Solcast Solar MCP Server for Claude Desktop 11 tools — connect in under 2 minutes
Claude Desktop is Anthropic's native application for interacting with Claude AI models on macOS and Windows. It was the first consumer application to ship with built-in MCP support, making it the reference implementation for the Model Context Protocol standard.
ASK AI ABOUT THIS MCP SERVER
Vinkius supports streamable HTTP and SSE.
Vinkius Desktop App
The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install Solcast Solar and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.
{
"mcpServers": {
"solcast-solar": {
// Your Vinkius token — get it at cloud.vinkius.com
"url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
}
}
}
* 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.
Claude Desktop is the definitive way to connect Solcast Solar to your AI workflow. Add the Vinkius Edge URL to your config, restart the app, and Claude immediately exposes all 11 tools in the chat interface — ask a question, Claude calls the right tool, and you see the answer. Zero code, zero context switching.
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 Claude Desktop 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 Claude Desktop via MCP
Follow these steps to integrate the Solcast Solar MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
Open Claude Desktop Settings
Go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config to open claude_desktop_config.json
Add the MCP Server
Paste the configuration above into the mcpServers section
Restart Claude Desktop
Close and reopen Claude Desktop to load the new server
Start using Solcast Solar
Look for the 🔌 icon in the chat — your 11 tools are now available
Why Use Claude Desktop with the Solcast Solar MCP Server
Claude Desktop by Anthropic provides unique advantages when paired with Solcast Solar through the Model Context Protocol.
Claude Desktop is the reference MCP client — it was designed alongside the protocol itself, ensuring the most complete and stable MCP implementation available
Zero-code configuration: add a server URL to a JSON file and Claude instantly discovers and exposes all available tools in the chat interface
Claude's extended thinking capability lets it reason through multi-step tool usage, chaining multiple API calls to answer complex questions
Enterprise-grade security with local config storage — your tokens never leave your machine, and connections go directly to the Vinkius Edge network
Solcast Solar + Claude Desktop Use Cases
Practical scenarios where Claude Desktop combined with the Solcast Solar MCP Server delivers measurable value.
Interactive data exploration: ask Claude to query DNS records, look up WHOIS data, and cross-reference results in a single conversation
Ad-hoc security audits: type a domain name and let Claude enumerate subdomains, check DNS history, and flag configuration anomalies — all through natural language
Executive briefings: generate comprehensive domain intelligence reports by asking Claude to compile findings into a formatted summary
Learning and training: new team members can explore API capabilities conversationally without needing to read documentation
Solcast Solar MCP Tools for Claude Desktop (11)
These 11 tools become available when you connect Solcast Solar to Claude Desktop 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 Claude Desktop
Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Claude Desktop 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 Claude Desktop
Common issues when connecting Solcast Solar to Claude Desktop through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.
Server not appearing after restart
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\\Claude\\ (Windows).Authentication error
Tools not showing in chat
Solcast Solar + Claude Desktop FAQ
Common questions about integrating Solcast Solar MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
How does Claude Desktop discover MCP tools?
claude_desktop_config.json file and connects to each configured MCP server. It calls the tools/list endpoint to fetch the schema for every available tool, then surfaces them as clickable options in the chat interface via the 🔌 icon.What happens if the MCP server is temporarily unavailable?
Can I connect multiple MCP servers simultaneously?
mcpServers section of the config file. Each server appears as a separate tool provider, and Claude can use tools from multiple servers in a single conversation turn.Is there a limit on the number of tools per server?
Does Claude Desktop support Streamable HTTP transport?
Connect Solcast Solar with your favorite client
Step-by-step setup guides for every MCP-compatible client and framework:
Anthropic's native desktop app for Claude with built-in MCP support.
AI-first code editor with integrated LLM-powered coding assistance.
GitHub Copilot in VS Code with Agent mode and MCP support.
Purpose-built IDE for agentic AI coding workflows.
Autonomous AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code.
Anthropic's agentic CLI for terminal-first development.
Python SDK for building production-grade OpenAI agent workflows.
Google's framework for building production AI agents.
Type-safe agent development for Python with first-class MCP support.
TypeScript toolkit for building AI-powered web applications.
TypeScript-native agent framework for modern web stacks.
Python framework for orchestrating collaborative AI agent crews.
Leading Python framework for composable LLM applications.
Data-aware AI agent framework for structured and unstructured sources.
Microsoft's framework for multi-agent collaborative conversations.
Connect Solcast Solar to Claude Desktop
Get your token, paste the configuration, and start using 11 tools in under 2 minutes. No API key management needed.