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The recent heat dome that enveloped large parts of the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast of the U.S., including states like North Carolina and Maine, has exposed vulnerabilities in the operational and trading strategies of utility-scale solar projects. These extreme weather conditions had direct operational consequences.

In the context of PV yield simulation, uncertainty helps users understand the potential deviations in the results produced by the software they are using. Understanding these deviations plays a key role in selecting the optimal design of a power plant and in evaluating financial risks and return on investment.

Western Europe has experienced one of its sunniest springs on record, with solar irradiation levels significantly exceeding historical long-term averages. Our proprietary solar irradiance data reveals that some areas recorded up to 50% more Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) compared to long-term (30 year) averages.

While TMY datasets are useful for early-stage, pre-feasibility assessments, they are no longer sufficient for performance modeling and financial analysis. Just as we once moved from low-resolution to ultra-high-definition TV screens, the solar industry must now make the same leap and embrace high-resolution time series data as the new standard.

We’ve just added another layer of precision to Solargis Evaluate. Following the recent launch of snow loss calculations, soiling losses are now also part of our energy yield simulation toolkit – helping developers, investors, and technical advisors model real-world PV performance more accurately.

Solargis Evaluate now includes snow loss calculations, providing developers with a more realistic estimate of energy production in regions affected by snowfall. This is one of the latest enhancements in the new Solargis Evaluate platform, launched in early 2025.

While the growth in PV has brought fast development of a variety of products to the market, it has also created a new problem: It’s becoming increasingly difficult for project developers to manage and accurately evaluate the technical specifications of the modules, inverters and other components of a PV power plant.

Bifacial photovoltaic (PV) modules dominate in modern solar projects, as they are more efficient, capturing sunlight on both sides of the cells, and generating more energy than monofacial PV modules. However, the shift to bifacial photovoltaics requires a different approach to feasibility evaluation compared to traditional monofacial technology.

At Solargis, we’ve just released Solarmaps: a new solution designed to empower PV power plant portfolio managers, operators, and analysts. Solargis Solarmaps provides timely and accurate insights into the monthly availability of solar resource, air temperature, precipitation, and wind speed: key factors that influence PV power plant performance.

The higher frequency of the extreme weather puts growing pressure on the PV industry to design power plants that can withstand harsher conditions. Beyond this, developers must consider the potential losses from the extreme weather events and the likelihood of their occurrence.

Managing multiple applications for different stages of PV project evaluation is both costly and inefficient. While most of the developers have long accepted this as the norm, the solar industry needs a comprehensive solution that brings all functionalities together in one solution.

We’re introducing eight new map layers in Solargis Prospect, designed to provide quick insights into factors affecting the performance, durability, and risk profile of photovoltaic (PV) systems. These new layers offer essential data for PV project engineers, developers, and financial planners, helping them make informed decisions about site selection, system design, and long-term investment strategies.