What parameters do I need to get a rooftop PV forecast?

At minimum, you need: **latitude**, **longitude**, and **system capacity (kW)**. For more accurate forecasts, also provide **tilt** (panel angle 0-90°), **azimuth** (panel direction 0°=north, 180°=south), and **loss_factor** (system efficiency 0-1, default ~0.9). If you don't know tilt/azimuth, Solcast will auto-estimate reasonable defaults based on your location.

How far ahead can Solcast forecast solar power?

Solcast provides forecasts from the present time up to **14 days ahead** (336 hours). Short-term forecasts (next 24-48 hours) are the most accurate, with accuracy gradually decreasing for longer horizons. Forecast data is available in 5-minute, 10-minute, 15-minute, 30-minute, or 60-minute intervals depending on your plan tier.

How do I get a Solcast API key and what does the free tier include?

Visit https://solcast.com/ and sign up for a free Developer API account. The free tier includes rooftop PV power forecasts with limited daily API calls. For production use with higher call volumes, historical data access, and advanced features, upgrade to Pro or Enterprise plans. Register at https://solcast.com/ to get your API key instantly.

What is the difference between GHI, DNI, and DHI?

**GHI (Global Horizontal Irradiance)** is the total solar radiation received on a horizontal surface. **DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance)** is the direct beam radiation received on a surface perpendicular to the sun. **DHI (Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance)** is the scattered radiation from the sky (not direct sunlight). GHI = DNI × cos(zenith angle) + DHI. For flat panels, GHI is most relevant. For tracking systems, DNI matters more. Cloudy conditions increase DHI proportion.

Solcast Solar MCP Server for AutoGen 11 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: Solcast Solar
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

microsoft.github.io/autogen/docs/tools/mcp-tools

Built by Vinkius GDPR 11 Tools Framework

Microsoft AutoGen enables multi-agent conversations where agents negotiate, delegate, and execute tasks collaboratively. Add Solcast Solar as an MCP tool provider through the Vinkius and every agent in the group can access live data and take action.

Get MCP Server for AI Agents

ASK AI ABOUT THIS MCP SERVER

Open in ChatGPT Open in Claude Open in Perplexity

Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.

python

import asyncio
from autogen_agentchat.agents import AssistantAgent
from autogen_ext.tools.mcp import McpWorkbench

async def main():
    # Your Vinkius token — get it at cloud.vinkius.com
    async with McpWorkbench(
        server_params={"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"},
        transport="streamable_http",
    ) as workbench:
        tools = await workbench.list_tools()
        agent = AssistantAgent(
            name="solcast_solar_agent",
            tools=tools,
            system_message=(
                "You help users with Solcast Solar. "
                "11 tools available."
            ),
        )
        print(f"Agent ready with {len(tools)} tools")

asyncio.run(main())

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About Solcast Solar MCP Server

Connect to Solcast API and bring high-resolution solar forecasting intelligence to any AI agent. Access rooftop PV power forecasts, solar irradiance data (GHI, DNI, DHI), and weather conditions derived from satellite cloud tracking worldwide.

AutoGen enables multi-agent conversations where agents negotiate, delegate, and collaboratively use Solcast Solar tools. Connect 11 tools through the Vinkius and assign role-based access — a data analyst queries while a reviewer validates, with optional human-in-the-loop approval for sensitive operations.

What you can do

Rooftop PV Forecasts — Get PV power output forecasts (kW) for any rooftop solar system from present up to 14 days ahead
Detailed PV Modeling — Forecast with exact system parameters (tilt, azimuth, capacity, loss factor) for maximum accuracy
Solar Irradiance — Access GHI (Global Horizontal Irradiance), DNI (Direct Normal Irradiance), and DHI (Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance)
Historical Radiation — Retrieve historical solar irradiance data for model validation and analysis
Weather Forecasts — Get air temperature, cloud opacity, and snow depth data affecting solar production
Site Management — List registered rooftop sites, get forecasts, estimated actuals, and measured production
Quick Estimates — Get fast solar forecasts with minimal parameters (lat, lon, capacity only)
Comprehensive Solar Summary — Combine irradiance, weather, and PV data in a single overview

The Solcast Solar MCP Server exposes 11 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to AutoGen in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect Solcast Solar to AutoGen via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the Solcast Solar MCP Server with AutoGen.

Install AutoGen

Run pip install "autogen-ext[mcp]"

Replace the token

Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your Vinkius token

Integrate into workflow

Use the agent in your AutoGen multi-agent orchestration

Explore tools

The workbench discovers 11 tools from Solcast Solar automatically

Why Use AutoGen with the Solcast Solar MCP Server

AutoGen provides unique advantages when paired with Solcast Solar through the Model Context Protocol.

