Solar Resource: Model Overview

• GOES PSM v4 API: these models require an API key from the NREL developer network, the available models are:

  • "goes_aggregated_solar_v4_api"

  • "goes_conus_solar_v4_api"

  • "goes_fulldisc_solar_v4_api"

  • "goes_tmy_solar_v4_api"

• Himawari PSM v4 API: these models require an API key from the NREL developer network, the available models are:

  • "himawari7_solar_v3_api"

  • "himawari8_solar_v3_api"

  • "himawari_tmy_solar_v3_api"

• Meteosat Prime Meridian PSM v4 API: these models require an API key from the NREL developer network, the available models are:

  • "meteosat_solar_v4_api"

  • "meteosat_tmy_solar_v4_api"

Note

Please refer to the Setting Environment Variables doc page for information on setting up an NREL API key if you haven't yet.

Solar Resource: Output Data

Solar resource models may output solar resource data, site information, information about the data source, and time information. This information is outputted as a dictionary. The following sections detail the naming convention for the dictionary keys, standardized units, and descriptions of all the output data that may be output from a solar resource model.

• Solar Resource Data

• Site Information

• Data Source Information

• Time Profile Information

Note

Not all solar resource models will output all the data keys listed below. Please check the documentation for each solar resource model and solar performance model to ensure compatibility.

Primary Data: Solar Resource Timeseries

The below variables are outputted as arrays, with a length equal to the simulation duration. The naming convention and standardized units of solar resource variables are listed below:

• solar_direction: solar direction in degrees (units are 'deg')

• solar_speed: solar speed in meters per second (units are 'm/s')

• temperature: air temperature in Celsius (units are 'C')

• pressure: air pressure in millibar (units are 'mbar')

• relative_humidity: relative humidity represented as a percentage (units are 'percent')

• ghi: global horizontal irradiance in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• dni: beam normal irradiance in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• dhi: diffuse horizontal irradiance in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• clearsky_ghi: global horizontal irradiance in clearsky conditions in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• clearsky_dni: beam normal irradiance in clearsky conditions in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• clearsky_dhi: diffuse horizontal irradiance in clearsky conditions in watts per square meter (units are 'W/m**2')

• dew_point: dew point in Celsius (units are 'C')

• surface_albedo: surface albedo represented as a percentage (units are 'percent')

• solar_zenith_angle: solar zenith angle in degrees (units are 'deg')

• snow_depth: snow depth in centimeters (units are 'cm')

• precipitable_water: precipitable water in centimeters (units are 'cm')

Additional Data: Site Information

• site_id (int): site identification

• site_tz (int | float): local timezone for the site

• site_lat (float): latitude of the site

• site_lon (float): longitude of the site

• elevation (float | int): elevation of the site in meters

Additional Data: Data source

• data_tz (int | float): timezone the data is in represented as an hour offset from UTC

• filepath (str): filepath where the resource data was loaded from

Additional Data: Time profile

Time data may be outputted as arrays to represent the time profile of the resource data. These times should be represented in the timezone of data_tz (if outputted).

• year: year as 4-digit value (i.e., 2019)

• month: month of year (1-12)

• day: day of month (1-31)

• hour: hour of day from a 24-hour clock (0-23)

• minute: minute of hour (0-59)