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Meteo Data Source

Databases in PVsyst

In addition to the Meteo Database that is included in the software, PVsyst gives access to many meteorological data sources available on the web and includes a tool to easily import the most popular ones.

Sources of Meteo data in hourly values

  • Meteonorm  hourly values are synthetic data that are constructed in the same way as the synthetic hourly values in PVsyst from monthly values. 
  • NREL NSRDB provides free satellite hourly data for the Americas (60°N to 20°S) and India. Data available as time series and TMYs. TMYs also directly available inside PVsyst when connected to internet. 
  • PVGIS v5 provides free satellite data for most of the world in time series (2005 – 2016 typically) and TMYs, directly available inside PVsyst when connected to internet.
  • Explorador Solar provides free TMY and time-series data available in hourly values for the territory of Chile, available for 2004 to 2016.
  • SolarGIS provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values,  updated in real time, available worldwide between latitudes 60°N and 50°S. 
  • Vaisala provides hourly data measured by satellites, recent, for any location on the earth.
  • Reuniwatt provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values, along with monthly averages, available worldwide between 66°S to 66°N. The data extends back to 2004.
  • Solcast  provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values, along with monthly averages, available worldwide (except Antartica). Solcast offers instant sign up and free credits to new users to promote testing. The 150m2 satellite-derived database is updated daily, extends back to 2007.
  • Soda-Helioclim3 provides data in hourly values, measured by Meteosat, since February 2004.
  • SolarAnywhere provides solar satellite data for locations within the continental U.S. and Hawaii. 
  • Vortex Solar provides TMY and time-series data available in hourly values, available worldwide, extends back to 1997.

Sources of Meteo data in monthly values

  • Meteonorm monthly irradiance data are available for about 2,500 ground stations as averages of 1981-2000, 1991-2010 or 1996-2015 depending on the place and satellite data for 1996-2015. All stations with irradiance measurements are directly available in the geographical sites list in PVsyst database. Data for any other site may be obtained by interpolation between the 3 nearest stations or with satellite data if no station is close enough. 
  • NASA-SSE (Surface Meteorological and Solar Energy Programme) hold monthly satellite data for a grid of 1°x1° (111 km) covering the whole world, for a 10-year period (1983-1993). 
  • SolarGIS provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values, along with monthly averages, updated in real time, available worldwide between latitudes 60°N and 50°S.
  • Reuniwatt  provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values, along with monthly averages, available worldwide between 66°S to 66°N. The data extends back to 2004. 
  • Solcast  provides TMY and time-series data available in (sub)hourly values, along with monthly averages, available worldwide (except Antartica). Solcast offers instant sign up and free credits to new users to promote testing. The 150m2 satellite-derived database is updated daily, extends back to 2007.

NB: All these monthly data are imported as geographic site files, and will require the construction of Synthetic Generated hourly data files to be used in the simulation.

NB: Monthly values are often given as averages over several years.

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