Project GSoC: Solar Panel Inverter data

[peterdudfield]

Working Progress ....

Project Description: Connect our Open Souce Quarts Solar Forecast to use live data from an PV system using the Enphase Inverter. This would allow users with Enphase inverters to gain 20% more accurate PV forecasts and show the accuracy of their forecast versus the actual generation figures.

Expected Outcome: Open Quartz Solar is able to use live data from the Enphase inverter, added as a module to the library.

Context

• connected to Add option to add live PV #36
• There might be some research to see what code is currently available, and what could be used

Possible Implementation

• Build code that can easily get the last ~1 hour of enphase data. I suspect users will have to pass in their enphase api details for this.

[aryanbhosale]

Thank you @peterdudfield for tagging the issue, will research more regarding this.

[327840386]

Thank you @peterdudfield for the newest information!

[Ckjely]

Hey @peterdudfield , I want to contribute towards Solar Panel Inverter data label help wanted. Can you please explain the issue with a bit more details?

[peterdudfield]

Hey @peterdudfield , I want to contribute towards Solar Panel Inverter data label help wanted. Can you please explain the issue with a bit more details?

A slightly quicker way, might be for you to ask questions and then I can try to answer them / add them to the github issue?

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield , I am trying to create my enphase account to get the API credential to move forward with #36 .
I am following this manual: https://developer.enphase.com/docs/quickstart.html
Upon clicking Register, I am led to a page that says "Signup disabled"
If you could please look into this issue it'd be great. Otherwise I can simply write placeholders for the API credentials in the file if that works?

[peterdudfield]

Perhaps send them an email, and put place holders for the moment. Thanks @aryanbhosale for doing this

[aryanbhosale]

Perhaps send them an email, and put place holders for the moment. Thanks @aryanbhosale for doing this

Done, I've opened a new PR for the same. I'm enjoying this haha :P

[peterdudfield]

As an extention to this task. We might want to make a list of other inverters companies, and see if we can connect to them

[aryanbhosale]

As an extention to this task. We might want to make a list of other inverters companies, and see if we can connect to them

Alright, I'll start looking for some more companies like Enphase this week

[aryanbhosale]

As an extention to this task. We might want to make a list of other inverters companies, and see if we can connect to them
Hi @peterdudfield

1. SolarEdge Photo Voltaic Micro Inverters: https://developers.solaredge.com/
2. SunGrow(does not publish APIs): Details for SunGrow API kronicd/sungrow2pvoutput#1 (comment)
3. SMA Inverters: https://developer.sma.de/sma-apis
4. Enris(huawei): https://eniris.be/en/huawei-fusionsolar-api/

Here are a few good ones that I could find

[aryanbhosale]

Hey @peterdudfield , I had some questions about gsoc and openclimatefix. It would be really helpful if you could

1. provide a brief description of what the end goal is on completion
2. Duration of the project
3. Mentors involved
4. Tech stack needed apart from python/xarr/pytorch
5. New developments apart from the existing codebase
6. What is expected of the applicant

Thank you!

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield , I had a few questions about the Google Summer of Code application. I'm not sure what template I could use and what to add about the project timeline. Could you please help me out here?
Thanks

[peterdudfield]

Hi @aryanbhosale let me try and get back to you on this. I'm hoping some of this issues description will help you

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @aryanbhosale let me try and get back to you on this. I'm hoping some of this issues description will help you

The issues description does help give me a brief idea, but when I'm actually making changes to the code and adding Enphase support to it, I can't think of a lot to do. So if you could please give like a break-down of the issue here, it would be really great.
Thank you.

[peterdudfield]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

[aryanbhosale]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

[peterdudfield]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

We are trying to keep it fair for all applicants, so please do ask any questions here and I'll try and answer. And then it can be fair between everyone. I hope thats ok

[aryanbhosale]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

We are trying to keep it fair for all applicants, so please do ask any questions here and I'll try and answer. And then it can be fair between everyone. I hope thats ok

Understandable. That's fair. Thank you for the information!

