Que: India witnessed a 3–10 percent decline in solar irradiation in 2024. How do you assess the scale and long-term implications of this anomaly for the solar industry?

Ans: It is difficult to predict upcoming trends and their potential impact, due to the complexity of climate science. That said, the drop in India’s solar irradiation last year was a wake-up call for the market – with GHI falling by as much as 3-10 percent in some regions. For developers and investors, this translates to more than just short-term yield losses; it could also affect plant efficiency and long-term profitability.

Typically, a 5 percent decline in solar irradiation translates to a similar 5 percent drop in electricity generation, although actual losses depend on the design and configuration of the PV project. This highlights the importance of precise, high-resolution weather data for calculating solar forecasts and accurately assessing the risks of low irradiation.

Que: What were the key meteorological factors that had the most pronounced impact on GHI across India’s solar hubs?

Ans: Three main factors significantly impacted India’s solar irradiance in 2024.

First, our 2024 GHI difference map for India suggests that the country experienced one of its wettest monsoons in recent years – with rainfall surging 8 percent above the long-term average. While the monsoons were beneficial for agriculture and water reserves, they had a negative effect on solar energy production.

Second, some areas in the Western Ghats, particularly Maharashtra and Gujarat, faced persistent cloud cover that further reduced solar generation potential.

Third, pollution played a notable role. Solargis’ research showed that during the winter months, deteriorating air quality had a measurable impact on solar output. In January 2024, Northern India suffered from persistent smog and poor air quality, along with high aerosol levels, particularly around urban centres. These pollutants reduce solar radiation reaching the ground, directly affecting PV performance and undermining investor confidence.

These challenges highlight the importance of incorporating high-resolution, historical and forecast-based data into the project development phase to evaluate site viability and prevent underperformance.

Que: How does Solargis help developers quantify and address the risk of prolonged cloud cover in regions like Gujarat and Maharashtra?

Ans: Solargis provides high-resolution ‘Time Series’ data that enables developers to analyse long-term patterns of cloud cover and other weather-related risks. Using historical GHI data, developers can assess the frequency and severity of low irradiance events in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra – which is essential for estimating energy yield risk and allows for better system design and PV performance simulation.

In addition, a hybrid approach that combines satellite data with ground-based, site-specific measurements helps validate long-term weather trends. This comprehensive analysis allows for better monitoring of the health of solar assets and enhances the reliability of PV performance predictions – critical information for investors and developers evaluating potential project sites.

Que: Can you elaborate on the core software solutions and modelling techniques Solargis uses to monitor irradiance and forecast PV performance?

Ans: In January 2024, we launched the next-generation Solargis Evaluate, a cloud-based platform that integrates high-resolution solar and meteorological data for more precise and reliable site assessment, PV system design, energy yield simulation and analysis.

The platform combines advanced ray tracing technology, real-world physics-based algorithms and robust modelling techniques to deliver accurate, bankable assessments of PV project performance. Solargis Evaluate also mitigates the risk of using inconsistent or unverified technical specifications with an integrated catalogue of verified PV components.

As the solar industry continues to scale, projects require more sophisticated tools to evaluate PV performance – especially in the face of increasing weather variability. Evaluate 2.0 responds to this need by offering high-resolution and physics-based insights that go far beyond simplistic assumptions and low-resolution datasets.

Que: With increased attention on grid stability and energy forecasting, how do your solutions help mitigate the challenges of solar intermittency and curtailment?

Ans: Accurate forecasting is essential for grid stability – helping operators anticipate periods of high or low generation and reduce the need for last-minute adjustments. Solargis’ product suite supports the seamless integration of renewable energy into the grid capacities by equipping project stakeholders with data that account for extreme weather and variable generation.

Our data-driven PV modelling approach enables project developers and grid operators to adapt to changing conditions, optimise performance, and improve bankability for investors. Evaluate 2.0 and other Solargis products are built to address the growing complexities of PV project evaluation.

Que: How does Solargis plan to scale or adapt its services to support India’s 2030 renewable energy goals, especially in underdeveloped or high-variability regions?

Ans: Solargis has been a long-standing partner to Indian solar players such as Cleantech Solar, SunSource and Candi Solar. These companies rely on Solargis’ high-resolution datasets for improved forecasting and asset performance monitoring.
Many of India’s solar power plants are located in dusty regions or near industrial zones, where pollution and environmental conditions can make it difficult to accurately assess solar potential at ground level. In such cases, the precision of Solargis data becomes critical to avoid miscalculations and maximise project viability.

We are committed to continuing our collaboration with the Indian solar sector by providing data that supports operational success – particularly as the country moves towards its ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets.