Compare real solar output with what the panels should produce and flag faults
Advanced26h1–3
pvlibPythonCharts
15/20Solar Roof Estimator
Estimates yearly solar output and payback for a roof.
Intermediate24h1–3 people15/20 fit
Build Solar Roof Estimator for homeowners considering solar in ~24h with 1–3 people. Stack: Python + pvlib + React + Charts.
Why it wins: Real physics model with a decision-ready answer.
Build flow
01 · Problem
People don’t know if solar is worth it for their roof without a sales call.
02 · Solution
Enter location, roof size and tilt. Model yearly output and payback with clear assumptions.
03 · Build
- 1Irradiance data lookup
- 2pvlib output model
- 3Cost + payback calc
- 4Charts UI
04 · Demo
Enter a city + roof size → monthly output chart + payback years.
MVP checklist
- Location + roof inputs
- Monthly output chart
- Payback estimate
- Assumptions panel
Tech stack
| Tech | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Python | Backend / scripting | Backend |
| pvlib | Solar output modelling | Tool |
| React | Frontend UI | Web |
| Charts | Data visualisation | UI |
Reference repos
Open-source projects you can build on. Links checked 2026-10-31.
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