Data and Resources

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) features the following online solar radiation resource data and solar resource maps, as well as data for renewable energy power plants.

Solar Resource Information

NREL provides a variety of solar radiation resources, including data files and collection activities, solar spectra information, solar codes and algorithms, solar models, solar calculators, and publications.

Renewable Resource Data Center

The RReDC provides information on several types of renewable energy resources in the United States in the form of publications, data, and maps. An extensive dictionary of renewable energy-related terms is also provided.

Renewable Energy Growth Calculator

You can use this calculator on NREL's Power Technologies Energy Data Book Web site to project future levels of renewable energy—including photovoltaic and solar thermal energy—based on a starting value, growth rate, and time frame.

Solar Radiation Research Laboratory

The NREL Solar Radiation Research Laboratory provides a unique outdoor research facility for supporting renewable energy conversion technologies and climate change studies.