New Solar Resource Data for India

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released new solar resource data for India. The 10-km hourly solar resource data were developed using weather satellite (METEOSAT) measurements incorporated into a site-time specific solar modeling approach developed at the U.S. State University of New York at Albany. The new data expands the time period of analysis from 2002-2007 to 2002-2011 and incorporates enhanced aerosols information to improve direct normal irradiance (DNI) characterization. The data is made publicly available in geographic information system (GIS) format and as static maps at http://www.nrel.gov/international/ra_india.html. The hourly data can also be downloaded for specific locations from NREL's Renewable Resource Data Center.

These products were developed by NREL in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue’s New Technology and Renewable Energy Working Group. The project was funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, International and the U.S. Department of State.