Performance Data from the NIST Photovoltaic Arrays and Weather Station

Abstract

In July 2012, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) completed construction of threephotovoltaic (PV) arrays on its Gaithersburg, MD campus. Comprehensive data acquisition systems were installed and an onsite weather station was also built to collect ancillary solar and meteorological measurements that are needed for the full characterization and modeling of the PV arrays. These datasets provide high-resolution, low-uncertainty, comprehensive PV performance and weather data for extended, continuous time periods. The creation of these datasets is fulfilling a need of the research and energy communities that few other datasets meet. Data from these systems have been collected for about three years at the time of this publication, between August 2014 and July 2017, and are being provided to the public via an online web portal for viewing and download.