Importing measured data file

Hello,

can anyone tell me if I can import data file and run simulation without having some of the climate parameters available (wind direction, snow depth, Tdew) and if yes which data are obligatory to have and which are not?

Hi Ivan,

See the SAM Help topic "Weather Data Elements:"

samrepo.nrelcloud.org/help/weather_data_elements.htm

The "Weather File Formats" chapter has descriptions of weather file formats for SAM's solar, wind, and marine energy models:

samrepo.nrelcloud.org/help/weather_format.htm

Best regards,
Paul.

Thank you for your answer. I have searched those documents, but I could not find this answer to this question: Is there a possibility to add only GHI to the weather file or I must have at least DHI or DNI also?

Hi Ivan,

The table in the Weather Data Elements Help topic that I linked above shows that for the PV models, you need at least two of DNI, DHI, and GHI.

Use the options at the bottom of the Location and Resource page under "Albedo - Sky Diffuse Model - Irradiance Data (Advanced)" to choose which two components you want to use from the weather file:



Best regards,
Paul.
 

That's awesome Paul, 
Is this feature also available for PVWatts (as opposed to Photovoltaics)? I don't see it in the SAM UI and I couldn't get a reasonable output via PySAM either...
Thanks!

Hi Cia,

PVWatts does not support the option to choose irradiance components: It requires a weather file with DNI and DHI components.

That option is only available for the Detailed PV model in SAM, Pvsamv1 in PySAM, or pvsamv1 in the SSC API.

Best regards,
Paul.