Evaluate add-ons and data source updates

Prerequisites

• An active Solargis Prospect account.

• Admin rights, for editing purposes.

• A project created within Evaluate.

Evaluate Add-ons

The Solargis application enhances solar resource assessment capabilities through specialized add-ons, available exclusively for Full evaluation projects. These add-ons come in the form of additional datasets and expert services for comprehensive project analysis.

You can access and manage the add-ons and services in the main menu under Project/Project data in the Solargis data tab. The Project data section offers access to the following datasets to uprade your project data source:

• Uncertainty data

• TMY Pxx data

• High temporal resolution data (1-minute)

• Site adaptation of the Solargis Model

Important: Some of the datasets may take time to activate as they are manually processed by our team of experts.

Uncertainty data

Solar irradiance uncertainty estimates data enable robust validation of resource assessment and performance forecasting. This includes:

• Detailed irradiance variability metrics

• Enhanced accuracy in energy yield predictions

• Improved risk assessment for project financing

Once the addon has been activated, the data will be available in the Uncertainty category under the Analysis section. Clicking the charts icon will redirect you to the page.

Important: If you have multiple data sources in your projects and want to see uncertainty for each of them, you will need to request uncertainty separately for each of them. The activation is not automatic and always applies to the relevant data source only.  

Note: This data is included in Full evaluation at no additional cost.

TMY Pxx data

The TMY datasets with different probability of exceedance levels provide varying confidence intervals for energy yield predictions:

• TMY P99: Extremely conservative estimate suitable for worst-case scenario planning.

• TMY P95: Very conservative estimate for risk-averse financial modeling.

• TMY P90: Conservative estimate commonly used for bank financing, expected to be exceeded 90% of the time.

• TMY P75: Moderately conservative estimate for balanced risk assessment.

• TMY P10: Optimistic scenario useful for analyzing maximum potential performance.

Clicking the download icon of the respective Pxx data (activated only) will redirect you to the downloads section, where you can initiate the data download.

Note: This data is included in Full evaluation at no additional cost.

High temporal resolution data

1-minute resolution dataset provides critical insights for advanced system design and operation:

• More accurate prediction of power output fluctuations

• Better assessment of inverter clipping losses

• Improved grid integration planning

• Enhanced analysis of cloud edge effects

• More precise sizing of energy storage systems

This high-resolution dataset is particularly valuable for utility-scale projects where accurate performance modeling and grid compliance are essential. It is generated automatically in the background and may take approximately 15 minutes depending on the location.

Note: This data is available for Full evaluation projects only and is not included in the project activation price. You can purchase it at an additional cost.

Site adaptation of Solargis Model

This lets you request data source adapted to site-specific conditions for better accuracy. Using your on-site ground measurements (minimum 12 months), we recalibrate our solar and meteorological models to your specific project location — reducing data bias and uncertainty for more reliable energy assessments.

What's included:

• Full quality control and metadata harmonization of your measurements

• Site-adapted time series and TMY P50 data integrated directly into your Evaluate project

• Ability to run energy simulations, generate reports, export outputs, and derive additional TMY Pxx percentiles — all based on higher-confidence, location-tuned data

Note: This service is quoted individually based on project complexity, measurement quality, and completeness of provided documentation. Contact your account manager for a personalized quote and a list of required inputs.

1. Click the “Request now” button.

2. Read the on-screen disclaimer and submit the request.

Activating add-on data

You can activate all available datasets on the Project data page:

1. Click the “Activate” link next to the add-on you want to activate.

2. Active add-ons are marked as “Active”.

Important: Please be aware that additional add-on data delivery might take up to 24hrs to show on your account.

If you are activating paid datdaset, e.g., high temporal resolution data (1-minute data), the cost will be displayed in the confirmation prompt. Confirm that you wish to spend SGU for the add-on activation. Data will be delivered to your project automatically after processing.

Note: We will send a confirmation notification to your email once you request activation of any dataset.

