In the calculation of reference crop evapotranspiration(ET₀)in China, meteorological data are difficult to access, and there is a low spatial resolution of the data on crop water requirements. To solve these problems, a grid computing model for ET₀ was developed using the FAO Penman-Monteith equation in a case study in Heilongjiang Province. A dataset of CRU(climatic research unit)CL 2. 0 with a resolution of 10 minutes was used to construct the model. This model was validated with observed meteorological data from 14 meteorological stations in Heilongjiang Province. The results show that the performance of the model is acceptable. The ET₀ calculated with the model agreed with that calculated using observed meteorological data. Results from the present research not only help refine the research results of ET₀ and crop water requirements in China, but also provide an innovative model for calculating ET₀ in regions lacking meteorological data.