Merge branch 'main' into chandrupatla

Author: kandersolar

.github/workflows/pytest.yml

@@ -40,10 +40,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Install Conda environment with Micromamba
         if: matrix.environment-type == 'conda'
-        uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v1
+        uses: mamba-org/setup-micromamba@v2
         with:
           environment-file: ${{ env.REQUIREMENTS }}
-          cache-downloads: true
+          cache-downloads: false
+          cache-environment: false
           create-args: >-
             python=${{ matrix.python-version }}
           condarc: |

README.md

@@ -74,7 +74,11 @@ Installation
 ============
 
 pvlib-python releases may be installed using the ``pip`` and ``conda`` tools.
-Please see the [Installation page](https://pvlib-python.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user_guide/installation.html) of the documentation for complete instructions.
+```bash
+pip install pvlib
+conda install -c conda-forge pvlib
+```
+Please see the [Installation page](https://pvlib-python.readthedocs.io/en/stable/user_guide/getting_started/installation.html) of the documentation for complete instructions.
 
 
 Contributing

docs/examples/agrivoltaics/plot_agrivoltaics_ground_irradiance.py

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
 tracking_orientations = pvlib.tracking.singleaxis(
     apparent_zenith=solpos['apparent_zenith'],
-    apparent_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
+    solar_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
     axis_azimuth=axis_azimuth,
     max_angle=max_angle,
     backtrack=True,

docs/examples/shading/plot_martinez_shade_loss.py

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
 
 tracking_result = pvlib.tracking.singleaxis(
     apparent_zenith=solar_apparent_zenith,
-    apparent_azimuth=solar_azimuth,
+    solar_azimuth=solar_azimuth,
     axis_tilt=axis_tilt,
     axis_azimuth=axis_azimuth,
     max_angle=(-90 + cross_axis_tilt, 90 + cross_axis_tilt),  # (min, max)

docs/examples/solar-tracking/plot_single_axis_tracking.py

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 truetracking_angles = tracking.singleaxis(
     apparent_zenith=solpos['apparent_zenith'],
-    apparent_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
+    solar_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
     axis_tilt=0,
     axis_azimuth=180,
     max_angle=90,
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 for gcr in [0.2, 0.4, 0.6]:
     backtracking_angles = tracking.singleaxis(
         apparent_zenith=solpos['apparent_zenith'],
-        apparent_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
+        solar_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
         axis_tilt=0,
         axis_azimuth=180,
         max_angle=90,

docs/examples/solar-tracking/plot_single_axis_tracking_on_sloped_terrain.py

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 for cross_axis_tilt in [0, 5, 10]:
     tracker_data = tracking.singleaxis(
         apparent_zenith=solpos['apparent_zenith'],
-        apparent_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
+        solar_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
         axis_tilt=0,  # flat because the axis is perpendicular to the slope
         axis_azimuth=180,  # N-S axis, azimuth facing south
         max_angle=90,
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
 
 tracker_data = tracking.singleaxis(
     apparent_zenith=solpos['apparent_zenith'],
-    apparent_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
+    solar_azimuth=solpos['azimuth'],
     axis_tilt=axis_tilt,  # no longer flat because the terrain imparts a tilt
     axis_azimuth=axis_azimuth,
     max_angle=90,

docs/sphinx/source/reference/iotools.rst

@@ -57,6 +57,17 @@ clear-sky irradiance globally.
    iotools.parse_cams
 
 
+NASA POWER
+**********
+
+Satellite-derived irradiance and weather data with global coverage.
+
+.. autosummary::
+   :toctree: generated/
+
+   iotools.get_nasa_power
+
+
 NSRDB
 *****
 

docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/extras/nomenclature.rst

@@ -22,16 +22,24 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library:
 
     aoi
         Angle of incidence. Angle between the surface normal vector and the
-        vector pointing towards the sun’s center
+        vector pointing towards the sun's center. [°]
 
     aoi_projection
-        cos(aoi)
+        cos(aoi). When the sun is behind the surface, the value is negative.
+        For many uses, negative values must be set to zero.
 
     ape
         Average photon energy
 
     apparent_zenith
-        Refraction-corrected solar zenith angle in degrees
+        Refraction-corrected solar zenith angle. The solar
+        zenith angle describes the position of the sun relative to the vertical and is
+        defined as the angle between a vector pointed straight up and a vector pointed
+        at the sun, from the observer. [°]
+
+    apparent_elevation
+        Refraction-corrected solar elevation angle. This is the complement of
+        :term:`apparent_zenith` (90 - apparent_zenith). [°]
 
     bhi
         Beam/direct horizontal irradiance
@@ -87,10 +95,10 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library:
         Sandia Array Performance Model IV curve parameters
 
     latitude
-        Latitude
+        Latitude in decimal degrees. Positive north of equator, negative to south.
 
