From 15fe25876cb0faf95d00be321a184ed969459961 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Franck Nijhof Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2021 14:05:47 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Add Forecast.Solar documentation (#18315) * Add Forecast.Solar documentation * Tweak --- source/_integrations/forecast_solar.markdown | 124 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 124 insertions(+) create mode 100644 source/_integrations/forecast_solar.markdown diff --git a/source/_integrations/forecast_solar.markdown b/source/_integrations/forecast_solar.markdown new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..0d2265449c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/_integrations/forecast_solar.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,124 @@ +--- +title: Forecast.Solar +description: Instructions on how to integrate Forecast.Solar within Home Assistant. +ha_category: + - Energy +ha_release: 2021.7 +ha_iot_class: Cloud Polling +ha_config_flow: true +ha_codeowners: + - "@klaasnicolaas" + - "@frenck" +ha_domain: forecast_solar +ha_platforms: + - sensor +--- + +The [Forecast.Solar](https://forecast.solar/) service provides solar production +forecasting for your solar panel system, based on historic averages combined +with weather forecasting. + +This integration provides an estimated forecast on how much energy your solar +panels are going to produce, allowing you to plan ahead on how you spend your +produced energy in most efficiently. + +As an example automation idea, you could determine if: + +- You are going to produce enough solar power energy for the washing machine to + run the next hour. +- You have an electric vehicle: to determine if you will produce enough solar + energy tomorrow to charge your vehicle; or if not, charge it (partly) + overnight at low tariffs instead. + +## Prerequisites + +To use the Forecast.Solar integration, it will need some information about your +solar panel system: **latitude**, **longitude**, **declination**, **azimuth** +and **total modules power**. + +It needs the specific location (defined by **latitude** and **longitude**), +which by default is taken from your Home Assistant configured "home" location. + +The **declination** angle (tilt) of your solar planes (in degrees); +Is the angle between your solar panels and the earth's surface. A value of +`0` means they horizontal and flat on the earth's surface, while a value +of `90` means your panels are standing up vertically. + +The **azimuth** (in degrees on a 360° scale); +Is the direction in which the front surface of your solar panels are facing +towards. As a full circle is 360°, a value of `0` is facing North, `90` East, +`180` South and `270` is facing West (or any value in between). + +The **total modules power** (in Watt peak); +Each solar panel, in a solar panel system, has a maximum power peak production +value. In order to deliver matching estimations for you system, Forecast.Solar +needs to be aware of the total maximum peak power your system can produce. +Add up the maximum peak power (in Watts!) of all your panels for this +value. + +{% include integrations/config_flow.md %} + +## Sensors + +The Forecast.Solar integration mainly provides sensors that you can use in your +automations. + +- Estimated Energy Production - Today (in kWh) +- Estimated Energy Production - Tomorrow (in kWh) +- Estimated Energy Production - This Hour (in kWh) +- Estimated Energy Production - Next Hour (in kWh) +- Estimated Power Production - Now (in Watt) + +It also provides sensors that will tell you at which date & time your peak +production will be (for today and tomorrow): + +- Highest Power Peak Time - Today +- Highest Power Peak Time - Tomorrow + +There are some additionally, less common sensors, that are disabled by +default. Enable those entities in the user interface if you like to use these: + +- Estimated Power Production - Next Hour (in Watt) +- Estimated Power Production - Next 12 Hours (in Watt) +- Estimated Power Production - Next 24 Hours (in Watt) + +## Using your Solar.Forecast account + +The [Forecast.Solar](https://forecast.solar/) can be used for free, but +the resolution of the data used is more limited and thus, there are less +details for this integration to work with. + +If you like the Forecast.Solar service, or are interested in more frequent data +updates (based on a higher data resolution), you could [sign up for one +of their plans](https://doc.forecast.solar/doku.php?id=account_models#compare_plans). + +To enable the use of the API key with this integration, to {% my integrations %} +and click "Configure" on the Forecast.Solar integration instance and enter the +API key for your account. + +## Tweaking the estimations + +The estimation can be tweaked and tuned to match your solar setup better. +Many factors that can cause the estimations to be slightly off +(but don't forget, it will always remain a forecast based on, e.g., weather +and historical data). + +Luckily there are controls to make them more accurate for your situation, +for example, by slightly adjusting the azimuth or declination. If your panels +catch a bit of shadow in the morning/evening, you could consider damping +the results a bit. + +The damping factor allows you to adjust and "damp" the results of your solar +predictions in the morning and evening a bit and is a great method to make +results less optimistic and more tuned to your reality. + +[Read more about the damping factor in the Forecast.Solar documentation](https://doc.forecast.solar/doku.php?id=damping&s[]=damping). + +To adjust the configuration settings for your Solar.Forecast integration +instance: + +- Browse to your Home Assistant instance. +- In the sidebar click on _**{% my config icon %}**_. +- From the configuration menu select: _**{% my integrations icon %}**_. +- If multiple instances of {{ name }} are configured, choose the instance you want to configure. +- Click on _**"Configure"**_.