# SolarEdge Integration Setup Learn how to connect your SolarEdge systems to Powerlily for real-time monitoring and fleet management. This straightforward guide shows you how to generate an API key from the SolarEdge Monitoring Portal and connect it to Powerlily. ## Overview SolarEdge integration is simple and straightforward: - **No developer account required** - Use your existing SolarEdge Monitoring Portal account - **Single API key** - One key can access all sites in your account - **Free to use** - No additional costs beyond your standard SolarEdge monitoring - **Quick setup** - Takes less than 5 minutes <cite index="1-3">You can generate an API key for specific sites (Site API key) or all sites within your account (Account API key)</cite>. ## What You'll Need To connect SolarEdge systems to Powerlily, you'll need: 1. **SolarEdge Monitoring Portal Account** - Your existing monitoring account 2. **Admin Access** - Admin rights to the sites you want to monitor 3. **API Key** - Generated from the monitoring portal (we'll show you how) 4. **Site ID(s)** - Found in the monitoring portal for each system That's it! No developer accounts, OAuth flows, or complex credentials. ## Step-by-Step Setup ### Step 1: Log In to SolarEdge Monitoring Portal <cite index="4-7">Go to https://monitoring.solaredge.com/ and log in with your SolarEdge credentials</cite>. These are the same credentials you use for: - The mySolarEdge mobile app - Monitoring your solar systems - Checking production data ### Step 2: Navigate to Admin Settings Once logged in: 1. <cite index="3-2">Click the **Admin** icon (cog icon) at the top menu</cite> 2. From the Admin menu, select **Site Access** 3. Navigate to **Access Control** 4. Click on **API Access** **Important:** <cite index="3-3">If you do not see an Admin section, contact your installer to request admin rights on your PV plant</cite>. ### Step 3: Generate Your API Key In the API Access section: 1. Check the box next to **"Read SolarEdge API T&Cs"** 2. <cite index="1-5">Acknowledge reading and agreeing to the SolarEdge API Terms & Conditions</cite> 3. Click **"Generate API Key"** or **"New API Key"** 4. <cite index="1-8,1-9">Copy the key and click Save</cite> **API Key Details:** - <cite index="4-18">The API key always consists of 32 characters</cite> - Example format: `L4QLVQ1LOKCQX2193VSEICXW61NP6B1O` - Store it securely - you'll need it for Powerlily **Account vs. Site API Key:** - **Account API Key** - Grants access to all sites in your account (recommended for installers) - **Site API Key** - Grants access to one specific site only For monitoring multiple customer systems, choose an Account API key. ### Step 4: Find Your Site ID(s) Each SolarEdge installation has a unique Site ID. To find it: 1. From the monitoring portal dashboard, view your site list 2. Click on the site you want to monitor 3. The Site ID appears in the URL or site details 4. Example: `1234567` **Note:** If you're using an Account API key, Powerlily may automatically discover all sites. You may still need the Site ID for initial configuration. ### Step 5: Enter Credentials in Powerlily Now connect SolarEdge to Powerlily: 1. Log in to your Powerlily account 2. Navigate to **Settings** → **Integrations** (or **Company Settings** → **Integrations**) 3. Find the **SolarEdge** section 4. Enter your credentials: **Field** | **What to Enter** --- | --- API Key | The 32-character API key from SolarEdge Site ID(s) | Your site ID(s) - may be optional depending on API key type 5. Click **Save** or **Connect SolarEdge** 6. Powerlily will test the connection 7. If successful, you'll see a confirmation message **Troubleshooting:** If the connection fails, verify: - The API key is exactly 32 characters (no spaces) - You copied the entire key correctly - The API key is enabled (not disabled) in the SolarEdge portal - You have admin access to the sites - The Site ID is correct (if required) ### Step 6: Verify System Sync After connecting: 1. Navigate to **Fleet Management** in Powerlily 2. Your SolarEdge systems should appear within a few minutes 3. <cite index="4-26">Data is retrieved every 15 minutes</cite> 4. Initial sync may take 15-30 minutes ## Understanding SolarEdge API Access ### API Key Types **Account API Key** - **Access:** All sites in your SolarEdge account - **Best For:** Installers monitoring multiple customer systems - **Permissions:** Read-only access to all site data - **Setup:** One key for all systems **Site API Key** - **Access:** One specific site only - **Best For:** Individual system owners or single-site monitoring - **Permissions:** Read-only access to that site's data - **Setup:** Separate key needed for each site ### What Data Is Available <cite index="1-2">All APIs are secured via an access token: every access to the API requires a valid token as a URL parameter named api_key</cite>. The SolarEdge API provides: - **Current Power Output** - Real-time generation - **Energy Production** - Daily, monthly, yearly, and lifetime - **System Overview** - Status and basic information - **Equipment Details** - Inverter and optimizer data - **Historical Data** - Past performance and trends - **System Health** - Communication status and alerts ### API Limitations <cite index="1-42">The monitoring server API is subject to a query limit of 300 requests for a specific account token and a parallel query limit of 300 requests for each specific site ID from the same source IP</cite>. **Rate Limits:** - 300 requests per day per account token - 300 requests per day per site ID - <cite index="1-47">Up to 3 concurrent API calls from the same source IP</cite> These limits are very generous for typical monitoring use. Powerlily manages API calls efficiently to stay within these limits. ## Requesting Admin Access If you don't have admin access to a site, you'll need to request it from the installer or site owner. ### For System Owners If you own a SolarEdge system but don't have admin access: 1. Find your installer's contact information in the SolarEdge portal dashboard 2. Email or call them with this request: **Sample Email:** ``` Subject: Request for Admin Access to My SolarEdge System Hello, I would like to request admin access to my SolarEdge monitoring account so I can generate an API key for third-party monitoring integration. My Site ID is: [Your