[aryanbhosale]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

We are trying to keep it fair for all applicants, so please do ask any questions here and I'll try and answer. And then it can be fair between everyone. I hope thats ok

Hi @peterdudfield , the application format for Google Summer of Code 2024 requires me to include a brief CV about me. Should I write the contents of my CV in the application document or is it OK if I simply include a link to my CV for that section?
Thank you.

[peterdudfield]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

We are trying to keep it fair for all applicants, so please do ask any questions here and I'll try and answer. And then it can be fair between everyone. I hope thats ok

Hi @peterdudfield , the application format for Google Summer of Code 2024 requires me to include a brief CV about me. Should I write the contents of my CV in the application document or is it OK if I simply include a link to my CV for that section? Thank you.

I'm sorry I dont know whats best. But maybe a summary and a link? Might be better to ask someone at GSOC

[aryanbhosale]

Well I think your PR #66 is a good start. To b honest thought it might be a lot more work than that. So building on #66.

• test with real credentials
• Make example code of how to run it with credentials
• add other inverter types (im sure there will be weird and wonderful differences to do with that)

Oh okay, this gives more insights to the topic, thank you so much. Will it be possible for us to connect on email so that I could send my rough application to you to just make sure it's reviewed first before I can make more changes to it/add more interesting things to do. It would be really helpful.

We are trying to keep it fair for all applicants, so please do ask any questions here and I'll try and answer. And then it can be fair between everyone. I hope thats ok

Hi @peterdudfield , the application format for Google Summer of Code 2024 requires me to include a brief CV about me. Should I write the contents of my CV in the application document or is it OK if I simply include a link to my CV for that section? Thank you.

I'm sorry I dont know whats best. But maybe a summary and a link? Might be better to ask someone at GSOC

I think @zakwatts is a possible mentor for the project: Connect Solar panel inverter (Enphase) to Open Quartz, could you let me know what could be a good format for cv? A link or a summary or both?
Thank you.

[zakwatts]

Hi @aryanbhosale. No particular preference. A link would be just fine.

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @aryanbhosale. No particular preference. A link would be just fine.

Thank you so much. Will it help my application if I mention all the merges my PRs made?

[peterdudfield]

Hi @aryanbhosale. No particular preference. A link would be just fine.

Thank you so much. Will it help my application if I mention all the merges my PRs made?

Yea I think its worth putting in the links - thanks

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @aryanbhosale. No particular preference. A link would be just fine.

Thank you so much. Will it help my application if I mention all the merges my PRs made?

Yea I think its worth putting in the links - thanks

Thank you @peterdudfield , will do so!

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield and @zakwatts , I have finished drafting my proposal for Google Summer of Code 2024 and Open Climate Fix. Could you please provide a review on it? It would be really helpful so that I can make further modifications in it. If it is possible, where can I share it?
Thank you.

[peterdudfield]

Thanks @aryanbhosale , are general approach is for people to send there applications through GSOC. And we will review there. If you have any questions, please right them on here, and we will try to answer .This way it keeps it fair for everyone

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield , @zakwatts , I will be submitting my draft proposal tomorrow on the Google Summer of Code website. Hoping for a quick review so that I can make necessary changes in it and submit my final application. Looking forward to contributing more to OCF with GSOC :)

[peterdudfield]

Hi @peterdudfield , @zakwatts , I will be submitting my draft proposal tomorrow on the Google Summer of Code website. Hoping for a quick review so that I can make necessary changes in it and submit my final application. Looking forward to contributing more to OCF with GSOC :)

We are trying to make things as fair as possible, so please send over any questions here and we can help clarify

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield , @zakwatts , I will be submitting my draft proposal tomorrow on the Google Summer of Code website. Hoping for a quick review so that I can make necessary changes in it and submit my final application. Looking forward to contributing more to OCF with GSOC :)

We are trying to make things as fair as possible, so please send over any questions here and we can help clarify

Oh no my bad, I meant through the GSOC contributor application portal itself :)

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield @zakwatts , the project size(for enphase live data) is mentioned as either medium(175hrs)/large(350hrs) in the GSOC ideas list, what do you recommend as the ideal size of the project? I'm leaning towards large, but I want to confirm with what your expectations are.
Thank you.

