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Version Release Notes

Current Versions

Version Introduced
or Updated 		Description
4.0 April 2025
  • Incorporated 2024 into long history datasets, such as TMY.
  • Implemented an advanced technique to correct geospatial image misalignment in Europe.
  • Incorporated polar orbiting satellite derived NASA CERES data to supplement geospatial satellite irradiance model.
  • Introduced dynamic water vapor as an input to the irradiance model.
  • Published the Data Version 4.0 Validation Whitepaper.
  • Launched a new SolarAnywhere Data Portal with an improved UX/UI.
  • Introduced Solar Resource and Weather Map Overlays in the Data Portal to visualize long term irradiance and weather trends.
3.8 June 2024
  • Incorporated 2023 into long history datasets, such as TMY.
  • Released new datasets for wind speed, wind direction, and wind gust with global coverage between -60 and +60 deg N.
  • Extended basic irradiance coverage to high latitude regions, +/-80 deg N.
  • Increased temporal resolution of liquid precipitation, solid precipitation and snow depth datasets within CONUS.
  • Researched snow detection methods and validation, not included in V3.8 datasets directly.
  • Expanded number of ground sites used in irradiance (GHI, DNI) validation.
  • Updated irradiance model calibrations.
  • Published Data Version 3.8 Validation Whitepaper.
3.7 August 2023
3.6 May 2022
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 bifacial 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 the clear sky model, improving temporal consistency.
  • Updated satellite hardware calibration parameters using the 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.

Previous Versions

Version Introduced
or Updated 		Description
3.3 April 2019
  • Time-series end date: June 30, 2022.
  • 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 October 2016
  • Time-series end date: June 30, 2022.
  • Real-time support added (January 2018).
  • Forecast support added (January 2018).
  • Improved data delivery speed from model application.
  • Physical range checks added.
2.5 October 2016
  • Physical range checks added.
3.0 March 2015
  • Incorporates infrared image processing into the 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 February 2010
  • New compatibility 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.

Data Version Support and Deprecation

Irradiance Fields

SolarAnywhere uses version control to ensure results are reproducible from one user or context to another. Particularly, irradiance fields like GHI, DNI and DHI are persistent with each data version; irradiance data released as “Archive,” denoted by prefix “A” in the irradiance observation type, will not change for that model version.

Auxiliary Fields

Non-irradiance fields, like temperature and wind, are not persistently version-controlled and may be subject to slight change over time. However, these changes are rare.

Supported Time Period

SolarAnywhere releases an updated Data Version annually, which aligns with the incorporation of the last year of satellite data. New model versions are expected to change slightly as more accurate modeling techniques and newer satellites are applied to the historical record.

Old model versions are only supported within five years’ time after initial release. However, the specific timing of version sunset may depend on a number of factors. Model deprecation occurs after an ample user notification.

To avoid issues with old data versions, we strongly recommend all automated API systems use “SolarAnywhereLatest” Data Version.

Deprecation

SolarAnywhere will deprecate versions by first restricting access to external users to phase out use. During this phase-out period, API requests to deprecated versions will fail. However, there will a period of time where this data is stored internally to Clean Power Research.

Sunsetting

SolarAnywhere will readily delete old data versions after deprecation. This means that deprecated data versions will not exist anymore, and access will be impossible.