A Solar Expert’s Advice After Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred disconnected 350,000 homes and businesses across Queensland and North-East NSW from power
It’s like nothing we’ve experienced before.
There’s been mass disruption on top of properties being without power:
- Torrential rains and very dangerous thunderstorms have made an incredible impact on South East Queensland, before moving across Brisbane, Gold Coast and surrounds
- Flash flooding across roads has made travel impossible or dangerous in many parts of QLD
- Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate or stay indoors
- Severe weather warnings are continually being updated to inform residents of extreme weathers in Alfed’s aftermath
This disruption has been estimated by AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver to be costing Australia’s economy $1 billion a day, for every day of Cyclone Alfred or Ex-Cyclone Alfred’s extreme weather.
Cyclone Alfred was different from other cyclones
Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s broke into a tropical low, going below cyclone intensity, before making landfall across the East Coast. However, its lingering presence also brought on exceptionally heavy rain and thunderstorms.
It’s been smashing records in rainfall across Queensland
Brisbane recorded a staggering 275mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Monday, March 9, according to ABC News. The city’s wettest day in half a century. The last time the city experienced higher rainfall was back in 1974, which was the year of the devastating Brisbane River floods from Cyclone Wanda.
Upper Springbrook in the Gold Coast’s Hinterlands has received well over one meter of rain in the past week. This is more than Brisbane’s entire annual rainfall average.
Harvey Bay also experienced extreme rainfall early Sunday, March 10, 2025, (over 100mm of rain in just one hour) reaching its highest daily total in 70 years.
Were You On The Cyclone Zone?
Mackay, Cairns and Townsville are in Wind Region C, where building codes recognise a need for resistance against Category 4 Cyclones.
Cyclone Alfred hit landfall in South East Queensland, in Wind Region B, which spans areas of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast. Cyclone Alfred met the expectations of a weakened tropical cyclone for this zone, but as we’ve experienced and seen across local news, the damage of these cyclones or strong storms can still make a tremendous impact. If you live on the Sunshine Coast or surrounds, it’s important that you inspect and maintain your property against these guidelines by Weather The Storm.
This is a resource website developed by the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University, Geoscience Australia and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.
Do I Need to Turn Off My Solar Panels in a Cyclone?
Advice for the Future
Most solar panels will automatically shut down when the mains power is cut off, which is a likely event in the case of a cyclone. This is because most modern solar panels are grid-tied, and this measure helps ensure utility workers remain safe in the case of incidents.
A lot of in-built safety features and testing goes into keeping these PV systems safe in extreme conditions.
But for the sake of electrical workers, Energex’s official advice as reported by ABC NEWS is anyone with solar panels should turn off solar systems when a cyclone approaches. This is a precautionary measure, for utility workers’ and volunteers’ peace of mind. Your solar panels don’t need a manual shut down, but you can switch off your inverter and PV array isolator.
This procedure should be listed at the inverter or main switchboard. Otherwise, you can also call us, your friendly accredited solar installers to talk you through the procedure over the phone.
This switch off procedure should also include your solar battery.
Ergon has recommended in the case that flood water will likely reach the inverter and cables, that you call an accredited solar installer or licensed electrician to fully shutdown the solar PV system.
Warning: Do not turn off a Solar PV System if any components are wet.
Advice for After a Cyclone
- If your home has sustained any damage, it’s important that you get a licensed master electrician to test and certify your property is safe before your power connection can be restored.
- If any of your solar system is underwater, wet or damaged, treat it as a serious electric shock risk and keep your distance.
- Instead of turning back on your solar system instead, reach out to an accredited solar installer to get your system recommissioned.
- In the event your roof has taken any damage, it is important that you get your roof inspected by a licensed electrician or an accredited installer first, before turning back on the system.
Solar Panels and Cyclones
When it comes to what to look for when you’re looking for solar panels installed in cyclone zones, it’s important to compare how well different brands and products meet the criteria for different wind load testing.
What to look for:
- Cyclone wind testing
- Dynamic (or cyclic) mechanical load testing
- Static wind load testing
For solar inverters, it’s also important to look for products that offer blackout protection. This ensures you’re also able to use the stored power from your solar batteries when the mains power is no longer available.
Snap Solar’s Range of Cyclone-Rated Solar Panels
All solar panels that we have chosen to supply and install across Mackay, Cairns and the Sunshine Coast are tested for their mechanical performance against strong wind loads, certifying their resilience to stand up against extreme weather conditions like tropical cyclones.
