dataset · Global
NASA Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER)
NASA's goal in Earth science is to observe, understand, and model the Earth system to discover how it is changing, to better predict change, and to understand the consequences for life on Earth. The Applied Sciences Program, within the Earth Science Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, serves individuals and organizations around the globe by expanding and accelerating societal and economic benefits derived from Earth science, information, and technology research and development.<br/
Visit source ↗Source details
Licence: There are no restrictions on the use, access, and/or download of data from the NASA POWER Project. We request that you cite the NASA POWER Project when using the data provided from NASA POWER Project.
Evidence quality: 55.5
Listed in aws-odr public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- satellite-derived meteorology parameters (Analysis Ready Data) · satellite-derived solar energy / surface solar irradiance parameters · over 380 parameters across hourly, daily, monthly and climatology levels · hourly source ARD for building energy modelling (EnergyPlus Weather format)
- Coverage docs-verified
- Global · Daily meteorology from 1981; daily solar from 1984; hourly meteorology from 1984; hourly solar from 2001
- Resolution docs-verified
- Temporal: hourly, daily, monthly, climatology. Spatial: native resolution of source products (no numeric grid size stated in DOCS)
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Nightly updates; near real time with ~2-3 day lag for meteorological parameters and ~5-7 days for solar
- Formats docs-verified
- Zarr · NetCDF · EnergyPlus Weather (EPW) format · RESTful API · geospatial image services
- Access docs-verified
- Free and open with no restrictions on use, access or download. Anonymous AWS S3 access via --no-sign-request (no AWS account required). Licence: Creative Commons BY 4.0; citation requested.
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Hourly EnergyPlus weather files as inputs for building energy performance models · Long-run daily meteorology series (from 1981) for climate baseline sections of environmental assessments · Solar and meteorological time series as inputs to crop or land-use water balance assessments · Climatological summaries for climate resilience and adaptation statements in planning reports
- Audience llm-inferred
- environmental consultants · climate and hydrological analysts · building energy modellers · agronomists · GIS analysts
Limitations
- Constraints llm-inferred
- Near real time only: meteorological data lags ~2-3 days and solar data ~5-7 days · Solar parameters have a shorter record (daily from 1984, hourly from 2001) than meteorology · No numeric spatial grid resolution stated in the docs, so fine-scale UK catchment use needs checking · Satellite and model-derived data, not in-situ gauge observations, so local validation may be needed · Global dataset with no UK-specific tailoring · Licence requires citing NASA POWER · Ongoing availability depends on the NASA POWER project continuing to be maintained
Evidence
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.