Solcast License

☀️ Solcast License – Irradiance Forecast

Solcast is a professional data service for irradiance prediction with high temporal resolution. Solcast models combine satellite data, numerical weather models and physical calculations for a specific location, providing a significantly more accurate irradiance estimate than common forecast sources.

The product includes QA Solcast for direct integration into the SHE system. This application ensures automatic download, update and provision of predictive data, which are further used by higher-level energy management applications.

The Solcast license forms the cornerstone of intelligent consumption control in the SHE system. Data on expected generation are crucial for the proper functioning of the QA Consumption Control application, which uses them to optimize the operation of individual technologies in the building.

This layer is then extended by QA Spot Pro – spot market control, which uses a combination of generation and consumption forecasts, current and future electricity prices and the system state for advanced decisions on buying and selling energy.

⚡ Why we recommend Solcast for spot market control

The Solcast license is strongly recommended especially for spot market control, where the system needs the most accurate possible estimate of future irradiance for correct real-time decisions. Accurate prediction helps minimize the risk of incorrect control settings that can result from inaccurate data (e.g. unnecessary purchase of expensive energy, unsuitable battery charging or discharging, or poorly timed water heating).

• optimization of energy purchase from the grid based on spot prices,
• optimization of surplus sales and feed-in management,
• efficient control of battery storage,
• control of DHW heating, wallbox and other technologies according to expected generation.

This results in higher control stability and better economic results, especially for systems that actively respond to electricity prices.

⏱️ License and variants

There are 4 license variants to choose from, depending on the required update frequency and time granularity of the data. The license can be selected for 1 or 2 years, with the two-year license discounted by 20 %. After expiration, the license must be renewed.

🔹 Variant: 6-hour update

• Update frequency: 6h interval
• Time granularity: 60 minutes
• License duration: 1 year

• Update frequency: 6h interval
• Time granularity: 60 minutes
• License duration: 2 years (20 % discount)

🔹 Variant: 15-minute update

• Update frequency: 15min interval
• Time granularity: 15 minutes
• License duration: 1 year

• Update frequency: 15min interval
• Time granularity: 15 minutes
• License duration: 2 years (20 % discount)

The 15-minute variants are suitable for the spot market after the transition to 15-minute trading intervals, where finer time resolution and faster data updates are needed for precise control.

✅ Main benefits

• Highly accurate irradiance prediction
• Guaranteed data quality and availability
• Includes QA Solcast for direct integration into the SHE system
• A basic building block of consumption control
• Ideal for spot market control (purchase and sale)
• Option of short time granularity (including 15 min)
• More stable and efficient system decision-making when optimizing operation

The Solcast License is the ideal addition for installations aiming at maximum PV utilization efficiency and precise control based on spot prices.