You can find reliable solar irradiance data from a variety of sources, primarily from national government laboratories and international organizations. These resources offer freely available, high-quality data derived from satellite and ground-based measurements.
Major data sources
1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB)
This is a comprehensive resource for the United States and a growing list of international locations.
Data available: Hourly and half-hourly values of meteorological and solar irradiance data, including Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI).
How to access: The data is available through the NSRDB Data Viewer, a user-friendly application on the NREL website.
Use cases: Suitable for energy system designers, building architects, engineers, and researchers.
2. NASA Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER)
NASA's POWER project provides solar and meteorological data globally, making it a valuable tool for users worldwide.
Data available: High-accuracy, community-specific datasets from NASA research for renewable energy, building efficiency, and agricultural needs.
How to access: Data can be accessed for free via the POWER website or its Data Access Viewer (DAV).
Use cases: Ideal for a wide range of applications, including solar panel sizing, building energy efficiency studies, and global solar resource assessment.
3. European Commission Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS).
Developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, PVGIS provides detailed solar radiation data and PV system performance estimates for any location in the world (except the North and South Poles).
Data available: Solar radiation levels, system energy production estimates, and Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data.
How to access: The PVGIS web application is free to use and offers interactive maps and calculation tools.
Use cases: Excellent for estimating the energy output of PV systems and for building energy performance calculations.
4. Renewables.ninja
This is an interactive web tool created by researchers at Imperial College London and ETH Zürich.
Data available: Uses detailed historical weather data from sources like NASA to simulate the hourly power output from wind and solar plants anywhere in the world.
How to access: Simulations can be run directly on the Renewables.ninja website by entering location-specific information.
Use cases: Useful for researchers and industry professionals who need quick and detailed simulations of renewable energy generation.
Factors to consider when selecting a data source
Geographic coverage: Ensure the database covers your specific location. While some, like NASA POWER and PVGIS, offer near-global coverage, others like NREL's NSRDB focus heavily on specific regions (e.g., North America).
Data resolution: Determine whether you need hourly, half-hourly, or monthly data. High-resolution data is best for detailed system modeling, while average data is useful for quick feasibility studies.
Data format: Check if the data can be downloaded in a format compatible with your modeling software or spreadsheets (e.g., CSV, JSON, H5).
Use case: Match the data source to your specific needs. For a quick estimate, a tool with a web interface like PVGIS or Renewables.ninja is ideal. For detailed research, a downloadable database like NREL's NSRDB is more appropriate