swc 0.4.0

A sample Python project

SWC

This is a code that I wrote to make use of the System Advisor Model and the NSRDB API.

How to install

pip install swc

Developer Instalation/configuration

Pipenv installation

In macOS

brew install pipenv

Install virtualenv with pipenv

pipenv install --three

How to use

Using the solar radiation data as input, we implemented an easy way to change the configuration parameters to simulate the performance of a PV system.

Configuration

First you need to get an API. Read https://developer.nrel.gov/signup/. Once you have it, create a .env file under your working folder that includes:

API_KEY=YOUR API_KEY_GOES_HERE

And thats it!

Solar radiation data

To get solar radiation data from the NSRB from a Jupyter Notebook or Console

import swc.nsrdb as nsrdb
site_info = {'lat': 18.3,
             'lng: -99.3,
             'api_key':'YOUR_API_KEY',
             'force_download': False,
             'year': '2014'}
df = nsrdb.get_nsrdb(**site_info)

SAM simulation

To perform a SAM simulation using the data from the NSRDB

import swc.sam_simulation as sam
simulation_params = {
    'lat': site_info['lat'],
    'lng': site_info['lng'],
    'losses': 4.3,
    'dc_ac_ratio': 1.2,
    'inv_eff': 96.,
    'tilt': 20,
    'system_capacity': 100,
    'elevation': 1100,
    'timezone': -6,
    'configuration': 0, #  0 For fixed tilt, 2 for 1-axis and 4 for 2-axis
    'gcr': 0.4,
    'azimuth': 100,
    }

output_data, output_params = sam.sam_simulation(df, **simulation_params)

LCOE Calculation

Using output_data (pd.Dataframe with hourly generation)

from src.solar import lcoe
print (lcoe(output_gen))

Authors

• pesap
• Sergio Castellanos

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Todo

• Change the request method from the NSRDB API
• Add more inputs in performance_simulation

Important information

I made this code for my personal use. The code merges the NSRDB-API and the SAM-SDK in one easy code. I do not own any of the above software. If you want to know more about the SAM-SDK or NSRDB-API please visit their respective websites.