What North America can learn from PVGIS

When it comes to renewable energy, Europe has traditionally been a powerhouse. Despite the recent economic hardship in the region, Europe continues to be a leader in the sector. One of the key reasons for this leadership role is the decades-long support of governments to develop core capabilities for manufacturing, installing and operating renewable energy systems. One such initiative, PVGIS, is one of the inspirations for WhatNextNow Solar.

PVGIS stands for Photovoltaic Geographical Information System, a web-based solar panel calculator developed by the European Commission in order to provide solar radiation information for all of Europe and Africa. Combined with online calculators for determining the electrical output of photovoltaic systems, the solar radiation information is a great starting point for determining the profitability of photovoltaic investments in the region. In addition to these, there are also maps available for each European country.

One of the biggest advantages of PVGIS is its web-based architecture. Without a need for installing a piece of software and many interactive features, it enables the users to easily access the information. Another advantage is the integration of insolation information with a photovoltaic model, enabling the estimation of electrical output.

Unfortunately, the coverage of PVGIS is limited to Europe and Africa. For users looking for PVGIS in the United States, Canada, Mexico or other countries, WhatNextNow Solar Discover is a good alternative. Our Discover feature provides similar functionality to PVGIS with a global coverage. We also provide financial projections, bringing the end users one step closer to what really matters: the bottom line of their solar investments.