# SolarForecast Binding

This binding provides data from Solar Forecast services. Use it to estimate your daily production, plan electric consumers like Electric Vehicle charging, heating or HVAC. Look ahead the next days in order to identify surplus / shortages in your energy planning.

Supported Services

Solcast (opens new window)
- Free Hobbyist Plan (opens new window) with registration
Forecast.Solar (opens new window)
- Public, Personal and Professional plans (opens new window) available

Display Power values of Forecast and PV Inverter items

Display Energy values of Forecast and PV inverter items Yellow line shows Daily Total Forecast.

# Supported Things

Each service needs one xx-site for your location and at least one photovoltaic xx-plane.

Name	Thing Type ID
Solcast service site definition	sc-site
Solcast PV Plane	sc-plane
Forecast Solar site location	fs-site
Forecast Solar PV Plane	fs-plane

# Solcast Configuration

Solcast service (opens new window) requires a personal registration with an e-mail address. A free version for your personal home PV system is available in Hobbyist Plan (opens new window) You need to configure your home photovoltaic system within the web interface. The resourceId for each PV plane is provided afterwards.

In order to receive proper timestamps double check your time zone in openHAB - Settings - Regional Settings. Correct time zone is necessary to show correct forecast times in UI.

# Solcast Bridge Configuration

Name	Type	Description	Default	Required	Advanced
apiKey	text	API Key	N/A	yes	no
timeZone	text	Time Zone of forecast location	empty	no	yes

apiKey can be obtained in your Account Settings (opens new window)

timeZone can be left empty to evaluate Regional Settings of your openHAB installation. See DateTime section for more information.

# Solcast Plane Configuration

Name	Type	Description	Default	Required	Advanced
resourceId	text	Resource Id of Solcast rooftop site	N/A	yes	no
refreshInterval	integer	Forecast Refresh Interval in minutes	120	yes	no

resourceId for each plane can be obtained in your Rooftop Sites (opens new window)

refreshInterval of forecast data needs to respect the throttling of the Solcast service. If you have 25 free calls per day, each plane needs 2 calls per update a refresh interval of 120 minutes will result in 24 calls per day.

# Solcast Channels

Each sc-plane reports its own values including a json channel holding JSON content. The sc-site bridge sums up all attached sc-plane values and provides total forecast for your home location.

Channels are covering today's actual data with current, remaining and today's total prediction. Forecasts are delivered up to 6 days in advance. Scenarios are clustered in groups:

average scenario
pessimistic scenario: 10th percentile
optimistic scenario: 90th percentile

Channel	Type	Unit	Description	Advanced
power-estimate	Number:Power	W	Power forecast for next hours/days	no
energy-estimate	Number:Energy	kWh	Energy forecast for next hours/days	no
power-actual	Number:Power	W	Power prediction for this moment	no
energy-actual	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's forecast till now	no
energy-remain	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's remaining forecast till sunset	no
energy-today	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's forecast in total	no
json	String	-	Plain JSON response without conversions	yes

# ForecastSolar Configuration

ForecastSolar service (opens new window) provides a public free (opens new window) plan. You can try it without any registration or other preconditions.

# ForecastSolar Bridge Configuration

Name	Type	Description	Default	Required
location	text	Location of Photovoltaic system.	empty	no
apiKey	text	API Key	N/A	no

location defines latitude, longitude values of your PV system. In case of empty the location configured in openHAB is obtained.

apiKey can be given in case you subscribed to a paid plan.

# ForecastSolar Plane Configuration

Name	Type	Description	Default	Required	Advanced
refreshInterval	integer	Forecast Refresh Interval in minutes	30	yes	false
declination	integer	Plane Declination: 0 for horizontal till 90 for vertical declination	N/A	yes	false
azimuth	integer	Plane Azimuth: -180 = north, -90 = east, 0 = south, 90 = west, 180 = north	N/A	yes	false
kwp	decimal	Installed Kilowatt Peak	N/A	yes	false
dampAM	decimal	Damping factor of morning hours	N/A	no	true
dampPM	decimal	Damping factor of evening hours	N/A	no	true
horizon	text	Horizon definition as comma separated integer values	N/A	no	true

refreshInterval of forecast data needs to respect the throttling of the ForecastSolar service. 12 calls per hour allowed from your caller IP address so for 2 planes lowest possible refresh rate is 10 minutes.

# Advanced Configuration

Advanced configuration parameters are available to fine tune your forecast data. Read linked documentation in order to know what you're doing.

Damping factors (opens new window) for morning and evening.

Horizon information (opens new window) as comma-separated integer list. This configuration item is aimed to expert users. You need to understand the horizon concept (opens new window). Shadow obstacles like mountains, hills, buildings can be expressed here. First step can be a download from PVGIS tool (opens new window) and downloading the terrain shadows. But it doesn't fit 100% to the required configuration. Currently there's no tool available which is providing the configuration information 1 to 1. So you need to know what you're doing.

