Release Notes

Data periods for Eastern Asia, Australia and New Zealand have been extended; with this update, the model used for iMaps and pvPlanner now represents data up to 2015 for all the regions. More updates will follow as soon as new complete years are available.

In addition, the use of daily aerosol data in iMaps and pvPlanner is now implemented for Americas, Hawaii and Western Pacific. The calculation of the optimum angle for Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia has been also improved.

Updates of Solargis recent data can be now delivered on a daily basis for any location in New Zealand. For this region, input data for Solargis cloud modelling is obtained from Himawari satellite and allows an original time granularity of 10 minutes.

Solargis pre-calculated weather database connected to the online applications iMaps and pvPlanner has been updated.

Data periods used for the calculation of the averaged values provided include now latest complete years (up to 2015) for Europe, Africa and Asia regions. In terms of geographical coverage, iMaps and pvPlanner are now available for whole territories of Russia (up to paralell 60ºN), Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Latest versions of the algorithms for solar radiation and temperature have been also implemented.

Additional inputs from MERRA-2 (NASA) have been included for describing Atmospheric Optical Depth (AOD) in our solar radiation model.

This allows the generation of harmonized daily aerosol time series used in Solargis algorithms.

The spatial resolution of aerosol data used in Solargis algorithms has been improved. From periods since June 2016 onwards, the resolution of Atmospheric Optical Depth (AOD) input data from MACC/CAMS models is now 0.4x0.4 deg. (approx. 45x45 km at the equator).

This release represents a step ahead of previous models. For data periods from October 2015 up to June 2016, 0.75x0.75 deg. resolution is available (approx. 85x85 km at the equator); for data periods before October 2015, 1.125x1.125 deg. resolution is available (approx. 125x125 km at the equator).

We have released Solargis model from Himawari 8 satellite data. A new generation Himawari 8 satellite, operated by Japan Meteorological Agency from January 2016, replaces older MTSAT satellite (decommissioned in late March 2016). The satellite is positioned approximatelly on the 140.7°E longitude, covering the Pacific region (countries like Japan, eastern parts of China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and other Pacific countries and islands).

Thanks to new generation satellite data we implemented improvements in our modelled solar resource data:

• 10-minute time-step
• more spectral channels employed in the identification of the clouds and snow detection
• two times higher spatial resolution and image quality
• short data retrieval delay allow nowcasting of solar resource and PV electricity generation

Presently, new data can be purchased as recent time-series from climData application.

Solargis operational data with daily update is now available also for Kenya and parts of Uganda and Tanzania. Daily updates are available via pvSpot online app, FTP, and Web Service. 

Forecast service has been extended to new world regions. Present coverage include most of Europe, USA, Mexico, Caribbean region, Chile, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, islands Reunion and Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, UAE, India, China, Japan, Korea. provides forecast of solar radiation parameters (GHI, GTI), PV electricty output (PVOUT) and air temperature (TEMP) for time horizon of 0 to 48 hours ahead. Data are delivered via FTP. 

We are pleased to announce geographical extension of data available via Solargis prospecting tools - iMaps and pvPlanner. The data coverage has been extended to include Hawaii and part of Alaska. We also improved the accuracy of data in North-West of Canada. Data are calculated from atmosperic data and GOES-WEST satellite data from 1999 up to present in 30-minute time-step.

Population displacement is one of the key factors for planning the position of power plants. Typically, for large-scale projects it is easier to purchase a land in less populated areas. On the other hand, closer position to consumers of energy means lower expenses on transmission.

We have updated maps and data of population density for the reference year 2010. Dataset Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4), Preliminary Release 2 was processed by Center for International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University and released in 2014.