SolarAnywhere® Release Notes

We’ll sit still when the earth does

Current Versions

Version Introduced or Updated Description
3.5 May 2021
  • Initiated coverage in Oceania and East Asia 6/21.
  • Increased temporal resolution of aerosol optical depth modeling. Hourly resolution data improves DNI accuracy and captures aerosol events such as severe wildfires.
  • Added snow albedo input to the clear sky model to increase accuracy in locations with persistent snow cover.
  • Introduced surface albedo data output to support bi-facial project modeling.
  • Incorporated 2020 into typical year datasets.
3.4 March 2020
  • Initiated coverage in Europe. Updated to include West Asia & Africa 2/21.
  • Implemented dynamic aerosol optical depth (AOD) input to clear sky model, improving temporal consistency.
  • Updated satellite hardware calibration parameters using latest available data.
  • Updated auxiliary datasets (wind speed, temperature, precipitation) to maximize spatial and temporal consistency.
  • Increased spatial resolution and mapping of snow input data, increasing accuracy in areas with variable snow coverage.
3.3 April 2019
  • Initiated coverage in South America.
  • Improved interpolation for multi-hour gaps in satellite images.
  • Improved temperature data quality in the U.S.; removed METAR as an input source.
  • Updated satellite hardware calibration parameters using latest available data.
  • Fixed time shift in clear sky output; GHI output was not affected.
3.2
(Forecast Only)		 January 2018
  • Uses infrared cloud motion vector forecasts pre-dawn.
  • Applies a stochastic blending algorithm of satellite and numerical weather models for highest available accuracy.
3.2 January 2018
  • Real-time support added
  • Forecast support added
3.2 October 2016
  • Improved data delivery speed from model application.
  • Physical range checks added.
2.5 October 2016
  • Physical range checks added.

Previous Versions

Version Introduced Description
3.0 March 2015
  • Incorporates infrared image processing into model to improve accuracy in geographies that experience heavy snowfall.
  • Adjustment to upper clear sky bounds to support improved cloud measurement precision.
2.4 November 2013
  • Improved hour-ending integration algorithm that results in increased hourly accuracy.
  • Algorithm is not applied to “SolarAnywhere, Irradiance centered on satellite measurement time” output format requests.
2.3 January 2013
  • Adjustment to DNI values in Nov 2012 in some areas around Hurricane Sandy.
2.1/2.2 annual values June 2011
  • Annual totals available.
  • Additional service method allowing selection of annual totals.
  • Refinements to timeshifting and typical GHI/DNI year algorithms.
2.0 Enhanced Resolution March 2011
  • Enhanced Resolution (1km) data added for California.
  • Additional service method allowing selection of spatial and temporal data resolution.
  • “GlobalIrradiance (W/m2)” column renamed to “Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) W/m2”.
  • “DirectIrradiance (W/m2)” column renamed to “Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) W/m2”.
  • “DiffuseIrradiance (W/m2)” column renamed to “Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DIF) W/m2”.
2.0 tool compatibility release January 2011
  • New compatability features for direct import into PVSYST and NREL Solar Advisor Model.
  • All estimates centered at top-of-hour representing last sixty minute averages (by default).
  • Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI) estimates added to output files.
  • PV Simulation: GHI Average 12 Months files containing 8760 hourly values for representative year based on historical time-series.
  • CS Simulation: DNI Average 12 Months files containing 8760 hourly values for representative year based on historical time-series.
  • PVSYST Preliminary Design-compatible Average Month Days files.
2.0 initial release February 2010
  • Improved v2.0 model with estimates for snow and other high albedo conditions.
  • Hourly forecasts up to seven days in advance.
  • Historical data extended back to January 1, 1998 and processed with new v2.0 model.
  • Nighttime temperature and wind values.
  • More granular descriptions of how each specific output data value was generated via additional ObservationTypes and a new forecast LeadTime column.
  • Adjustable hourly ObservationTime (time shift).
  • Updated website with graphical map interface.
  • Email option for dataset delivery.
1.1 February 2009
  • Synchronization of Hawaii model data including sunrise/sunset hours update, all Hawaii GHI and DNI data impacted.
1.0 January 2003
  • Adjusts albedo parameters in global model, all GHI and DNI data impacted. METAR wind and temperature data patches for select locations.