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Solar Resource Compass provides users with an online service that can deliver indicative energy production estimates for any solar project, including the comparison of multiple irradiance datasets and the calculation of site-specific losses for dust and snow. Many features are still being beta-tested in Europe, but DNV tells pv magazine it is planning to roll out the tool in most of Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania in 2024.
DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has expanded its Solar Resource Compass (SRC) online software platform to include support for Europe, with additional regions to follow throughout 2024.
The company describes Solar Resource Compass (SRC) as “a powerful software service that provides users with access to DNVs high-quality solar resource data and energy yield predictions, online and on-demand.”
“We anticipate expanding coverage to all major markets this year,” Dana Olsen, solar segment leader, energy systems at DNV, tells pv magazine. “DNV teams are testing and validating the results provided by Solar Resource Compass in these markets, and we anticipate announcing support in most of Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Oceania in 2024.”
“To enable the Solar Resource Compass analytics in Europe, DNV uses historical weather data available from Solcast,” explains Olsen. Solcast is a DNV-owned company that provides irradiance and weather data using satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms.
In addition to Solcast data, Solar Resource Compass is also powered by SolarFarmer. SolarFarmer is DNVs flagship energy modeling platform for utility-scale PV plants, providing bankable and reliable energy yield predictions, based on comprehensive validations performed over the last five years.
“By combining SolarFarmer and Solcast, Solar Resource Compass provides users with a unique and powerful online service that can deliver indicative energy production estimates for any solar project, including the comparison of multiple irradiance datasets and the calculation of site-specific losses for dust and snow,” DNV states.
Currently, many of the tools features are in beta in Europe. According to Olsen, “The beta features represent the features that are new in the European market. Based on customer feedback during the beta period, it is possible that we may add or update functionality to better address the needs of our customers.”
“Solar Resource Compass has become an invaluable resource in our workflow,” says Josh Tatel, director of technical asset operations at California-headquartered financial services firm, Generate Capital. “SRC enables our team to perform technical due diligence on three to five times more solar energy assets than we could otherwise.”
SRC also helps developers and investors navigate differences in models or assumptions, Tatel adds, noting that “as a neutral third-party assessment, SRC helps flag any gaps in assumptions much earlier in our diligence process, avoiding surprises or material changes at closing.”
DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook report forecasts that from 2025 onwards, almost all net new capacity added will be non-fossil. Wind and solar are set to grow tenfold and seventeenfold, respectively, between 2022 and 2050. A key challenge facing the solar industry, however, is the unprecedented scale required to deliver a decarbonized energy grid. DNV says it is committed to enabling its customers to scale in order to “accelerate the energy transition and deliver a greener grid.”
Its digital solar products are key enabling technologies that deliver on that commitment, the company states. DNV customers in the United States, for example, have evaluated more than 10,000 projects in the last two years using Solar Resource Compass. Solar Resource Compass’ APIs have also allowed customers to introduce automation to their internal workflows, allowing them to scale their businesses without scaling their teams, DNV adds.
Solar Resource Compass is available for free for a limited time for users who register here. |
