The future of solar intelligence: Xweather Solar Model 3
Accurate, bankable solar insights from archive to real-time monitoring
The Vaisala Xweather Solar Model 3 delivers industry-leading accuracy for historical evaluation and real-time site performance monitoring.
Built on two decades of atmospheric science and algorithmic evolution, Solar Model 3 represents a significant leap forward in how solar data is captured, modeled, and delivered.
The first truly global, finance-grade solar irradiation dataset powered entirely by satellite intelligence and refined through the proven Heliosat-V methodology.
A new standard for satellite-based GHI
Solar Model 3 is Xweather’s proprietary model that transforms satellite imagery into ultra-accurate Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) data. Based on more than two decades of refinement, it sets a new benchmark for solar resource accuracy, 38% greater compared to ERA5.
Our cloud-opacity modeling delivers exceptionally low bias and minimal deviation, making it suited for developers, operators, and financiers who demand reliability at every stage of the solar lifecycle.
Precision from orbit
Solar Modal 3 calculates GHI directly from geostationary satellite imagery using proprietary radiative-transfer modeling. It powers the Xweather Renewable energy solar irradiation database, setting the global reference for satellite-based solar intelligence.
15-minute satellite imagery processed to extract cloud opacity
McClear clear-sky modeling establishes baseline irradiance
Atmospheric, surface, and sensor properties refined through adaptive calibration
Accuracy that impacts revenue
The results from Solar Model 3 and ground-based measurements show a mean bias error (MBE) of 0.86%, a bias standard deviation of 2.72%, an hourly mean absolute error (MAE) of 9.84% and an hourly root mean square error (RMSE) of 15.06%.
A 1 % reduction in GHI uncertainty can increase allowable debt sizing by 0.5–1 %, representing $500 K–$1 M in additional financeable capital on a $100 M project.
Renewable energy solar irradiation data
Xweather Solar Model 3 data
McClear Clear-Sky Model establishes theoretical solar irradiance under cloud-free conditions with < 21 W/m² bias.
Heliosat-V Cloud-Corrected Model processes 15-minute, 3 km satellite imagery, applies atmospheric and surface anisotropy correction, adapts to each sensor’s spectral profile, and computes cloud index without dependence on historical archives.
Xweather Solar Model 3 solutions
Renewable energy solar irradiance archive data delivers over 20 years of high-quality solar irradiance time-series data, providing unparalleled insight for long-term planning and performance analysis. Validated against more than 250 sites worldwide and produced at hourly resolution, our archive delivers 38% greater accuracy compared to ERA5, setting a new standard for reliable historical irradiance data.
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Global coverage and expansion
Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Brazil
3 km native resolution (90 m terrain-enhanced)
Historical data 2004–2025
Rest of the world available in Q1 2026
Access
Synchronous API access with rapid turnaround
JSON / GeoJSON and CSV / TSV formats
Seamless migration from Soda and Vaisala platforms
UI for interactive workflows