Multi-agent conversations: multiple AutoGen agents discuss, delegate, and collaboratively use Solcast Solar tools to solve complex tasks

Role-based architecture lets you assign Solcast Solar tool access to specific agents — a data analyst queries while a reviewer validates

Human-in-the-loop support: agents can pause for human approval before executing sensitive Solcast Solar tool calls

Code execution sandbox: AutoGen agents can write and run code that processes Solcast Solar tool responses in an isolated environment

Solcast Solar + AutoGen Use Cases

Practical scenarios where AutoGen combined with the Solcast Solar MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Collaborative analysis: one agent queries Solcast Solar while another validates results and a third generates the final report

Automated review pipelines: a researcher agent fetches data from Solcast Solar, a critic agent evaluates quality, and a writer produces the output

Interactive planning: agents negotiate task allocation using Solcast Solar data to make informed decisions about resource distribution

Code generation with live data: an AutoGen coder agent writes scripts that process Solcast Solar responses in a sandboxed execution environment

Solcast Solar MCP Tools for AutoGen (11)

These 11 tools become available when you connect Solcast Solar to AutoGen via MCP:

get_detailed_pv_forecast

Use when you know your system's exact configuration for maximum forecast accuracy. USE WHEN: - User knows exact panel tilt and azimuth angles - User needs highly accurate forecasts for a specific system - User has detailed PV system specifications - User asks for precise solar output estimates PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - capacity (REQUIRED): System capacity in kW - tilt (REQUIRED): Panel tilt angle in degrees - azimuth (REQUIRED): Panel azimuth in degrees - loss_factor (OPTIONAL): System loss factor (0-1, default: 0.9) EXAMPLES: - "Detailed forecast for 6kW system, tilt 30°, azimuth 0° (north facing)" → call with latitude, longitude, capacity=6, tilt=30, azimuth=0 - "Precise PV estimate for my 8kW array at 25° tilt, 180° azimuth (south)" → call with capacity=8, tilt=25, azimuth=180 Get detailed PV power forecast with full system specifications

get_historical_radiation

Requires Pro/Enterprise plan for full historical access. USE WHEN: - User asks about historical solar radiation data - User needs past solar irradiance values for analysis - User wants to validate solar models with historical data - User asks "what was the solar irradiance last week" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - start (REQUIRED): Start date/time (ISO 8601 format) - end (OPTIONAL): End date/time (ISO 8601 format) EXAMPLES: - "Historical solar radiation for Sydney last week" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21, start="2026-03-31" - "GHI data for my location for March 2026" → call with latitude, longitude, start="2026-03-01", end="2026-03-31" Get historical solar irradiance data for a location

get_pv_power_forecasts

Forecasts are derived from satellite cloud tracking and irradiance data. USE WHEN: - User asks about solar power generation forecasts - User needs PV output estimates for a specific location - User wants to know expected solar energy production - User asks "how much solar power will my panels generate" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude (-90 to 90) - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude (-180 to 180) - capacity (REQUIRED): System capacity in kW (DC rating) - tilt (OPTIONAL): Panel tilt angle in degrees (0=flat, 90=vertical) - azimuth (OPTIONAL): Panel azimuth in degrees (0=north, 180=south) - hours (OPTIONAL): Number of hours to forecast (default: 48, max: 336 for 14 days) EXAMPLES: - "Solar forecast for my 5kW system in Sydney -33.87, 151.21" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21, capacity=5 - "PV forecast for 10kW rooftop in LA 34.05, -118.24" → call with latitude=34.05, longitude=-118.24, capacity=10 - "How much solar will my 3kW system generate tomorrow?" → call with latitude, longitude, capacity=3, hours=24 Get rooftop PV power forecasts for a location

get_radiation_forecasts

Essential for solar resource assessment. USE WHEN: - User asks about solar irradiance or solar radiation - User needs GHI, DNI, or DHI data for solar analysis - User is evaluating solar potential for a location - User asks "how much sunlight will there be" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - hours (OPTIONAL): Number of hours to forecast (default: 48) EXAMPLES: - "Solar irradiance forecast for Sydney -33.87, 151.21" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21 - "GHI and DNI forecast for my location 34.05, -118.24" → call with latitude=34.05, longitude=-118.24 - "How much solar radiation tomorrow?" → call with latitude, longitude, hours=24 Get solar irradiance forecasts (GHI, DNI, DHI) for a location

get_simple_pv_forecast

The API auto-estimates tilt and azimuth for reasonable default values. Perfect for quick estimates. USE WHEN: - User wants a quick solar estimate without exact system details - User doesn't know their panel tilt or azimuth - User needs a fast solar output estimate - User asks "roughly how much solar will I generate" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - capacity (REQUIRED): System capacity in kW EXAMPLES: - "Quick solar estimate for -33.87, 151.21 with 5kW" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21, capacity=5 - "Rough estimate for my 3kW system in LA" → call with latitude=34.05, longitude=-118.24, capacity=3 - "How much solar for a 10kW system here?" → call with latitude, longitude, capacity=10 Get quick PV power forecast with minimal parameters

