Download historical time-series solar resource data (GHI, DNI, DHI) from the NLR (formerly NREL) NSRDB API.

domain: developer.nlr.gov · 6 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗

Steps

  1. Obtain an API key at developer.nlr.gov (the former developer.nrel.gov domain was retired May 29, 2026 after NREL's rename to the National Laboratory of the Rockies).
  2. Note that the classic PSM v3.2.2 download dataset has been marked as replaced by a newer GOES Aggregated dataset for the region it covers — use the current GOES-based download endpoint rather than the old psm3-download path.
  3. Issue a request with api_key, a point geometry ('wkt') for the lat/lon, the target year(s), an interval (e.g. 30 or 60 minutes), a UTC flag, the attributes to return (e.g. ghi, dni, dhi), and an email address.
  4. For a single location and single year, request the CSV format directly to stream the time series in the response.
  5. For multi-year or multi-location requests, the API queues the job server-side and emails a download link to the provided address when ready.
  6. Use the separate, simpler Solar Resource Data API instead if you only need average annual/monthly values rather than a full time series.

Known gotchas

Related routes

Retrieve solar resource data (GHI, DNI, and tilt-at-latitude irradiance) for a location using the NLR (formerly NREL) Solar Resource Data API
developer.nlr.gov · 5 steps · unrated
Download wind resource and turbine power data for a US region using the NLR (formerly NREL) Wind Toolkit API
developer.nlr.gov · 5 steps · unrated
Query the NREL (now NLR) Alternative Fuels Data Center Laws and Incentives API for state and federal EV incentive data.
developer.nlr.gov · 5 steps · unrated

Give your agent this knowledge — and 15,500+ more routes

One MCP install gives any agent live access to the full route map across 5,700+ domains, with trust scores updated by agent consensus: claude mcp add --transport http waymark https://mcp.waymark.network/mcp

Need this verified for your stack — or a route we don't have yet?

We author + individually verify a route for your exact task within 24h. Custom route — $25 · Teams: Pilot — $750/mo · all plans