Description | Solar Data | Wind Energy Data

Description

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources and includes wind power, solar radiation as well as energy from other naturally and constantly replenished sources (sunlight, rain, tides, geothermal heat, etc.). The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have collaborated on the development of a variety of products in support of renewable energy efforts.  This page summarizes two main areas of collaboration: solar radiation and wind. Additionally, Integrated Surface Data (ISD) Wind Summaries (an NCDC-produced product) are also accessible (see #s 4 & 5 under Wind Energy Data below).

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Solar Data

The National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB) is the most comprehensive collection of solar data freely available.  The 1991 - 2005 NSRDB contains hourly solar radiation (including global, direct, and diffuse) and meteorological data for 1,454 stations.  NCDC's Integrated Surface Data (ISD) were the key data source for this effort, with much of the solar data modeled/estimated based on the surface observations.  This dataset builds on the 1961-1990 NSRDB, which contains data for 239 stations.  These data are extremely useful in estimating solar energy potential across the U.S., and in estimating heating/cooling requirements for buildings based on heat-gain from solar radiation.

1. 1991 -2005 National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB) - brochure (pdf file)
2. NSRDB Solar and Meteorological Fields - 1991-2005 hourly solar radiation data w/weather data included, via FTP
3. NSRDB Solar Fields (no Meteorological) - 1991-2005 hourly solar radiation data, via FTP
4. SUNY 10-km gridded data - 1998-2005 solar data on a 10 km grid, via FTP
5. NSRDB Statistical Summaries - 1991-2005 solar data summarized into monthly tables, via FTP
6. Original NSRDB 1961-1990 CD-ROM product - soalr radiation data w/weather data included for 1961-1990

Wind Energy Data

There are several wind-related products available to the energy industry.  The most comprehensive is a collection of gridded maps. The maps are based on hourly surface observational data, with the wind speed/direction data being used to then estimate the wind energy at various heights above ground. NCDC's Integrated Surface Data (ISD) were a key source of data for this effort. These data are extremely useful in estimating wind energy potential across the U.S. to determine locations where wind turbines and wind farms would be most practical.

1. Some renewable energy basics from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
2. U.S. Department Of Energy Wind Maps - Wind energy data gridded onto maps, based on surface observational data
3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Maps - Wind energy data gridded onto maps, based on surface observational data
4. GIS Services
5. Integrated Surface Data (ISD) Wind Summaries - Wind speed/direction summaries (frequency tabulations) for individual stations are available by following the instructions below:
   1. Follow this link and agree to the WMO Resolution 40 terms
   2. On the following page, click the Continue With Advanced Options button
   3. On the following page, choose a country or geographic region under the Retrieve data for heading
   4. Under the Select Output Format heading, choose Data Summary and click the Continue button
   5. Next you will chose your station. If you chose United States in step 4, you will need to choose a state first and then click the Continue button. Otherwise you may still need to click a Continue button to advance to the following page where you will select your location. Highlight one location in the selection list and click the Continue button
   6. Fill in sections 1-5 on the summary form and on section 6 select/highlight Wind - Speed/Direction Summary. Click Continue to generate your summary.