SolarCalc - Solar Energy Calculator

SolarCalc is a comprehensive solar energy calculator designed to help homeowners, businesses, and solar installers estimate solar power system requirements with precision.

📱 Overview

SolarCalc provides an intuitive web interface for calculating solar system components, estimating costs, and generating detailed bills of materials. Whether you're a homeowner exploring solar options or a professional installer preparing quotes, SolarCalc streamlines the entire estimation process.

✨ Key Features

• ⚡ Quick System Size Estimator
• 🔧 Detailed PV System Calculator
• 📋 Bill of Materials Generator
• 📊 Real-time Calculations
• 📱 Responsive Design
• 📄 Print-Friendly Reports
• 🔒 Privacy-Focused (Client-side calculations only)

🏗️ System Architecture

Frontend (HTML/CSS/JS)
        │
        ▼
     Flask Backend
        │
        ▼
   Jinja2 Templates
        │
        ▼
 Static Assets (CSS/Images)

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Python 3.7+
• pip

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/imtona44/solarcalc.git
cd solarcalc

Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Run the Application

python Solar.py

Application: http://localhost:5000

🎯 Usage Guide

Quick System Size Estimator

1. Enter monthly electricity bill.
2. Enter monthly energy consumption (kWh).
3. Click Calculate System Size.
4. Review recommended PV system size.

Detailed PV Calculator

Configure:

• System Voltage
• PV Module Rating
• PV Module Isc
• Advanced Settings
• Device Loads

Results include:

• Energy Consumption
• Solar Panels
• Battery Bank
• Inverter
• Charge Controller

Bill of Materials

Generate and print a complete component list after calculation.

📁 Project Structure

solarcalc/
├── Solar.py
├── requirements.txt
├── LICENSE
├── README.md
├── templates/
├── static/
└── docs/

🔧 API Endpoints

Route	Method	Description
/	GET	Home
/system-size	GET	Quick estimator
/detailed-calculator	GET	Detailed calculator
/materials	GET	Materials
/about	GET	About
/privacy	GET	Privacy
/api/calculate-system-size	POST	Quick calculation
/api/calculate-detailed-system	POST	Full calculation

📊 Calculation Methodology

Daily Consumption = Monthly Consumption / 30
System Size = Daily Consumption / (24 * PanelEfficiency)

TotalWh = Σ(DeviceWatts * DeviceHours)
RequiredWh = TotalWh * SystemLossFactor
Panels = ceil(TotalWp / PanelRating)
BatteryAh = (TotalWh * DaysAutonomy) / (Derating * DOD * Voltage)
Inverter = TotalDeviceWatts * 1.25
Controller = ceil(Panels * Isc * 1.3)

⚙️ Default Parameters

Parameter	Value
System Loss Factor	1.3
Panel Generation Factor	3.43
Days of Autonomy	3
Derating Factor	0.85
Depth of Discharge	0.6
Panel Efficiency	0.16

📦 Installation Options

Standard

pip install -r requirements.txt

Development

python -m venv venv
pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
python Solar.py

Production

gunicorn -w 4 Solar:app

or

waitress-serve --port=5000 Solar:app

🧪 Testing

python -m pytest tests/
python -m pytest --cov=. tests/

🐛 Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Port already in use	Change port
Missing dependencies	Install requirements
Template missing	Verify templates folder
Static files missing	Check static folder

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork repository
2. Create feature branch
3. Commit changes
4. Push branch
5. Open Pull Request

📄 License

Educational project using the MIT License.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Results are estimates only. Consult a certified solar engineer before installation.

📞 Support

• Email: region2@tesda.gov.ph
• Telephone: (078) 846-1618
• Address: TESDA Region II, Tuguegarao, Cagayan

🙏 Acknowledgments

• LEONICS Solar PV System Design
• TESDA Region II
• Font Awesome
• Community Contributors

⭐ Star the Project

If you found this project useful, please consider giving it a ⭐ on GitHub.

Built with ❤️ for the renewable energy community.