Business Challenges
The client needed a cutting-edge solar farm development solution to simulate real-world solar panel performance. European markets are highly competitive, and solar performance developers face growing pressure to reduce costs while improving prediction accuracy.
The goal was to build a fast and affordable solution to simulate the effects of shading, sun angles, and terrain in real-time. The platform had to calculate solar power exposure down to the minute and offer users detailed insights for panel placement. It would help solar installers improve efficiency and lower costs by up to 35% compared to traditional modeling tools.
They needed a solar software development partner who could deliver a scalable, cloud-ready engine that could handle complex calculations, adapt to multiple environments, and support future features.
Solution
DevCom delivered a custom-built simulation engine integrated into an innovative ERP platform. This solution models sun exposure using 3D terrain data, Google Maps, and Street View APIs to generate accurate shadow movement throughout the day.
It combines geolocation, environmental data, and solar angles to create dynamic visualizations of how sunlight interacts with buildings, rooftops, and other obstacles. The result? A tool that allows solar assurance developers to test multiple scenarios and fine-tune system layouts with precision.
The core simulation engine was developed in R and connected via Node.js, with results outputted in JSON format. Each simulation runs in under 100 milliseconds, and the system can run up to 1,000 calculations per day. This speed and flexibility are essential for real-time solar project planning and quoting workflows.
The solution stands out among other solar performance assurance developers thanks to its ability to model:
- ➤➤➤ Environmental factors (temperature, wind, humidity)
- ➤➤➤ Panel types and wiring strategies
- ➤➤➤ Energy loss from partial shading
- ➤➤➤ Impact of controller hardware
This foundation can support tools like an integrated solar power quote request AI agent in the future, allowing real-time pricing and layout proposals based on user inputs and environmental data.
Value Delivered
Reduced performance simulation costs by up to 35%- Enabled >1,000 calculations per day with sub-100ms response times
- Delivered clear visual tools for panel placement optimization
- Created a future-ready platform for smart solar quoting
- Empowered solar performance developers across the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK
Client Testimonial
“The communication with DevCom was very effective. We didn’t need to have long calls to understand our mutual interest.”
— CTO of a Renewable Energy Software Company
