Solargis data in PV*SOL

Users of PV*SOL software can also run PV simulation using Solargis weather data. Global horizontal irradiation and temperature are mainly required parameters for performing the PV yield simulation. Using both monthly and hourly files from Solargis in PV*SOL is possible and requires manual importing as it is described below.

Steps for importing Solargis data to PV*SOL (tested in 2016 version):

1. Once a project is started, the user will land in “system type, climate and grid” page. Click the globe icon under climate data section to simulate the location of your choice in PV*SOL.
2. Click on “Create climate data for new location” icon to create a new database for the new location. A new window opens to create data for new location. Here you have to right click on the map to mark the new location to be imported.
3. Once you select the location, input the location details and click the measurement data to import the data from Solargis file. Click ok after manually enter the data into the table. Now the new location is added to the list and simulation of energy output for that site can be started.

• Hourly files can be also used in PV*SOL by constructing a .DAT file from TMY files in Solargis csv format. Note that in this case other parameters like wind speed and relative humidity might be required by PV*SOL software. This can be done by following the previous first steps and then instead going through “Options” and “Import file”.

• The Solargis TMY .csv file would need to be converted before into a suitable .dat file, which has the following content structure:

Row 1                                  Name of the site

Row 2                                  Latitude, longitude, elevation, time zone, start of the measurement time (e.g. is the first value from 0:00, or 0:30)

Row 3                                  Blank

Row 4                                  Name of the weathers parameters

Rows 5 to 8764                 One value each hour, 8760 values in total

Sample distribution of .dat file:

"Aberdeen"

57.100,2.050,35,0,-30

Ta           Gh          FF           RH

7.6         0             3.4         92.9

8.9         0             2.9         80.7

…            …            …            …

3.2         0             3.0         78.1