In this document
You'll learn how data source updates work in Evaluate: what an update delivers and what it does not carry over, how to purchase a newer data source, how to set which data source is primary for simulations and analysis, and how to archive and unarchive the ones you no longer need.
Solargis data and models are updated regularly. Your project receives the most recent data source at activation, but if you work on a project over several months, a newer data source may become available. Evaluate lets you add it to your project alongside the existing one.
Data sources are managed in the Solargis data tab, described in Data & services page.
Key principles
You get a new source, not a patch. An update delivers a completely new data source, not just the data missing from the previous one.
Add-ons do not carry over. Datasets activated on the previous data source (uncertainty, TMY Pxx, 1-minute) must be activated again on the new one.
Data sources coexist. The previous data source stays in the project. You choose which one is primary and can archive the rest.
Updates cost SGU. The price is always displayed before you confirm the purchase.
Action | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
Update | Adds the newest Solargis data source to the project | Data & services → Solargis data → data update tab |
Set as primary | Makes a data source the default for simulations and analysis | Data source three-dot menu |
Archive | Hides a data source from applications and simulations, keeps it stored | Data source three-dot menu |
Updating to a newer data source
When a newer data source becomes available, it appears in Data & services in the Solargis data tab as an optional data update.
Open the data update tab. It shows the update cost, the new data source parameters, and a link to the release notes.
Click the "Update" button to purchase the data update.
Wait for processing. The new data source is listed on the Data & services page once available.
Note: Processing time depends on the size of the data source.
Important: Uncertainty estimates must be requested separately for each data source. They are never carried over from a previous data source and never appear automatically.
With the new data source, you can:
simulate your energy systems and evaluate their data,
generate reports and data exports,
estimate soiling and snow losses in the energy system designer (PV energy systems only).
If you have your own on-site ground measurements, you can also request site adaptation to improve the accuracy of the Solargis dataset for your location, and then use the site-adapted data source in your simulations.
Selecting your primary data source
Once the project contains more than one data source, you can decide which one is the primary data source. The primary data source is pre-selected in your simulations and in the energy system selector when you open the project Overview or Analysis sections.
Open the three-dot menu of the data source.
Select "Set as primary". The data source is then marked with the
label for quick reference.
A typical use case is promoting your requested site-adapted data to primary once it has been delivered.
Important: With PV energy systems, you must simulate the system again for the project data to reflect the new data source.
Archiving data sources
Archiving hides a data source from applications and simulation options while keeping it stored in the project for potential future use.
Open the three-dot menu of the data source.
Select "Archive". The data source moves to the archived data sources section on the Data & services page.
To use the data source again, select "Unarchive".
Important: The primary data source cannot be archived. Set another data source as primary first.
