The Solar Contractor’s Guide to Accurate Irradiance Modeling

Solar irradiance, or the amount of available solar energy, at a particular location is one of the most fundamental pieces of information when designing a solar PV system. Not only does it determine whether solar is viable for the customer and, if so, the best locations for solar, it is also the most critical factor in how much energy the solar system will produce. While solar software makes it easy to calculate irradiance with the click of a button, having an understanding of how irradiance is calculated can help solar contractors better answer customer questions and ensure they’re using the best tools to provide accurate irradiance and production estimates.