Wind and Solar Resource Data Sets

The range of resource data sets spans from static cartography showing the mean annual wind speed or solar irradiance across a region to high temporal and high spatial resolution products that provide detailed information at a potential wind or solar energy facility. These data sets are used to support continental-scale, national, or regional renewable energy development; facilitate prospecting by developers; and enable grid integration studies. This review first provides an introduction to the wind and solar resource data sets, then provides an overview of the common methods used for their creation and validation. A brief history of wind and solar resource data sets is then presented, followed by areas for future research. WIREs Energy Environ 2018, 7:e276. doi: 10.1002/wene.276. This article is categorized under: Wind Power > Climate and Environment Solar Heating and Cooling > Climate and Environment Energy Infrastructure > Climate and Environment.