Quick Start¶
Get up and running with the Tessellate Renewables API in 5 minutes.
Prerequisites¶
- Basic knowledge of REST APIs
- A tool to make HTTP requests (cURL, Postman, or any programming language)
Step 1: Test the API¶
First, verify the API is accessible:
Expected response:
Step 2: Get Solar Resource Data¶
Fetch solar irradiance data for any location:
curl -X POST https://api.tessellaterenewables.com/solar/resource \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"latitude": 35.0,
"longitude": -110.0
}'
Response:
{
"latitude": 35.0,
"longitude": 110.0,
"annual_ghi": 2150.5,
"annual_dni": 2450.3,
"annual_dhi": 650.2,
"avg_temp": 18.5,
"monthly_ghi": [145.2, 165.3, ...],
"data_source": "NASA_POWER"
}
Step 3: Run Quick Optimization¶
Optimize solar panel parameters:
curl -X POST https://api.tessellaterenewables.com/solar/optimization/quick \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"site": {
"latitude": 35.0,
"longitude": -110.0,
"capacity_kw": 1000
},
"objective": "energy"
}'
Response:
{
"optimal_parameters": {
"tilt": 32.5,
"azimuth": 180.0,
"dc_ac_ratio": 1.25,
"gcr": 0.35
},
"energy_metrics": {
"annual_energy_mwh": 1850.5,
"capacity_factor": 0.211,
"specific_yield": 1850.5
},
"financial_metrics": {
"lcoe_cents_per_kwh": 3.45,
"npv_dollars": 1250000,
"irr_percent": 14.5,
"payback_years": 6.2
}
}
Step 4: Understand the Parameters¶
Optimization Objectives¶
| Objective | Description |
|---|---|
energy |
Maximize annual energy production (kWh) |
lcoe |
Minimize Levelized Cost of Energy ($/kWh) |
npv |
Maximize Net Present Value ($) |
irr |
Maximize Internal Rate of Return (%) |
Output Parameters¶
| Parameter | Description | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
tilt |
Panel tilt angle from horizontal | 0-45° |
azimuth |
Panel orientation (180° = south) | 90-270° |
dc_ac_ratio |
DC to AC capacity ratio | 1.1-1.5 |
gcr |
Ground coverage ratio | 0.25-0.55 |
Step 5: Try Full Optimization¶
For more control, use the full optimization endpoint with custom bounds:
curl -X POST https://api.tessellaterenewables.com/solar/optimization/run \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"site": {
"latitude": 35.0,
"longitude": -110.0,
"capacity_kw": 1000
},
"objective": "npv",
"max_iterations": 50,
"bounds": {
"tilt_min": 15,
"tilt_max": 45,
"azimuth_min": 160,
"azimuth_max": 200
}
}'
This returns a job_id that you can poll for results.
Next Steps¶
- Authentication - Learn about API keys for production use
- Solar API Overview - Explore all solar endpoints
- Python Examples - Full Python integration guide