[aryanbhosale]

Hello @peterdudfield and @zakwatts, I have submitted my proposal on the official GSOC Contributor's portal to Open Climate Fix for the project "Connect Solar panel inverter (Enphase) to Open Quartz"!
Will I be getting a review/feedback on the GSOC website itself or here?

[aryanbhosale]

Hello @peterdudfield @zakwatts , did you have a chance to view my proposal through the official GSOC 2024 page? Do I need to make any changes to it? Or if there is anything that I forgot to add? I can still make modifications to it so I thought I'd ask you here.
Thank you.

[mdeng1110]

I would also like to contribute to the Google Summer of Code: Connect Solar panel inverter (Enphase) to Open Quartz project.

I looked at the code base. I have some questions. Since it looks like someone is working on the Enphase integration already, does it make sense to take a look at integrating SolarEdge? Or you strictly focused focused on Enphase for Google Summer of Code?

[aryanbhosale]

I would also like to contribute to the Google Summer of Code: Connect Solar panel inverter (Enphase) to Open Quartz project.

I looked at the code base. I have some questions. Since it looks like someone is working on the Enphase integration already, does it make sense to take a look at integrating SolarEdge? Or you strictly focused focused on Enphase for Google Summer of Code?

Hi May, glad to know that you want to get started too!
From what Ive learnt, we need to test out the live pv data from enphase inverters first with actual credentials,which are difficult to obtain (we need to request enphase for the same). I feel that exploring SolarEdge and other similar inverters in the meanwhile is a great idea

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield @zakwatts , does ocf have an IRC server or discord/slack where everyday communications can happen?
If not, we could make one!
This would help in creating a better and more active community.
I know how to make a discord channel and I could give it a shot making one for us if you all are fine with it!

[markus-kreft]

Hi everyone,

I have also been looking into this and wanted to share some of my findings.

The Enphase v2 API that @aryanbhosale has integrated will be deprecated on April 30 this year. I suspect this is also the reason that you can not create a new account. I also noticed that #66 passes a Bearer Token in the Authorization Header, whereas the v2 API required the API Key to be passed as a query parameter (https://developer.enphase.com/docs), so I think the current code does not work.

Instead, I have managed to create a developer account for the v4 API and get live data from a real system. I am working to integrate this, but have some questions.

@peterdudfield I would like to know more about how the live data should be used in operation. Should the integration be focused on system owners running their own forecasts, or rather a "forecast provider" having access to the owners system? In the former case the use of the local API (directly accessing the inverters within the local network) would have major benefits (no API limits/costs, latency). In the latter case, the public Enphase API (and many others) requires to grant system access through a web interface (Oauth2). Here, it also needs to be ensure that refresh tokens are regularly renewed. This seems like something that could eventually even integrate with e.g., pv-site-api?

[aryanbhosale]

Hi everyone,

I have also been looking into this and wanted to share some of my findings.

The Enphase v2 API that @aryanbhosale has integrated will be deprecated on April 30 this year. I suspect this is also the reason that you can not create a new account. I also noticed that #66 passes a Bearer Token in the Authorization Header, whereas the v2 API required the API Key to be passed as a query parameter (https://developer.enphase.com/docs), so I think the current code does not work.

Instead, I have managed to create a developer account for the v4 API and get live data from a real system. I am working to integrate this, but have some questions.