REC Solar Panels
| Cyclone Wind Loads REC certifies its panels meet AS 40404.2 and NCC 2016 LHL standards at James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station, to keep residents, neighbours and the wider community safe. – Static Wind Load testing to AS 40404.2 standards – Cyclic Wind Load testing to NCC 2016 LHL standards Report dated: 14 March 2019 REC Cyclone Wind Load Testing Certificate | Dynamic Mechanical Load IEC 62782 (cyclic / dynamic mechanical load) The test simulates the effect of strong wind to understand and evaluate the measure of wind resistance of solar modules. It verifies a panel’s reliability to perform against these wind forces in real life weather conditions such as strong storms. – 1000 mechanical load cycles – Maximum pressure of more or less than 1000 Pa – Module temperature of 25 °C (±2 °C) Using specialised equipment to apply a uniform load of 1 000 Pa plus or minus 100 Pa onto the module surface in both directions, as this would simulate pressure and tensile loads at a rate between 3 and 7 cycles per minute. Pascal (Pa) is the unit for measuring pressure. Report dated: 18 July 2023 REC Dynamic Mechanical Load Testing Certificate |
| Non-Uniform Load Testing for Non-Horizontal Installations IEC 62938 non-uniform load Most solar installations are usually installed on an angle. However most independent testing is performed horizontally. REC’s uniform load testing and certification to IEC 62938 standard assures consumers can be confident that the panel maintains its high performance under build-up of unevenly spread loads. | Salt Mist ConditionsIEC 61701 For solar panels installed in regions near the sea, such as around Mackay and our treasured Sunshine Coast, solar modules with corrosion resistance are critically important. Salt mist in the air can corrode metal and electrical components. In the midst of Cyclone Alfred, where there has been extreme amounts of rain and moisture, this salt mist resistance is even more beneficial to solar system owners in Queensland. All REC panels pass the IEC 61701 Severity Level 6 standard. This is the highest severity level of this standard and modules must be subjected to the most severe testing conditions, and not drop below 5% Maximum Power Degradation, and must meet a minimum of 500 MΩdry and wet resistance levels, and more. So you can have peace of mind that your REC Solar panels are properly suited to your environment. REC Salt Mist Resistance Certificate |
Aiko Solar Panels
| Aiko Solar Panels Are Tested for Cyclones Aiko recently finished Cyclone Testing on their solar panels in a facility in Darwin, simulating high wind and extreme weather conditions to test their resilience and performance. They announced this in a November 6th, 2025 press release. | Salt Mist Resistance (Reduces Corrosion) Additionally, Aiko Solar Panels also have been tested for Salt Mist Resistance (IEC 61140). Learn more about Aiko’s product testing here. Like we mentioned earlier above, salt mist resistance is critical for coastal environments where saltwater is likely to be highly present in the air. This will become even more important in the midst of heavy storms. |
Trina Solar Panels
| Dynamical Mechanical Load Trinia Solar’s Vertex 670W (installed with clamps) endured 20,000 cycles of dynamic mechanical load and remained intact. They also performed better than competitors with load capacity several times higher than the IEC standard. | Extreme Wind Tunnel Test Tested: Trinia Solar’s Vertex 670W (installed with clamps). In this simulated test, the PV module remained intact even as the wind speed reached 225.4km/h. These conditions are the equivalent of the low end of a Category 4 hurricane. |
Read More: Trina Vertex 670W Mechanical Performance White Paper
Related:
Solar Panel Racking and Mounting
All solar panel manufacturers will tell you, installation matters A LOT for panel resilience.
Racking, mounting, and how solar panels are installed is also critical to how well solar panels withstand extreme wind and other weather conditions.
At Snap Solar, we’re confident and proud to say that we’re well experienced in installing solar panels in cyclone zones. If you have any questions about the racking and mounting behind how we install systems and how well they withstand cyclonic winds, feel free to reach out to our staff. Our highly knowledgeable installers will be happy to walk you through how these racking and mounting systems work.
Resources for the Cyclone Alfred Recovery
Financial Support:
- Queensland Disaster Support and Recovery
- Personal Hardship Financial Assistance (for those impacted by Cyclone Alfred)
Emotional support:
- Community Recovery Lifeline Hotline: 1800 116 671
The hotline allows you to talk to a qualified disaster counselor, at any time you need to. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Free Post-cyclone Inspection for Solar Systems During March
In the light of Cyclone Alfred, our accredited installers at Snap Solar are also looking to do our part to help our community. Throughout March, we’re offering free solar system checks to see and ensure solar systems are still running.
Call us on 1300 628 097 to arrange a post-cyclone check, and we can come to your premises at a time that best suits you.
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