How to Use the NREL Energy Data MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I add the NREL Energy Data MCP Server to Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add --transport http nrel-energy-data in your terminal. All transport flags must come before the server name. Use claude mcp list to verify the connection.

Q: Can I use Claude Code to script utility rate lookups?

Yes. You can command Claude Code to fetch rates using getutilityrates and pipe the resulting JSON directly into your local shell scripts or databases.

Q: How do I query alternative fuel stations from the CLI?

Ask Claude Code to find stations using getneareststations or listaltfuelstations. The agent will output the physical coordinates and station details directly to your terminal.

Query solar metrics and utility rates directly from your terminal using Claude Code and this secure MCP Server.

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Connect NREL Energy Data MCP to Claude Code

Create your Vinkius account to connect NREL Energy Data to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup NREL Energy Data with Claude Code

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Query NREL metrics directly from Claude Code

Ditch the browser and pull solar radiation metrics via `get_solar_resource` directly in your shell. Claude Code uses this server to pull average electricity costs via `get_utility_rates` without forcing you to write curl requests. You can pipe the outputs straight into your terminal tools or save them as raw JSON. It is the fastest way to verify grid tariffs and solar exposure without context switching out of your terminal.

Automate infrastructure checks in your CI/CD pipelines

Integrate energy data validation directly into your deployment scripts by running headless checks with `get_solar_data_query`. Claude Code can verify dataset availability before spinning up heavy analytical workloads. The agent can also query `get_geothermal_resource` to validate site parameters during automated environmental reviews. It fits perfectly into your existing bash workflows and cron jobs.

Script fuel station mapping from the command line

Querying alternative fuel hubs via `list_alt_fuel_stations` gives you a fast, raw list of locations directly in your standard output. Claude Code calls `get_nearest_stations` to fetch coordinates and charging speeds without any GUI overhead. You can have the agent parse the station details with `get_station_details` to filter out slow chargers. It is a pure, terminal-first approach to infrastructure mapping.

Setup guide

Set up NREL Energy Data MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see nrel-energy-data-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest NREL Energy Data transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available NREL Energy Data tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http nrel-energy-data-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

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Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the NREL Energy Data MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nrel-energy-data-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by NREL. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about NREL Energy Data MCP in Claude Code

Run `claude mcp add --transport http nrel-energy-data ` in your terminal. All transport flags must come before the server name. Use `claude mcp list` to verify the connection.

Yes. You can command Claude Code to fetch rates using `get_utility_rates` and pipe the resulting JSON directly into your local shell scripts or databases.

Yes, this server is built for headless environments. Claude Code can execute tools like `get_pvwatts_estimates` in CI/CD pipelines, Docker containers, or remote SSH sessions.

Ask Claude Code to find stations using `get_nearest_stations` or `list_alt_fuel_stations`. The agent will output the physical coordinates and station details directly to your terminal.

This MCP Server runs in a completely sandboxed, ephemeral V8 environment managed by Vinkius. Your API keys, geographic coordinates, and grid tariff queries are never logged, stored, or exposed to external networks.

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