Advanced PV or Premium PV: A practical guide to choosing the right forecasting model

Both tiers use Solcast weather intelligence to support operational solar forecasting. The difference is how the power model is created and maintained: Advanced is a physics-based model you configure, while Premium is a site-trained model developed and continuously improved by DNV experts using your operational data.

At a glance

When Advanced PV Power is the right choice

• Have detailed system specifications and want full control over model configuration
• Want to match the model to your own expected power calculations
• Prefer a self-managed approach where you adjust site parameters directly
• Don’t have (or don’t want to share) historical SCADA data
• Need a fast setup with minimal onboarding lead time

In short: You know your plant—and you want to tell the model how it should behave.

When Premium PV Power is the right choice

• Want the model to learn from what actually happens at the site—not only what should happen in theory
• Have reliable historical generation data (minimum 6 months recommended)
• Want DNV experts to handle model training, validation, and refinement
• Need the highest possible forecast accuracy where even small improvements can have material value
• Operate in markets where better forecasts reduce imbalance exposure or improve dispatch decisions
• Want wind and solar forecasting from the same platform

In short: You have the data—and you want the model to reflect your plant’s real performance.

Key difference between Advanced PV Power and Premium PV Power

Advanced is a physics-based model of your plant. Forecast accuracy depends on how well your configured parameters represent real-world performance—and how actively the model is maintained as the site changes.

Premium is trained on what your plant actually produces. The machine-learning layer captures effects that are difficult to represent through physical modelling alone—such as real inverter behaviour, clipping patterns, complex shading, curtailment events, site-specific availability losses, and localised system responses to solar/wind resource data. Premium also adds a site-specific weather ensemble (multiple NWP sources blended for your location) to improve the weather input itself.

What about wind power forecasting?

Wind power forecasting is available through Premium only. Unlike solar—where high-resolution satellite imagery enables consistent irradiance modelling globally—wind requires site-specific modelling to be operationally useful. DNV applies its operational wind forecasting experience to train models using turbine SCADA data.

What does upgrading from Advanced to Premium PV power look like?

1. You provide access to historical SCADA generation data
2. DNV cleans, ingests, and trains models on your site’s production history
3. Optionally, you set up a live measurement feed for ongoing model improvement
4. Forecasts are delivered via the same Solcast API you already use

Your existing API integration doesn’t change—the model behind it becomes significantly more accurate.

Data privacy

Measurement data you provide is stored and used for model training purposes only. It is not shared or used beyond improving your site’s forecast accuracy.

For questions or to discuss an upgrade, please contact your Solcast account manager.