Solar Position Algorithm Library

Project Description

This library provides a set of tools to calculate the solar position, including azimuth and elevation angles, based on various input parameters such as location and time. It is designed for use in applications requiring precise solar position calculations for optimizing solar energy applications.

Features

• Fast and accurate calculations of solar positions
• Support for multiple coordinate systems
• Easy-to-use API
• Comprehensive unit tests

Building

To build the library, use the following commands:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/petergeelhoed/spa.git
   cd spa

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Build the project:

   python setup.py build

API Documentation

calculate_solar_position(latitude, longitude, datetime)

Calculates the solar position for the given latitude, longitude, and datetime.

Parameters:

• latitude: Latitude in degrees.
• longitude: Longitude in degrees.
• datetime: A datetime object representing the date and time.

Returns:

• A dictionary containing azimuth and elevation angle values.

set_location(latitude, longitude)

Sets the default location for solar position calculations.

Parameters:

• latitude: Latitude in degrees.
• longitude: Longitude in degrees.

Usage Examples

from spa import calculate_solar_position, set_location

# Set location
set_location(34.0522, -118.2437)  # Los Angeles

# Calculate solar position for a specific datetime
position = calculate_solar_position(34.0522, -118.2437, datetime(2026, 4, 16, 18, 0, 0))
print(f"Azimuth: {position['azimuth']}, Elevation: {position['elevation']}")