Description
This is a static historical baseline dataset for global areas capturing the long term averages of daily totals of potential photovoltaic electricity production.
Technical Description
The Global Solar Atlas (GSA) solar potential dataset Version 2.0, developed by the World Bank Group in collaboration with Solargis, provides high-resolution global data on solar energy potential, primarily aimed at supporting solar power planning and investment decisions. The dataset includes long-term averages (LTA) of key solar resource variables derived from satellite-based measurements and advanced solar modeling techniques. These variables include Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), and Photovoltaic Power Output (PVOUT), among others, with a spatial resolution of around 1 km. The dataset covers the period 1994/1999/2007 (depending on the region) to 2022 and serves as a reliable reference for assessing solar resource availability across different geographies.
Of particular importance is the daily LTA PVOUT field, which estimates the average daily energy yield (in kWh/kWp/day) of a grid-connected, optimally tilted, fixed-angle crystalline silicon PV system under local climatic conditions. PVOUT accounts for key loss factors such as temperature effects, angle of incidence losses, and system inefficiencies, offering a realistic representation of actual PV system performance. This metric is essential for evaluating the practical energy generation potential of solar installations, aiding policymakers, developers, and investors in comparing locations and planning solar power projects based on long-term, location-specific production expectations.
This dataset contains the following fields:
- potential_photovoltaic_electricity_production: The long term average of the daily total of potential photovoltaic electricity production (PVOUT) at the specified location, in kWh/kWp. This assumes a grid-connected, optimally tilted, fixed-angle crystalline silicon PV system.