# ForecastSolar Channels

Each fs-plane reports its own values including a json channel holding JSON content. The fs-site bridge sums up all attached fs-plane values and provides the total forecast for your home location.

Channels are covering today's actual data with current, remaining and total prediction. Forecasts are delivered up to 3 days for paid personal plans.

Channel	Type	Unit	Description	Advanced
power-estimate	Number:Power	W	Power forecast for next hours/days	no
energy-estimate	Number:Energy	kWh	Energy forecast for next hours/days	no
power-actual	Number:Power	W	Power prediction for this moment	no
energy-actual	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's forecast till now	no
energy-remain	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's remaining forecast till sunset	no
energy-today	Number:Energy	kWh	Today's forecast in total	no
json	String	-	Plain JSON response without conversions	yes

# Thing Actions

All things sc-site, sc-plane, fs-site and fs-plane are providing the same Actions. Channels are providing actual forecast data and daily forecasts in future. Actions provides an interface to execute more sophisticated handling in rules. You can execute this for each xx-plane for specific plane values or xx-site to sum up all attached planes.

See Date Time section for more information. Double check your time zone in openHAB - Settings - Regional Settings which is crucial for calculation.

# `getForecastBegin`

Returns Instant of the earliest possible forecast data available. It's located in the past, e.g. Solcast provides data from the last 7 days. Instant.MAX is returned in case of no forecast data is available.

# `getForecastEnd`

Returns Instant of the latest possible forecast data available. Instant.MIN is returned in case of no forecast data is available.

# `getPower`

Parameter	Type	Description
timestamp	Instant	Timestamp of power query
mode	String	Choose `average`, `optimistic` or `pessimistic` to select forecast scenario. Only Solcast.

Returns QuantityType<Power> at the given Instant timestamp. Respect getForecastBegin and getForecastEnd to get a valid value.

Check log or catch exceptions for error handling

IllegalArgumentException thrown in case of problems with call arguments
SolarForecastException thrown in case of problems with timestamp and available forecast data

# `getDay`

Parameter	Type	Description
date	LocalDate	Date of the day
mode	String	Choose `average`, `optimistic` or `pessimistic` to select forecast scenario. Only Solcast.

Returns QuantityType<Energy> at the given localDate. Respect getForecastBegin and getForecastEnd to avoid ambiguous values.

Check log or catch exceptions for error handling

IllegalArgumentException thrown in case of problems with call arguments
SolarForecastException thrown in case of problems with timestamp and available forecast data

# `getEnergy`

Parameter	Type	Description
startTimestamp	Instant	Start timestamp of energy query
endTimestamp	Instant	End timestamp of energy query
mode	String	Choose `optimistic` or `pessimistic` to get values for a positive or negative future scenario. Only Solcast.

Returns QuantityType<Energy> between the timestamps startTimestamp and endTimestamp. Respect getForecastBegin and getForecastEnd to avoid ambiguous values.

Check log or catch exceptions for error handling

IllegalArgumentException thrown in case of problems with call arguments
SolarForecastException thrown in case of problems with timestamp and available forecast data

# Date Time

Each forecast is bound to a certain location which automatically defines the time zone. Most common use case is forecast and your location are matching the same time zone. Action interface is using Instant as timestamps which enables you translating to any time zone. This allows you with an easy conversion to query also foreign forecast locations.

Examples are showing

how to translate Instant to ZonedDateTime objects and
how to translate ZonedDateTime to Instant objects

# Example

Example is based on Forecast.Solar service without any registration. Exchange the configuration data in thing file and you're ready to go.

# Thing file

Bridge solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite   "ForecastSolar Home" [ location="54.321,8.976"] {
         Thing fs-plane homeSouthWest   "ForecastSolar Home South-West" [ refreshInterval=15, azimuth=45, declination=35, kwp=5.5]
         Thing fs-plane homeNorthEast   "ForecastSolar Home North-East" [ refreshInterval=15, azimuth=-145, declination=35, kwp=4.425]
}

# Items file

// channel items
Number:Power            ForecastSolarHome_Actual_Power      "Power prediction for this moment"              { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:power-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.0f %unit%" ], unit="W" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Actual            "Today's forecast till now"                     { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:energy-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Remaining         "Today's remaining forecast till sunset"        { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:energy-remain", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Today             "Today's total energy forecast"                 { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:energy-today", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.1f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }   
// calculated by rule                                                                        
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Tomorrow          "Tomorrow's total energy forecast"              { stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.1f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           

Number:Power            ForecastSolarHome_Actual_Power_NE   "NE Power prediction for this moment"           { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeNorthEast:power-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.0f %unit%" ], unit="W" }   
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Actual_NE         "NE Today's forecast till now"                  { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeNorthEast:energy-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Remaining_NE      "NE Today's remaining forecast till sunset"     { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeNorthEast:energy-remain", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Today_NE          "NE Today's total energy forecast"              { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeNorthEast:energy-today", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.1f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           

