Frequently Asked Questions

AI-generated Key Takeaways

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• The Solar API provides tools and data for solar potential assessment, including financial analysis and shade visualization.

• Users can access support resources and migration guides for transitioning from previous API versions.

• Google Maps data is used for building identification and solar panel placement, with limitations for newer buildings and interior assessments.

• The API offers data layers like flux and DSM for visualizing shade and performing custom calculations, accessed via short-lived URLs.

• Cost management strategies are available through Google Cloud's budgeting documentation.

Help

How do I migrate to the new Solar API from the previous version?

• Review our migration guide .

Where can I get help?

• Check out Support Options for Solar API .

What do these error codes mean?

• Read more about HTTP status codes .

Project configuration

What permissions do I need on my Cloud project?

• See the documentation .

Can I use my API key with more than one Cloud project?

• No, only use your API key for one Cloud project. If you have more Cloud projects, each should have their own API key. Note that, within a single project, it's normal to have several API keys.

Cost

How do I limit costs?

• See the Budgeting documentation for strategies and tips.

Solar model

How often are data refreshed?

• New data are added all the time, but we don't have a specific refresh rate for specific regions. Some regions use imagery that is several years old. Please check the dates of the relevant imagery, and feel free to file feedback .

Where can I learn more about the assumptions for the solar financial analysis?

• Google uses information about government solar incentives, along with other financial data and models, from Clean Power Research .

Are chimneys and skylights taken into consideration by the API when making an assessment of solar panel placement?

• Yes, with height maps chimneys and skylights are identified as small rectangles, and solar panels are excluded by the model.

Can the API see inside of buildings?

• No, just the roofs.

Can the API make assessments for a specific apartment within a building complex?

• Depends. The model uses Google Maps data, and so if the apartment is classified as a whole building in Google Maps, then the roof of a specific apartment of that building are displayed as separate.

Why does the API sometimes not return any data for a building which I know exists?

• This can happen when there are newer buildings that did not exist when mapping was realized at the time.

How can I use the flux solar data layer for visualizing shade?

• North-facing roofs get less flux ( solar irradiance ), which means they will have higher shade. You can leverage this information when performing solar assessments. The flux data layer lets you visualize flux in colors.
• You can alternatively make your own flux tiles and customize their colors, especially if you wish to locate specific numerical values of shade on a roof.

How can I use hourlyShadeUrls from the dataLayers service ?

• You can get back a daily snapshot of shade throughout the year, and produce an animated GIF or video of shade changing during a year.

Can I perform my own custom calculations?

• Yes, can use the flux and DSM (height map at each point) solar data layers for greater customization.

Why does the API return a URL, and what can I do with them?

• The URLs are short-lived pointers to enable you to download the corresponding data layers.