Solargis Monitor and Forecast for PV Plant Operations

Solargis was founded in 2010 in Bratislava, Slovakia, and provides solar data, software and consultancy across the PV plant lifecycle. It employs more than 130 experts, with subsidiaries in Toronto and Singapore, the latter covering Asia Pacific, and serves more than 1,200 organisations.

For operating plants, Solargis Monitor supplies near real-time, satellite-derived irradiance and more than 20 meteo parameters for any site, so owners can calculate performance ratios and benchmark actual output against expected yield without relying only on ground stations. Solargis Forecast combines satellite cloud-motion nowcasting up to 3 hours ahead with a consensus of several numerical weather prediction models for day-ahead forecasts up to 14 days, at 5 to 15 minute resolution. Data is delivered by REST API, SFTP or CSV. Other products cover site prospecting, PV design and energy yield simulation.

• Monitor: near real-time satellite irradiance and meteo data for performance ratio calculation.
• Performance benchmarking: compares actual PV output with expected yield across a portfolio.
• Nowcasting: cloud-motion forecasts up to 3 hours ahead, updated every 5 to 15 minutes.
• Day-ahead forecasts: blended NWP forecasts up to 14 days, updated 2 to 4 times a day.
• Over 20 parameters: GHI, DNI, GTI, PV output, temperature, wind, humidity and hail risk.
• Data delivery: REST API, SFTP or CSV export for SCADA and trading systems.

Solar farm owners could submit day-ahead generation schedules to the system operator using Solargis Forecast. Asset managers with rooftop portfolios across industrial parks could benchmark each site's performance ratio against satellite irradiance. Lenders and technical advisors could use the data to check reported yields during refinancing.

Independent satellite data lets owners validate reported plant performance and fill gaps when ground sensors fail or drift. A single data source across a portfolio makes sites in different locations comparable on the same metrics. Short-term and day-ahead forecasts help reduce under- and over-delivery penalties and plan maintenance during low-output periods; one customer reported an 8 to 12% improvement in fiscal outcome from lower balancing costs.

As solar penetration rises, grid operators expect more accurate generation schedules and owners face penalties or curtailment when forecasts miss. Vietnam's large solar fleet, monsoon cloud variability and the move toward market-based power sales increase the value of independent irradiance data and reliable short-term forecasts.

Founded in 2010 in Bratislava by Marcel Suri and Tomas Cebecauer; headquarters remain in Bratislava, with subsidiaries in Toronto (Americas) and Singapore (Asia Pacific, opened 2023). More than 130 experts; trusted by over 1,200 organisations and supports more than 9,000 large solar projects a year. The Evaluate subscription is listed at EUR 12,000 per year.