In this document
You'll learn how to read the hourly charts in the project's Analysis section: hourly statistics by month with their percentile ranges, the colour-coded hourly statistics data tables, and the monthly histogram of hourly values, with guidance on how to use each one.
The hourly charts show how your project's parameters behave across the hours of a day, month by month. They reveal daily peaks and off-peak periods, the spread between typical and extreme hours, and how consistent conditions are through the year.
For the other chart groups and an introduction to the Analysis section, see How to read the charts.
Hourly statistics by month
Solar resources | Climate | |
|---|---|---|
Chart included for | GHI, DNI, D2G, GTI | TEMP, RH, TD, WBT, WS, WG, AP, PREC |
The chart shows the hourly range for 98% of days in the month (p01-p99), the hourly range for 80% of days in the month (p10-p90), and the hourly average in the given month (blue line).
Unit | |
|---|---|
X-axis | Hour of the day |
Y-axis | Respective parameter values |
How to use it
This chart provides detailed insights into the variability and reliability of solar energy production on an hourly basis. These charts benefit PV system design by allowing you to:
Identify peak and off-peak periods: Understand typical and extreme ranges of solar radiation and energy production throughout the day, helping to optimize system performance and align with energy demand patterns.
Plan for energy storage and backup: Assess the need for and size of energy storage solutions and backup power systems to maintain a stable energy supply during periods of low solar output.
Hourly statistics data tables
The hourly data visualization tables are created in the same way as the monthly and yearly summaries tables. They give you a color-coded view of the monthly parameter summary/average per hour.
The average (Climate) or summary (solar resource) at the given hour in the month.
LTA (Climate) or summary (solar resource) per month.
Unit | |
|---|---|
X-axis (bottom) | Summary (solar resource) or LTA (Climate) |
X-axis (top) | Month |
Y-axis | Hour of the day |
How to use it
The temperature heatmap table can help you identify times when overheating can occur and limits can be exceeded or spot the coolest periods during the day in the given month. You can use this information to perform maximum demand tests or introduce relevant system protection.
Monthly histogram of hourly values
Solar resources | Climate | |
|---|---|---|
Chart included for | GHI, DNI, D2G, GTI | TEMP, RH, TD, WBT, WS, WG, AP, PREC |
The chart represents histograms of hourly averages of the given parameter with percentiles stated in the text. The grey area with middle line depicts average and standard deviation from it, and the black line shows the cumulative distribution function. This chart's availability depends on location and its dataset granularity.
The values written inside the chart show the percentiles.
Unit | |
|---|---|
X-axis | Respective parameter values |
Y-axis | Percentage of days |
How to use it
The x-axis of the chart indicates how far values go in every month, and they depict instant values, not averages.
If, for example, values in a chart representing July in the northern hemisphere (summer month) are mostly in the lower range, it may indicate that it is often cloudy and that, despite summer, energy production is much lower than expected.
If charts are almost identical for all months, it may indicate that energy production could be consistent throughout the whole year (for example, desert areas in Africa).