Solargis Time Series and TMY API

  • Updated on Apr 14, 2025
  • Published on Jan 30, 2025
  • 3 minute(s) read
  • TE
  • MK

In this document

We will introduce Solargis TMY and Time Series API services.

Solargis data services API

With the Solargis TMY and Time Series API, you can directly access accurate solar radiation and meteorological data for any location worldwide. This powerful tool lets you retrieve data at sub-hourly intervals and various aggregations, giving you everything you need for solar energy project assessments, system design, and yield estimation.

Key features include:

  • Data Flexibility: Access to solar and meteorological parameters in multiple time aggregations.

  • Integration Capabilities: Seamless integration with existing systems for automated data access.

  • Comprehensive Data Access: Historical, real-time, and forecasted data for effective analysis.

  • User-Friendly Interface: Easy integration into customized solutions for enhanced decision-making.

The API requests for these services are asynchronous. This means that the initial request is used to register the caller, while all subsequent requests are solely for data retrieval.

Data service API types

The Solargis data service API could be segregated into two main categories, each providing access to data with different data granularity and parameters based on subscription:

  • Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data: Provides averaged solar and meteorological parameters at hourly or 15-minute intervals.

  • Time Series (TS) data: Delivers more granular information at sub-hourly intervals, allowing for detailed analysis and modeling in solar energy projects.

Basic plan features:

  • Supported output parameters: GHI, DNI, DIF, SUN_ELEVATION, SUN_AZIMUTH, TEMP, WS, WD

  • Supported time step: PT60M (1-hour temporal resolution)

Professional plan features:

  • Supported output parameters: GHI, DNI, DIF, SUN_ELEVATION, SUN_AZIMUTH, TEMP, WS, WD, RH, AP, PWAT

  • Supported time step: PT15M (15-minute temporal resolution)

Professional plan features:

  • Supported output parameters: GHI, DIF, DNI, GTI, TEMP, TD, WBT, WS, WD, WG, RH, AP, PREC, PWAT, SDWE, SFWE, SUN_ELEVATION, SUN_AZIMUTH, PANEL_AZIMUTH, PANEL_TILT, PANEL_INC

  • Supported time step: up to PT15M (15-minute temporal resolution)

Enterprise plan features:

  • Supported output parameters: GHI, DIF, DNI, GTI, TEMP, TD, WBT, WS, WD, WG, RH, AP, PREC, PWAT, SDWE, SFWE, SUN_ELEVATION, SUN_AZIMUTH, PANEL_AZIMUTH, PANEL_TILT, PANEL_INC, UVA, UVB, PAR, KT, KC, WS100, WD100, PM2.5, PM10

  • Supported time step: up to PT15M (15-minute temporal resolution)

Apart from the asynchronous Time Series data services API suitable for simulations and data processing, we also offer synchronous data service API that returns all required data in the first response. This is more suitable for operational monitoring and forecasting purposes.

Every API call requires authorization using the API token. Tokens are generated in the Solargis account administration.

TMY data API

The Solargis TMY data API provides users with Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data tailored for specific geographical locations. Key parametric facts include:

  • Temporal resolutions: TMY data is available at 15-minute and 60-minute intervals.

  • Data generation: TMY is derived from multi-year time series data, ensuring statistical accuracy and representativeness (fig.1).

  • Usage in PV simulation: The API facilitates easy integration with PV simulation software, providing up to 8760 hourly values for energy simulations.

  • Probability scenario: TMY files are generated for P50 scenarios only.

  • API structure: The API operates as a REST API using JSON requests, with a two-part process for data generation and status polling. Access requires a one-year subscription and authentication via API tokens.

Figure 1: An illustration of TMY data generation from the Time Series.

More details about the TMY API, endpoints, and request parameters are in the TMY API documentation.

Time Series data API

The Solargis Time Series data API provides precise solar radiation and meteorological data for any location worldwide. Key parametric facts include:

  • Time resolution: Supports sub-hourly intervals, including 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 month, and 1 year.

  • Historical data availability: Full historical data is available from 1994, depending on the region.

  • Geographic coverage: Global coverage, excluding polar regions (fig.2).

  • API customization: Users can specify location (latitude/longitude), time range, and time resolution to retrieve tailored data.

  • Data quality: The API offers validated, high-precision data derived from reliable scientific satellite models, ensuring site-specific accuracy.

  • Integration capability: Seamless integration into internal applications and commercial PV simulation software for improved decision-making.

  • Use cases: Ideal for solar energy project site assessment, project design, and energy yield estimation.

  • Harmonized data source: Provides a unified source of data throughout the solar project lifecycle, reducing errors associated with fragmented datasets.

Figure 2: The Time Series coverage map.

More details about the Time Series API, endpoints, and request parameters are in the Time Series API documentation.