Number:Power            ForecastSolarHome_Actual_Power_SW   "SW Power prediction for this moment"           { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:power-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.0f %unit%" ], unit="W" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Actual_SW         "SW Today's forecast till now"                  { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:energy-actual", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Remaining_SW      "SW Today's remaining forecast till sunset"     { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:energy-remain", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Today_SW          "SW Today's total energy forecast"              { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:energy-today", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.1f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           

// estimaion items
Group influxdb
Number:Power            ForecastSolarHome_Power_Estimate        "Power estimations"                         (influxdb)  { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:power-estimate", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.0f %unit%" ], unit="W" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Energy_Estimate       "Energy estimations"                        (influxdb)  { channel="solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite:energy-estimate", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }                                                                           
Number:Power            ForecastSolarHome_Power_Estimate_SW     "SW Power estimations"                      (influxdb)  { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:power-estimate", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.0f %unit%" ], unit="W" }                                                                           
Number:Energy           ForecastSolarHome_Energy_Estimate_SW    "SW Energy estimations"                     (influxdb)  { channel="solarforecast:fs-plane:homeSite:homeSouthWest:energy-estimate", stateDescription=" "[ pattern="%.3f %unit%" ], unit="kWh" }

# Persistence file

// persistence strategies have a name and definition and are referred to in the "Items" section
Strategies {
        everyHour : "0 0 * * * ?"
        everyDay  : "0 0 0 * * ?"
}

/*
 * Each line in this section defines for which Item(s) which strategy(ies) should be applied.
 * You can list single items, use "*" for all items or "groupitem*" for all members of a group
 * Item (excl. the group Item itself).
 */
Items {
        influxdb* : strategy = restoreOnStartup, forecast
}

# Actions rule

rule "Tomorrow Forecast Calculation"
    when
        Item ForecastSolarHome_Today received update
    then 
        val solarforecastActions = getActions("solarforecast","solarforecast:fs-site:homeSite")
        val energyState = solarforecastActions.getDay(LocalDate.now.plusDays(1))
        logInfo("SF Tests","{}",energyState)
        ForecastSolarHome_Tomorrow.postUpdate(energyState) 
end

# Handle exceptions

import java.time.temporal.ChronoUnit

rule "Exception Handling"
    when
        System started
    then 
        val solcastActions = getActions("solarforecast","solarforecast:sc-site:3cadcde4dc")
        try {
            val forecast = solcastActions.getPower(solcastActions.getForecastEnd.plus(30,ChronoUnit.MINUTES))
        } catch(RuntimeException e) {
            logError("Exception","Handle {}",e.getMessage)
        }
end

# Actions rule with Arguments

import java.time.temporal.ChronoUnit

rule "Solcast Actions"
    when
        Time cron "0 0 23 * * ?" // trigger whatever you like
    then 
        // Query forecast via Actions
        val solarforecastActions = getActions("solarforecast","solarforecast:sc-site:homeSite")
        val startTimestamp = Instant.now
        val endTimestamp = Instant.now.plus(6, ChronoUnit.DAYS)
        val sixDayForecast = solarforecastActions.getEnergy(startTimestamp,endTimestamp)
        logInfo("SF Tests","Forecast Average 6 days "+ sixDayForecast)
        val sixDayOptimistic = solarforecastActions.getEnergy(startTimestamp,endTimestamp, "optimistic")
        logInfo("SF Tests","Forecast Optimist 6 days "+ sixDayOptimistic)
        val sixDayPessimistic = solarforecastActions.getEnergy(startTimestamp,endTimestamp, "pessimistic")
        logInfo("SF Tests","Forecast Pessimist 6 days "+ sixDayPessimistic)

        // Query forecast TimesSeries Items via historicStata
        val energyAverage =  (Solcast_Site_Average_Energyestimate.historicState(now.plusDays(1)).state as Number)
        logInfo("SF Tests","Average energy {}",energyAverage)
        val energyOptimistic =  (Solcast_Site_Optimistic_Energyestimate.historicState(now.plusDays(1)).state as Number)
        logInfo("SF Tests","Optimist energy {}",energyOptimistic)
end

Caught a mistake or want to contribute to the documentation? Edit this page on GitHub (opens new window)

← SolarEdge SolarMax →

# SolarForecast Binding

# Supported Things

# Solcast Configuration

# Solcast Bridge Configuration

# Solcast Plane Configuration

# Solcast Channels

# ForecastSolar Configuration

# ForecastSolar Bridge Configuration

# ForecastSolar Plane Configuration

# Advanced Configuration

# ForecastSolar Channels

# Thing Actions

# getForecastBegin

# getForecastEnd

# getPower

# getDay

# getEnergy

# Date Time

# Example

# Thing file

# Items file

# Persistence file

# Actions rule

# Handle exceptions

# Actions rule with Arguments

# `getForecastBegin`

# `getForecastEnd`

# `getPower`

# `getDay`

# `getEnergy`