Solar Panel Placement Optimizer

Overview

The Solar Panel Placement Optimizer is a Python-based tool designed to determine the BEST GEOMETRIC arrangement and tilt angle of solar panels to maximize sunlight exposure. This project leverages geometric principles, solar positioning algorithms, and optimization techniques to provide practical insights for renewable energy setups.

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Features

• Sunlight Simulation: Calculate solar azimuth and elevation based on date, time, and location.
• Tilt Angle Optimization: Optimize the panel’s tilt and orientation for maximum energy capture.
• 3D Visualization: Visualize sunlight paths and solar panel placements in 3D.

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How It Works

1. Input:

   • Geographic location (latitude, longitude).
   • Date and time range.
   • Panel dimensions and initial tilt/orientation.

2. Simulation:

   • Computes the sun’s position (azimuth and elevation) throughout the day.
   • Simulates sunlight angles and calculates potential energy capture for various tilt angles.

3. Optimization:

   • Uses optimization algorithms (e.g., SciPy’s minimize) to find the tilt angle and orientation that maximize energy capture.

4. Output:

   • Recommended tilt angle and orientation.
   • Graphs and 3D visualizations of sunlight intensity and panel placement.

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Installation

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Akenji/solar-panel-placement-optimizer.git
   cd solar-panel-placement-optimizer

2. Create a virtual environment and install dependencies:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Run the main script:

   python main.py

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Install all dependencies with:

pip install -r requirements.txt

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Project Structure

solar-panel-placement-optimizer/
├── backend/
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── app.py                 # Flask application
│   ├── solar_optimizer.py     
│   ├── sun_position.py        
│   ├── solar_panel.py       
│   └── weather_service.py     
├── static/
│   ├── index.html            # Main HTML file
│   ├── css/
│   │   └── style.css         # Styling
│   └── js/
│       ├── api.js            # API integration
│       ├── main.js           # Three.js visualization
│       └── utils.js          # Helper functions
├── requirements.txt          # Python dependencies
└── README.md                # Project documentation

Deliverables

• Optimal Placement: Recommended tilt and orientation for any location.
• Visual Output: Sunlight simulation graphs and 3D models.
• Code: Well-documented and modular scripts for reuse.

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Wide Range Applications

• Solar panel installations for residential and commercial purposes.
• Renewable energy research and optimization.
• Educational demonstrations of solar energy principles.

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Future Improvements

• Integrate real-time weather data APIs for dynamic optimization.
• Expand to handle multiple panels and complex terrains.
• Build a full-fledged web application for user accessibility.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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Acknowledgments

• PVLib Python for solar position calculations.
• Open-source libraries for optimization and visualization.

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