Product news: Snow losses calculation now available in Solargis Evaluate

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.

Why calculating snow losses is important for PV performance

Snow accumulation on PV modules reduces power production by blocking solar irradiation. This is particularly problematic in regions with frequent and prolonged snowfall, such as parts of Europe, North America, and Asia.

For solar operators, accurate forecasting of snow losses is essential to minimizing financial risks. Grid operators and investors require precise energy yield predictions to manage power supply, purchase balancing power, and plan investments in snow-prone areas.

Solargis Evaluate brings smarter approach to snow loss modeling

Since snow losses directly impact final PVOUT, Evaluate provides more realistic energy yield predictions, helping prevent PVOUT overestimation.

To improve accuracy of snow losses estimation, Solargis Evaluate factors in multiple parameters:

• Longitude & latitude – Determines location-specific snow impact
• Panel tilt – Steeper panels allow snow to slide off or melt faster
• Temperature & wind – Background calculations factor in temperature and wind conditions that affect the rate at which snow melts

Users can also manually adjust monthly snow loss values if they prefer their own estimates or have the data measured.

How Solargis Evaluate calculates snow losses

Solargis' snow loss model integrates data from two leading sources:

• ERA5 Global Meteorological Model – Provides hourly meteorological data, including fresh snow depth, air temperature, and global tilted irradiation.
• Solargis Satellite-Model Solar Radiation Data – Delivers precise solar radiation data, essential for estimating PV power production under normal conditions.

By combining these datasets, Solargis Evaluate ensures highly accurate snow loss modeling, enabling better planning and risk assessment for solar projects.

Solargis Evaluate: A new standard for PV project evaluation

By integrating snow loss calculations, Solargis Evaluate enhances the accuracy of PV simulations, helping developers, investors, and grid operators make better-informed decisions. 

The new Evaluate is a more advanced, cloud-based software solution for complete PV project design and evaluation, integrating:

• High-resolution solar, meteorological, and environmental data
• 3D PV power plant design module
• PV components catalog
• Advanced PV performance simulation
• Analytical reporting

With climate conditions becoming increasingly unpredictable, precise modeling of environmental factors like snow losses is critical for ensuring financially viable and technically sound projects.

Learn more about this new Solargis Evaluate feature here.