     longitude
-        Longitude
+        Longitude in decimal degrees. Positive east of prime meridian, negative to west.
 
     pac, ac
         AC power
@@ -141,10 +149,15 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library:
         Diode saturation current
 
     solar_azimuth
-        Azimuth angle of the sun in degrees East of North
+        Azimuth angle of the sun in degrees East of North. The solar azimuth angle
+        describes the sun’s position along the horizon relative to the observer.
+        The pvlib-python convention is defined as degrees East of North, so
+        North = 0°, East = 90°, South = 180°, West = 270°.
 
     solar_zenith
-        Zenith angle of the sun in degrees
+        Zenith angle of the sun in degrees. This is the angle between is between a
+        vector pointed straight up and a vector pointed at the sun, from the observer.
+        This is the complement of solar elevation (90 - elevation). [°]
 
     spectra
     spectra_components
@@ -154,11 +167,16 @@ There is a convention on consistent variable names throughout the library:
         is composed of direct and diffuse components.
 
     surface_azimuth
-        Azimuth angle of the surface
+        Azimuth angle of the surface in degrees East of North. This angle describes the
+        horizontal projection of the normal vector from the surface. The pvlib-python
+        convention is defined as degrees East (clockwise) of North, so North = 0°,
+        East = 90°, South = 180°, West = 270°.
 
     surface_tilt
-        Panel tilt from horizontal [°]. For example, a surface facing up = 0°,
-        surface facing horizon = 90°.
+        Tilt from horizontal [°]. The surface tilt angle 
+        is defined as degrees from the horizontal
+        such that a surface facing up would have a surface tilt of 0°, and one facing
+        the horizon would be 90°.  [°]
 
     temp_air
         Temperature of the air

docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.13.1.rst

@@ -10,14 +10,20 @@ Breaking Changes
 
 Deprecations
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
+* Deprecate :py:func:`~pvlib.modelchain.get_orientation`. (:pull:`2495`)
+* Rename parameter name ``aparent_azimuth`` to ``solar_azimuth`` in :py:func:`~pvlib.tracking.singleaxis`.
+  (:issue:`2479`, :pull:`2480`)
 
 Bug fixes
 ~~~~~~~~~
 
 
 Enhancements
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Add :py:func:`pvlib.iotools.get_nasa_power` to retrieve data from NASA POWER free API.
+  (:pull:`2500`)
+* :py:func:`pvlib.spectrum.spectral_factor_firstsolar` no longer emits warnings
+  when airmass and precipitable water values fall out of range. (:pull:`2512`)
 * Add ``method='chandrupatla'`` (faster than ``brentq`` and slower than ``newton``,
   but convergence is guaranteed) as an option for
   :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.singlediode`,
@@ -27,10 +33,12 @@ Enhancements
   :py:func:`~pvlib.singlediode.bishop88_mpp`,
   :py:func:`~pvlib.singlediode.bishop88_v_from_i`, and
   :py:func:`~pvlib.singlediode.bishop88_i_from_v`. (:issue:`2497`, :pull:`2498`)
-  
+
 
 Documentation
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Substantiate definitions of solar/surface azimuth/zenith and aoi on the
+  :ref:`nomenclature` page. (:issue:`2448`, :pull:`2503`)
 
 
 Testing
@@ -53,4 +61,8 @@ Maintenance
 Contributors
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
 * Elijah Passmore (:ghuser:`eljpsm`)
+* Ioannis Sifnaios (:ghuser:`IoannisSifnaios`)
+* Rajiv Daxini (:ghuser:`RDaxini`)
+* Omar Bahamida (:ghuser:`OmarBahamida`)
 * Kevin Anderson (:ghuser:`kandersolar`)
+* Mikaella Brewer (:ghuser:`brwerx`)

pvlib/bifacial/pvfactors.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """
 The ``bifacial.pvfactors`` module contains functions for modeling back surface
-plane-of-array irradiance using an external implementaton of the pvfactors
+plane-of-array irradiance using an external implementation of the pvfactors
 model (either ``solarfactors`` or the original ``pvfactors``).
 """