get_site_estimated_actuals

Shows what your system likely produced recently. USE WHEN: - User wants to know what their solar system actually generated - User needs recent production estimates vs forecasts - User is analyzing system performance - User asks "how much did my solar panels actually produce" PARAMETERS: - site_id (REQUIRED): The site ID from your Solcast account - hours (OPTIONAL): Number of hours of historical data (default: 24) EXAMPLES: - "Estimated actuals for site abc-123 last 24 hours" → call with site_id="abc-123" - "What did my system produce yesterday?" → call with site_id="abc-123", hours=48 - "Recent solar production for my site" → call with site_id="your-site-id" Get estimated actual PV power output for a registered rooftop site

get_site_forecasts

Uses the site's configured parameters (capacity, tilt, azimuth) for accurate forecasts. USE WHEN: - User asks about forecasts for a specific registered site - User has a site ID and wants forecasts for that system - User needs predictions for a known rooftop installation - User asks "what will my registered solar site generate" PARAMETERS: - site_id (REQUIRED): The site ID from your Solcast account EXAMPLES: - "Forecast for site abc-123" → call with site_id="abc-123" - "What will my registered system def-456 generate?" → call with site_id="def-456" - "Solar forecast for my home system" → call with site_id="your-site-id" Get PV power forecasts for a specific registered rooftop site

get_site_measured_actuals

Requires the site to have real measurement integration. Shows exact production data. USE WHEN: - User has telemetry-enabled sites with real measurements - User needs exact measured production data (not estimates) - User is validating forecast accuracy - User asks "what was the exact measured output from my system" PARAMETERS: - site_id (REQUIRED): The site ID with telemetry enabled - hours (OPTIONAL): Number of hours of historical data EXAMPLES: - "Measured actuals for telemetry site xyz-789" → call with site_id="xyz-789" - "Exact production from my monitored system" → call with site_id="your-telemetry-site-id" - "Real production data last week" → call with site_id="xyz-789", hours=168 Get measured PV power output from a registered rooftop site with telemetry

get_solar_summary

Provides a complete picture of solar resources. USE WHEN: - User wants a complete solar overview for a location - User needs both irradiance and PV forecasts together - User asks for a solar resource assessment - User wants "complete solar data for my area" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - capacity (OPTIONAL): System capacity in kW (for PV estimates) EXAMPLES: - "Complete solar summary for Sydney -33.87, 151.21" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21 - "Solar resource assessment for my location 34.05, -118.24" → call with latitude=34.05, longitude=-118.24 - "Full solar data with 5kW system estimate" → call with latitude, longitude, capacity=5 Get a comprehensive solar summary including irradiance, weather, and PV forecasts

get_weather_forecasts

Useful for understanding conditions affecting solar output. USE WHEN: - User asks about weather conditions affecting solar panels - User needs temperature or cloud cover forecasts - User wants to understand weather impact on solar generation - User asks "what's the weather forecast for solar" PARAMETERS: - latitude (REQUIRED): Location latitude - longitude (REQUIRED): Location longitude - hours (OPTIONAL): Number of hours to forecast EXAMPLES: - "Weather forecast for solar panels in Sydney -33.87, 151.21" → call with latitude=-33.87, longitude=151.21 - "Cloud cover forecast for my location 34.05, -118.24" → call with latitude=34.05, longitude=-118.24 - "Temperature forecast for next week" → call with latitude, longitude, hours=168 Get weather forecasts including temperature, cloud opacity, and snow depth

list_rooftop_sites

Shows site IDs, capacities, and locations for managing multiple solar installations. USE WHEN: - User wants to see all their registered solar sites - User needs to find site IDs for other queries - User is managing multiple rooftop installations - User asks "what solar sites do I have configured" EXAMPLES: - "List all my solar sites" → call with no params - "Show my registered rooftop PV systems" → call with no params - "What sites do I have in Solcast?" → call with no params List all configured rooftop PV sites in your Solcast account

Example Prompts for Solcast Solar in AutoGen

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your AutoGen agent to start working with Solcast Solar immediately.

"What is the solar forecast for my 5kW rooftop system in Sydney at -33.87, 151.21?"

"Show me the solar irradiance (GHI and DNI) forecast for my location at 34.05, -118.24."

"How much solar energy will a 10kW system with south-facing panels (azimuth 180°, tilt 30°) generate tomorrow at latitude -37.81, longitude 144.96?"

Troubleshooting Solcast Solar MCP Server with AutoGen

Common issues when connecting Solcast Solar to AutoGen through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

McpWorkbench not found

Install: pip install "autogen-ext[mcp]"

Solcast Solar + AutoGen FAQ

Common questions about integrating Solcast Solar MCP Server with AutoGen.

How does AutoGen connect to MCP servers?

Create an MCP tool adapter and assign it to one or more agents in the group chat. AutoGen agents can then call Solcast Solar tools during their conversation turns.

Can different agents have different MCP tool access?

Yes. AutoGen's role-based architecture lets you assign specific MCP tools to specific agents, so a querying agent has different capabilities than a reviewing agent.