generation of prospecting tools," said Kenneth Westrick, founder and CEO of 3TIER, the global leader in renewable energy information services. "These tools provide – for the first time ever – instant and unlimited access to seasonal variability data for wind and solar resources, around the world. It is a smarter, faster and more cost-effective way for the industry to identify and prioritize potential sites for more in-depth assessment."

3TIER’s Wind and Solar Prospecting Tools use a dynamic, point-and-click Web-based interface. They enable renewable energy developers, financiers, and manufacturers to instantly access information about any location worldwide, and compare-and-contrast sites with the click of a mouse.

"These tools empower better, faster decisions," said Westrick. "They are easy to use and provide direct access to the most advanced global wind and solar datasets that have ever been developed. Ultimately, these tools will help accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and bring more reliable energy onto the grid."

Based on sophisticated and globally consistent methodologies, the datasets provide more detail than any on-demand renewable energy information service currently available. The Wind and Solar Prospecting Tools are subscription-based products that provide map-based, point-and-click access to:

Wind
-         Monthly mean wind speed
-         Annual mean wind speed
-         Annual mean wind direction
-         Data available for 20 m, 50 m, and 80 m above ground heights

Solar
-         Annual and monthly mean Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)
-         Annual and monthly mean Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI)
-         Annual and monthly mean Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DIF)

The suite provides access to 3TIER’s 5 km resolution global wind dataset and the company’s 3km resolution solar irradiance dataset. Coverage of the solar dataset currently includes North America, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Global solar coverage will be achieved in the coming months as data is validated.

To learn more about 3TIER and the Wind and Solar Prospecting Tools, please visit: http://www.3tier.com <http://www.3tier.com/> .