Solar Maps

Solar maps provide monthly average daily total solar resource information on grid cells. The insolation values represent the resource available to a flat plate collector, such as a photovoltaic panel, oriented due south at an angle from horizontal to equal to the latitude of the collector location. This is typical practice for PV system installation, although other orientations are also used.

Several map variations are accessible below. For information on how these maps were developed, access the Solar Maps Development - How the Maps Were Made page.

Thumbnail image of the national solar photovoltaics (PV) resource potential in the United States map.

Thumbnail image of the concentrating solar power (CSP) resource potential in the United States map.

Types of Maps

U.S. Solar Resource Maps

These maps show national solar photovoltaics (PV) resource potential and concentrating solar power (CSP) resource potential for the United States. They are available in JPEG format.

Photovoltaics

Data - 1998 to 2009 Low Resolution (letter size) (JPG 1,234 KB)
Data - 1998 to 2005 Low Resolution (letter size) (JPG 111 KB)
Data - 1998 to 2005 High Resolution (poster size) (JPG 5.63 MB)

Concentrating Solar Power

Data - 1998 to 2009 Low Resolution (letter size) (JPG 1,261 KB)
Data - 1998 to 2005 Low Resolution (letter size) (JPG 113 KB)
Data - 1998 to 2005 High Resolution (poster size) (JPG 5.63 MB)