Full evaluation with Time Series data: As a project moves from the early stage into full evaluation, it is crucial to transition from TMY data to high resolution Time Series data. Unlike TMY, Time Series data is typically available in 15-minute intervals, covering periods of more than 30 years. This resolution provides developers with a much more granular, accurate representation of weather patterns and variability, allowing them to simulate solar power generation in real-world conditions with far greater precision.
For example, high resolution data captures the impacts of extreme weather events like cloud cover, high winds, air pollution, or snow. These events, which are often overlooked in TMY-based simulations, can have significant consequences for energy generation, system performance, and project financials.
The contrast in data volume between TMY and Time Series is evident:
- TMY typically offers around 8,760 data points per year (one per hour)
- High resolution data, by comparison, provides over 1 million data points per year (at 15-minute intervals)
More about TMY and Time Series data ->