# Irradiance inputs for PV Plant

**URL:** <https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229>\
**Category:** C3S - Datasets and Usage\
**Tags:** c3s, era5\
**Created:** [17 October 2019 11:28 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229 "2019-10-17T11:28:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Florian\_Bertin](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@Florian\_Bertin](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Florian_Bertin)\
**Post date:** [17 October 2019 11:28 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229/1 "2019-10-17T11:28:29Z")

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Dear all,

For a PV project, I was wondering which variables to use as GHI, DHI and DNI from ERA5 hourly data on single levels.

I read on the forum that "surface\_solar\_radiation\_downwards" is suitable as GHI (and some comparisons with other database and different location seems to confirm that assumption) but for DHI or DNI, I'm not able to find a suitable variable.

Thank you very much in advance

Florian

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**Author:** ![Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Michela](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Michela)\
**Post date:** [17 October 2019 13:55 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229/2 "2019-10-17T13:55:59Z")

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Hi Florian,

maybe this document can help:

[https://www.ecmwf.int/sites/default/files/elibrary/2015/18490-radiation-quantities-ecmwf-model-and-mars.pdf](https://www.ecmwf.int/sites/default/files/elibrary/2015/18490-radiation-quantities-ecmwf-model-and-mars.pdf)

Regards

Michela

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**Author:** ![Florian\_Bertin](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@Florian\_Bertin](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Florian_Bertin)\
**Post date:** [18 October 2019 07:03 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229/3 "2019-10-18T07:03:30Z")

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Hi Michela,

Thank you very much, indeed this document helps me a lot in my comprehension of this database

Best regards,

Florian

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**Author:** ![Julian\_Ascencio](https://forum.ecmwf.int/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Julian\_Ascencio](https://forum.ecmwf.int/u/Julian_Ascencio)\
**Post date:** [27 November 2019 12:56 UTC](https://forum.ecmwf.int/t/irradiance-inputs-for-pv-plant/1229/4 "2019-11-27T12:56:11Z")

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Hi Florian,

In our paper we used the ERA Interim dataset to model&nbsp;the PV performance. More details here:

[https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X19308527](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X19308527)

Feel free to contact for further questions,

Best regards,

Julian