v0.12.0 (March 19, 2025)

Breaking Changes

Add a check to :py:func:`~pvlib.snow.fully_covered_nrel` and :py:func:`~pvlib.snow.coverage_nrel`. The check uses snow depth on the ground to improve modeling for systems with shallow tilt angles. The check adds a new, optional parameter snow_depth. (:issue:`1171`, :pull:`2292`)
Fix a bug in :py:func:`pvlib.bifacial.infinite_sheds.get_irradiance_poa` which may have yielded non-zero ground irradiance when the sun was below the horizon. (:issue:`2245`, :pull:`2359`)
Fix a bug where :py:func:`pvlib.transformer.simple_efficiency` could only be imported using the from pvlib.transformer syntax. (:pull:`2388`)
:py:class:`~pvlib.modelchain.ModelChain` now requires only a minimal set of parameters to run the SAPM electrical model. (:issue:`2369`, :pull:`2393`)
Correct keys for First Solar modules in :py:func:`~pvlib.spectrum.spectral_factor_pvspec`. (:issue:`2398`, :pull:`2400`)
Ensure proper tz and pytz types in :py:class:`~pvlib.location.Location`. To ensure that the time zone in :py:class:`~pvlib.location.Location` remains internally consistent if/when the time zone is updated, the tz attribute is now the single source of time-zone truth, is the single time-zone setter interface, and its getter returns an IANA string. (:issue:`2340`, :pull:`2341`)
:py:func:`~pvlib.iotools.get_pvgis_tmy` with outputformat='csv' now works with the updated data format returned by PVGIS. (:issue:`2344`, :pull:`2395`)

:py:func:`~pvlib.irradiance.gti_dirint` now raises an informative message when input data don't include values with AOI<90. (:issue:`1342`, :pull:`2347`)
Reduce space requirements by excluding tests and test files from wheel. Zipped wheel is now 66% of the previous size, and installed size is 50% of the previous size. (:issue:`2271`, :pull:`2277`)

Fix Procedural and Object Oriented simulation examples having slightly different results in :ref:`introtutorial`. (:issue:`2366`, :pull:`2367`)
Restructure the user guide with subsections. (:issue:`2302`, :pull:`2310`)
Add references for :py:func:`pvlib.snow.loss_townsend`. (:issue:`2383`, :pull:`2384`)
Add :term:`ghi_clear` to the :ref:`nomenclature` page. (:issue:`2272`, :pull:`2397`)
Add output variable naming clarifaction to :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.calcparams_desoto` and :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.calcparams_pvsyst`. (:issue:`716`, :pull:`2405`)

Move tests folder to /tests and data exclusively used for testing to /tests/data. (:issue:`2271`, :pull:`2277`)
Add Python 3.13 to test suite. (:pull:`2258`)
Add tests for all input types for the :py:attr:`pvlib.location.Location.tz` attribute. (:issue:`2340`, :pull:`2341`)
Add tests for time-conversion functions in :py:mod:`pvlib.tools`. (:issue:`2340`, :pull:`2341`)

Fix ReadTheDocs builds by upgrading readthedocs.yml configuration (:issue:`2357`, :pull:`2358`)
asv 0.4.2 upgraded to asv 0.6.4 to fix CI failure due to pinned older conda. (:pull:`2352`)