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Solargis data in SAM

  • Updated on Jul 13, 2026
  • Published on Jan 13, 2025
  • 1 minute(s) read
  • MK
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In this document

You'll learn how to import Solargis data into NREL SAM (note: this guide may be outdated as SAM procedures change): adding the folder containing your Solargis SAM-format CSV files via "location and resource" → "add/remove weather file folders" to make them selectable in the Solar Resource Library, and how to handle 'basic' TMY data (without DNI) that isn't natively recognized by SAM — extended datasets are delivered in SAM format by default, while basic datasets need support team assistance for conversion.

Important: The information in this guide may be outdated, as procedures on the SAM side may have changed. For the most current guidance, please read the SAM documentation.

How to import Solargis data into SAM

Solargis is able to provide suitable data files for working in SAM. Data in SAM csv format is required in this case. The user can select which of the main radiation components (global horizontal irradiation, diffuse horizontal irradiation, direct normal irradiation) will be used during the simulation.

These are the steps to import Solargis TMY data into NREL SAM (tested in version SAM 2021.12.2):

  1. Open a new PV project and select “location and resource”.

  2. Then select the option “add/remove weather file folders” and chose the folder with the files you want to import from your computer.

  3. The files with the SAM.csv extension should now be displayed in the upper part “Solar Resource Library” for your use.

At this stage, you have finished import of meteo data for a specific geographical site and you can start to simulate the energy output. More information about SAM weather files here.

Working with ‘basic’ TMY files for simulations in SAM

NREL SAM does not recognize the upload of Solargis standard .csv data format and requires a different format for the simulation. If you have ordered the ‘extended’ Solargis TMY dataset, we would have delivered it also in SAM format along with the Solargis CSV format by default.

However, we are still helping our customers with the possibility to upload their already purchased Solargis ‘basic’ TMY data (without DNI parameter). If you don’t have your Solargis dataset in SAM format, please contact our support team at contact@solargis.com.

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