@peterdudfield I would like to know more about how the live data should be used in operation. Should the integration be focused on system owners running their own forecasts, or rather a "forecast provider" having access to the owners system? In the former case the use of the local API (directly accessing the inverters within the local network) would have major benefits (no API limits/costs, latency). In the latter case, the public Enphase API (and many others) requires to grant system access through a web interface (Oauth2). Here, it also needs to be ensure that refresh tokens are regularly renewed. This seems like something that could eventually even integrate with e.g., pv-site-api?

Hi @markus-kreft , thank you so much for looking into it and finding out the probable reason for the latest data not being accessible for you. I have built on what you've provided and have added a new commit #106 with the latest v4 api and the correct oauth2 authentication scheme as mentioned in the docs. I will also be creating a developer account and testing it with real data.
Thank you for this.

[aryanbhosale]

Hi everyone,
I have also been looking into this and wanted to share some of my findings.
The Enphase v2 API that @aryanbhosale has integrated will be deprecated on April 30 this year. I suspect this is also the reason that you can not create a new account. I also noticed that #66 passes a Bearer Token in the Authorization Header, whereas the v2 API required the API Key to be passed as a query parameter (https://developer.enphase.com/docs), so I think the current code does not work.
Instead, I have managed to create a developer account for the v4 API and get live data from a real system. I am working to integrate this, but have some questions.
@peterdudfield I would like to know more about how the live data should be used in operation. Should the integration be focused on system owners running their own forecasts, or rather a "forecast provider" having access to the owners system? In the former case the use of the local API (directly accessing the inverters within the local network) would have major benefits (no API limits/costs, latency). In the latter case, the public Enphase API (and many others) requires to grant system access through a web interface (Oauth2). Here, it also needs to be ensure that refresh tokens are regularly renewed. This seems like something that could eventually even integrate with e.g., pv-site-api?

Hi @markus-kreft , thank you so much for looking into it and finding out the probable reason for the latest data not being accessible for you. I have built on what you've provided and have added a new commit #106 with the latest v4 api and the correct oauth2 authentication scheme as mentioned in the docs. I will also be creating a developer account and testing it with real data. Thank you for this.

Hey @peterdudfield , I have updated my new PR #106 with the latest enphase v4 api as per the latest docs

[peterdudfield]

Thank you so much @aryanbhosale and @markus-kreft for looking into all this. I'll have a look at the PR

[peterdudfield]

Hi everyone,

I have also been looking into this and wanted to share some of my findings.

The Enphase v2 API that @aryanbhosale has integrated will be deprecated on April 30 this year. I suspect this is also the reason that you can not create a new account. I also noticed that #66 passes a Bearer Token in the Authorization Header, whereas the v2 API required the API Key to be passed as a query parameter (https://developer.enphase.com/docs), so I think the current code does not work.

Instead, I have managed to create a developer account for the v4 API and get live data from a real system. I am working to integrate this, but have some questions.

@peterdudfield I would like to know more about how the live data should be used in operation. Should the integration be focused on system owners running their own forecasts, or rather a "forecast provider" having access to the owners system? In the former case the use of the local API (directly accessing the inverters within the local network) would have major benefits (no API limits/costs, latency). In the latter case, the public Enphase API (and many others) requires to grant system access through a web interface (Oauth2). Here, it also needs to be ensure that refresh tokens are regularly renewed. This seems like something that could eventually even integrate with e.g., pv-site-api?

Great question, This project in general, we've tried to focus on a "out of the box" forecast that works locally for the user. At OCF we have a "forecast as a service" but this project perhaps moves away from that. Of course the learnings from both systems are useful. So in that case, the focus should be on using the Enphase API locally. Does this make sense?

[markus-kreft]

Thank you for the extra information. I will for sure further explore the local APIs of inverters then.

@aryanbhosale Thanks for jumping on the v4 API so quickly.

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield, I have added a new PR(#109 ) to increase support for solar inverters by adding SolarEdge support

[aryanbhosale]

Hi @peterdudfield and @zakwatts , I wanted to ask what all metrics are considered for the gsoc contributor rankings ?
Thank you