The data will be used to optimise over 120 of Apex’s solar projects during design, development and operations, while also enabling projects to better integrate advanced technologies such as bifacial and storage.
As high oil prices drive energy security further up the agenda, the US solar market is rapidly approaching a turning point. The sector is also having to navigate fresh uncertainty around hardware tariffs and significant global supply chain volatility. However, moves by developers and operators to better understand the abundant solar resource across the US offer a way forward for the sector, maximising the impact of new solar technologies to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuel dependence.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), bifacial modules – which generate electricity on both sides of the panel – could already comprise up to 50 percent of installed US capacity. However, there have been question marks around the industry’s capability to utilise innovative module designs effectively. To support Apex’s bifacial projects, Solargis has provided extensively validated albedo data, which measures surface reflectivity, unlocking optimal designs and more efficient operations.
Storage is another strong area of growth for the solar sector, holding the key to a wider roll out of photovoltaic technology. A drive to unlock the full benefits of solar plus storage projects has driven growing demand for accurate sub-hourly time series data. Through their partnership, Solargis has provided Apex Clean Energy with accurate one- and five-minute data to support seamless battery operations and better grid integration.
“As the technological complexity of solar assets increases, high quality resource data becomes more essential everyday” said George Szabo, Director of Solar Design, Apex Clean Energy. “Apex strives to create tangible value for every project, and Solargis – with the lowest GHI model uncertainty and interannual variability when paired with our ground-monitoring stations – has enabled our team to do so.”
Giridaran Srinivasan, Solargis’ CEO for the Americas, added that rising transparency around crucial project decisions means US renewable investors are scrutinising financial projections rigorously.
“We have been consistently impressed by Apex Clean Energy’s robust data use of high-quality data and commitment to accuracy over the two years we’ve worked together, and we look forward to supporting the wider US solar sector as it takes a leap forward and adopts a best practice approach to solar resource data” said Mr Srinivasan.
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