Solcast Products
Evaluate Data Access
Testing the Solcast data API‣
‣
‣
‣
‣
‣
Data Modelling
Modelling - FAQs‣
‣
Solcast API
What is an API request? How many API requests do I need?‣
‣
Hobbyists and Researchers
‣
‣
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Data Troubleshooting and FAQs
What timezone are the timestamps?User Guides
Subscription ManagementAccount FAQsSolcast historical data format
Get free historical data and explore the parameters included in the Solcast data format.
Do you provide sample data? How can I test your TMY data for free? What parameters are included in the Solcast standard CSV format?
Solcast data parameters
You can download your historical data in a CSV format. Each file will include various data parameters and unit of measurements. Take a look at the list below:
Name | Description |
Period End | Date time of the end of the period.Note that the year is always 2059(or greater) to signify this is sample data, rather than actual data |
Period Start | Date time of the start of the period |
Period | Length of the averaging period in ISO8601 duration format |
Air Temp | The air temperature 2 meters above ground |
Azimuth | Solar azimuth angle (degrees). Zero means true north. Varies from -180 to 180. A value of 90 means the sun is in the east |
Cloud Opacity | The attenuation of incoming sunlight due to cloud. Varies from 0 (no cloud) to 100 (full attenuation of incoming sunlight) |
Dewpoint | The dewpoint temperature 2 meters above ground level |
DHI | The horizontal component of diffuse irradiance |
DNI | Direct Normal Irradiance. Solar irradiance arriving in a direct line from the sun as measured on a surface held perpendicular to the sun |
EBH | The horizontal component of direct normal irradiance |
GHI | The total irradiance received on a horizontal surface. It is the sum of the horizontal components of direct and diffuse irradiance |
Precipitable Water | Precipitable water of the entire atmospheric column |
Relative Humidity | The air relative humidity 2 meters above ground level |
Snow Depth | The snow depth liquid-water-equivalent |
Surface Pressure | The air pressure at ground level |
Wind Direction | Wind direction (degrees) at 10m above ground level. Zero means true north. Varies from 0 to 360. A value of 270 means the wind is coming from the west |
Wind Speed | Wind speed (in m/s) at 10m above ground level. |
Zenith | The angle between a line perpendicular to the earth's surface and the sun (90 deg = sunrise and sunset; 0 deg = sun directly overhead) |
Albedo Daily | The average daytime surface reflectivity of visible light, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. 0 represents complete absorption. 1 represents complete reflection |
GTI | The total irradiance received on a surface with defined tilt and azimuth, fixed or tracking |
Free Solcast API toolkit
To evaluate Solcast data, you can register for our Solcast API Toolkit. With the free tier plan, you can download data from locations of interest. You you can even use unmetered locations to access real-world test data via our synchronous TMY P50 API. Check that out in this article.