Data and Tools

NREL develops data and tools for modeling and analyzing photovoltaic (PV) technologies.

View all of NREL's solar-related data and tools, including more PV-related resources, or a selected list of PV data and tools below.

Best Research-Cell Efficiency Chart

Features data on the highest confirmed efficiencies for PV research cells of various technologies.

Champion PV Module Efficiency Chart

Features data on the highest confirmed efficiencies for PV modules of various technologies.

NSRDB: National Solar Radiation Database

Meteorological, global horizontal, direct normal, and diffuse horizontal irradiance solar data.

PV Bifacial Irradiance and Performance Modeling Toolkit

Models time-series bifacial PV irradiance and electrical data.

PV ICE: Photovoltaics in the Circular Economy Tool

Models the flow of mass and energy in the PV industry.

PV Module Soiling Map

Soiling parameters of fielded PV panels at 124 locations across the United States.

PV TOMCAT

Predicts PV cell operating temperature as a function of measurable optical and thermal module properties and surrounding weather conditions.

PVWatts Calculator

Estimates energy production and costs of grid-connected PV systems.

Thin-Film Solar Cell Current Voltage and Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Simulation Model

Analyzes recombination losses in polycrystalline thin-film PV cells.