Comparison of available climate data

The map below shows available climate data files. (SBEM = locations currently being used for SBEM calculations, these align with the available CIBSE weather files).

[TRY = Test Reference Year, DSY = Design Summer Year]
View Available weather file locations in a full screen map

CIBSE Files

Link
The CIBSE weather files are available in multiple formats: 

  • CIBSE Standard – Text files suitable for use calculation spreadsheets, e.g. Microsoft Excel. The ‘Current’ data sets are also suitable for use with HEVACOMP software. However, the ‘Future’ data sets are NOT compatible with current HEVACOMP software (23/11/09).
  • IES – formatted for use with IES simulation software.
  • EDSL TAS – formatted for use with EDSL’s TAS simulation software.
  • ESP-r – formatted for use with the US Department of Energy’s ‘EnergyPlus’ simulation software.

Cost: 

£150 per location for current TRY/DSY, £850 for all 14 locations £300 per location for future TRY/DSY, £1700 for all 14 locations £400 per location for combined future/current, £2200 for complete set

Meteonorm Files

Link
Meteonorm files are available in the Energy Plus format, as hourly weather files. In locations without weather data there are interpolated files available based on the nearest available weather stations (these are not hourly).

Cost

€550 buys the software which creates the weather files. Its per software licence, with each additional user requiring an additional licence, at €275 each.

Prometheus future climate files

Link
Prometheus weather files are created using the UKCP09 weather generator, and are available for download for free from the above link. The weather files are based on 2 different predicted future climates, and have 45 locations around the UK available. This is future weather data only, there is no reference year data available

Cost

Free.

EnergyPlus weather Files

Link
EnergyPlus provides downloads for weather data provided from the US department of Energy. This is free to access and is provided in the .epw format.

Cost

Free.