Release Notes

- Solar radiation calculation scheme has been improved for Americas, Middle East, Asia and Pacific by implementing better management of raw satellite data. The values of GHI, DNI, DIF, GTI and PVOUT parameters are affected by new version of the Solargis model only in rare cases related to a specific segment geometry.
- New parameters have been introduced (available via API and FTP): PV Module Temperature (TMOD) and Precipitation Rate (PREC). TMOD is useful for evaluation of daytime temperature of PV modules, and for calculation of temperature-corrected performance ratio. PREC can be used for improved understanding of soiling and cleaning of PV modules.
- Nowcasting service was extended to Australia, Morocco and Canary Islands
- Geographical coverage of forecasting service based on postprocessing of the IFS outputs (the model operated by ECMWF) was extended to Northeast China, Turkey, Jordan, New Caledonia, Kenya, Morocco and Canary Islands.

The historical database of meteorological parameters (air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and air pressure) has been improved:

- The primary source of meteorological parameters for years 1994 to 2010 has been changed from the CFSR model (NOAA) to MERRA-2 model (NASA). MERRA-2 provides more stable results for historical years in some regions, eg. in South America, Northern, and Equatorial Africa
- Better harmonization of MERRA-2 database (years 1994 to 2010) and CFSv2 database (years from 2011 onwards)
- Post-processing of air temperature was enhanced. The accuracy of air temperature has been improved in most of the regions, especially in the mountains. Solargis output grid resolution for air temperature remains 1 km
- Precipitable water (PWAT) data is derived from GFS model (NOAA) in hourly resolution
- A new parameter characterizing snow depth water equivalent (SDWE) has been introduced

Solar radiation data for region covered by Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) IODC satellite was re-calculated for year 2017

- Solar radiation data for 2017 were re-analysed and gap-filling was improved
- Solar radiation data for whole 2017 are now calculated using satellite inputs from MSG IODC satellite. For period 1999-2016, satellite imagery is used from MFG IODC satellite. Previously MFG IODC imagery was used also for January 2017.

Operational data service is now available for South America

- PVSpot, FTP and web services can be accessed now in South America

Nowcasting service is now available for South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, part of Zimbabwe, and Mozambique

GOES-East (GOES-13) satellite was replaced by new generation GOES-R (GOES-16) satellite. A new Solargis model based on GOES-R data was released. 
Basic features:
- Regular 15 minute time resolution (GOES13 has ca 30min resolution)
- Data from 2018-01-01 onwards
- More spectral channels allowing better cloud/snow/no-cloud classification
- Better spatial resolution (visible channels have 0.5km resolution, in Solargis model we use 2km resolution)
- Better geometrical stability of satellite images
- Same coverage as the older GOES-East satellite - same position longitude ca -75 deg west

Solar radiation data for Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Asia (longitude 95-105E, latitude 30-50N) for year 2017 were reanalysed to improve data consistency. The reanalysis resulted in small changes to GHI and DNI for May-July 2017 and Sep 2017 for Australia and New Zealand. Also, data for parts of China (longitude 95-105E, latitude 30-50N) were updated for July 2017.

Daily updates of historic time series is now available also for additional regions including parts of Russia, Vietnam, Eastern Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and West Africa. Daily updates can be accessed via pvSpot online application, FTP service, and via Solargis API service.

Data service for Hawaii was upgraded to include daily updates of historic time series. Daily updates can be accessed via pvSpot online application or Solargis FTP/API service.

Nowcasting service now available for La Réunion and Mauritius.