Add-on services

Evaluate application add-on services enhance project assessment capabilities by introducing specialized services and expanded datasets. They were created to provide deeper insights through higher resolution data processing, supplementary albedo measurements, or customized consulting services. The following add-ons are available:

• Ground surface albedo Time Series for higher accuracy PV simulation input.

• Bankable site adaptation of ground surface albedo Time Series.

• Consultancy support for complex photovoltaic projects.

• Custom service request

You can request add-on services using the three-dot menu while on the Full evaluation project page:

1. Open the projects menu.

2. Select “Request service” to access add-on services and choose the service you want to request in the next prompt.

Available add-on services

Ground surface albedo Time Series for higher accuracy PV simulation input

This service delivers daily time-resolution ground surface albedo (ALB) data Time Series, derived from models that combine MODIS-satellite data products with Solargis solar radiation Time Series. The ALB data product validation relies on data from locations with similar geographic conditions.

Added value: Together with the site-specific Time Series data, you will receive an expert report containing accurate long-term averaged values for bifacial PV simulation. The report identifies ALB geographic and temporal variability in the project area, including analysis of surface variability, seasonality, and short-term variations caused by snow, rain, and other geographical and human-induced effects.

Note: Higher accuracy bifacial PV simulation results reduce performance risks. This service does not require ground measurements.

Bankable site adaptation of ground surface albedo Time Series

This service delivers high-accuracy daily Time Series of ground surface albedo (ALB) data. The primary ALB data is derived from models combining MODIS-satellite data products with Solargis solar radiation Time Series. Data accuracy is enhanced through site-specific adaptation using on-site solar radiation and albedo measurements.

Added value: You will receive site-specific Time Series data delivered by an expert report containing accurate long-term average values for bifacial PV simulation. The report identifies ALB geographic and temporal variability in the project area and recommends the most suitable ALB data solution for bifacial PV simulation. It includes analysis of surface geographical variability, seasonality, and short-term (daily) variations caused by snow, rain, and other geographical and human-induced effects.

Note: High-accuracy ground surface albedo data are critical for bankable bifacial PV simulation results and reduced risk of PV project underperformance. This service requires on-site ground measurements.

Consultancy support for complex photovoltaic projects

Solargis Evaluate utilizes proprietary PV energy design and PV simulation software. The algorithms for realistic 3D design and ray-tracing PV simulation are enhanced by a verified catalog of PV Components. All simulations are based on Solargis high-resolution data.

We support specific needs in complex project designs and PV performance optimization, aligned with your business model. Our capabilities include novel hybrid (PV-wind-storage) architecture integration and incorporation of on-site drone and land survey data. Using 1-minute Time Series data, we provide high-frequency PV performance analysis, offering insights into PV design details and addressing the power smoothing requirements of grid operators.

Added value: You receive customized PV simulation outputs and expert reports addressing your specific requirements. Our specialized data and software capabilities provide developers and investors with independent project performance evaluation, including comprehensive uncertainty and risk assessment.

Note: This service may require internal tools not currently available in the public version of Solargis Evaluate.

Custom service request

If you have special needs regarding your project or data, submit custom service request and our team of experts will reach out to consult you requirements.

Note: This service will likely incur additional charges based on your requested services.

Data source updates

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.

Key principles to remember:

• 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.

Updating to a newer data source

When a newer data source becomes available, it appears in Project → Project data in the Solargis data tab as an optional data update.

1. Open the data update tab. It shows the update cost, the new data source parameters, and a link to the release notes.

2. Click the “Update” button to purchase the data update.

3. Wait for processing. The new data source is listed on the Project data 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.

1. Open the three-dot menu of the data source.

2. 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.

1. Open the three-dot menu of the data source.

2. Select “Archive”. The data source moves to the archived data sources section on the Project data page.

3. To use the data source again, select “Unarchive”.

Important: The primary data source cannot be archived. Set another data source as primary first.