Site ID] My Account Email: [Your SolarEdge email] Could you please grant me admin permissions to my system? Thank you! ``` ### For Installers As an installer, you likely already have admin access to systems you've installed. If a customer requests access: 1. Log in to the SolarEdge monitoring portal 2. Navigate to the customer's site 3. Go to **Admin** → **Site Access** → **Site Users** 4. Edit the customer's user account 5. Grant them admin or appropriate permissions ## Security Best Practices ### Keep Your API Key Secure - <cite index="1-16">Don't share your API key</cite> publicly or in unsecured communications - Store the key in a password manager - Don't commit API keys to version control systems - Only enter the key into trusted applications like Powerlily ### Monitor API Usage While SolarEdge doesn't provide detailed usage dashboards like Enphase: - Be aware of the 300 requests/day limit - Don't use the same API key in multiple monitoring platforms simultaneously - If you hit rate limits, you'll receive HTTP 429 errors ### Regenerate Keys If Compromised If your API key is exposed: 1. Go back to the SolarEdge Monitoring Portal 2. Navigate to **Admin** → **Site Access** → **Access Control** → **API Access** 3. Delete the old key 4. Generate a new key 5. Update the key in Powerlily ## Troubleshooting ### "Invalid Token" Error **Problem:** API key is not recognized **Solutions:** - Verify the API key is exactly 32 characters - Check for extra spaces before or after the key when copying - Ensure the API key is enabled in the SolarEdge portal - Confirm you clicked "Save" after generating the key - Try regenerating a new API key ### "No Admin Access" **Problem:** Can't see the Admin section in the portal **Solutions:** - Contact your system installer to request admin rights - If you own the system, you should be granted admin access - Verify you're logged into the correct SolarEdge account - Check if you have access to the specific site ### "Connection Failed" in Powerlily **Problem:** Powerlily can't connect to SolarEdge **Solutions:** - Double-check the API key is entered correctly - Verify the Site ID is correct (if required) - Test the API key manually by visiting: `https://monitoringapi.solaredge.com/site/YOUR_SITE_ID/overview.json?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY` (replace YOUR_SITE_ID and YOUR_API_KEY) - Ensure your SolarEdge account is active - Wait a few minutes and try again - SolarEdge servers may be temporarily unavailable ### "Rate Limit Exceeded" / HTTP 429 Error **Problem:** Too many API requests **Solutions:** - Wait 24 hours for the rate limit to reset - Check if you're using the same API key in multiple applications - Generate separate API keys for different tools - Contact Powerlily support if the issue persists ### Systems Not Appearing in Powerlily **Problem:** Connection works but no systems show up **Solutions:** - Wait 15-30 minutes for initial sync - Verify the systems are active and online in SolarEdge portal - Check that you're using an Account API key (not Site API key) for multiple sites - Confirm the Site ID matches the system you want to monitor - Try disconnecting and reconnecting the integration ### Historical Data Not Available **Problem:** Only seeing recent data **Solutions:** - <cite index="4-28">Data is only read from the moment the connection is set up, there is no historical data</cite> - SolarEdge API provides historical data, but Powerlily may only import from the connection date forward - Check Fleet Management settings for data import options - Contact Powerlily support for historical data import capabilities ## API vs. Local Monitoring SolarEdge systems can be monitored in different ways: ### API Monitoring (Cloud-based) - **Pros:** Easy setup, works from anywhere, no local network required - **Cons:** 15-minute data intervals, requires internet connection, rate limits - **Best For:** Remote monitoring, multiple sites, cloud-based fleet management ### Modbus TCP (Local network) - **Pros:** Real-time data (every 5-60 seconds), no rate limits, faster updates - **Cons:** Requires local network access, more complex setup, technical knowledge needed - **Best For:** Advanced users, single-site monitoring, real-time requirements **For Powerlily:** API monitoring is recommended as it's simpler and works with the cloud-based platform. ## Costs and Billing ### SolarEdge API Costs **Good news: The SolarEdge monitoring API is free!** - No additional fees beyond your standard SolarEdge monitoring - No subscription tiers or usage charges - No developer account fees - Rate limits ensure fair usage for all users ### What You Pay - **SolarEdge monitoring:** Included with your inverter purchase - **Powerlily subscription:** Standard Powerlily pricing applies - **API integration:** No additional cost ## Comparison: SolarEdge vs. Enphase Integration **SolarEdge (Simpler)** - Single API key from monitoring portal - No developer account needed - Free API access - 15-minute data intervals - Straightforward setup **Enphase (More Complex)** - Requires developer account creation - Multiple credentials (API key, Client ID, Client Secret, username, password) - Tiered pricing plans (free and paid) - OAuth authorization flow - More setup steps Both integrations work seamlessly with Powerlily once configured. ## FAQ ### Do I need a separate API key for each site? No, if you use an Account API key. An Account API key provides access to all sites in your SolarEdge account. A Site API key is only needed if you want to limit access to a single specific site. ### Can I use the same API key in multiple applications? Technically yes, but be cautious of rate limits. If multiple applications make requests using the same API key, they all share the 300 requests/day limit. You may want to generate separate API keys for different tools. ### How often does Powerlily sync data from SolarEdge? This depends on Powerlily's configuration, but SolarEdge API data is typically updated every 15 minutes. Powerlily will sync at regular intervals to retrieve the latest production data. ### Will connecting to Powerlily affect my SolarEdge monitoring portal? No. The API provides read-only access. Powerlily cannot modify settings, change configurations, or affect the operation of your SolarEdge systems. It only reads production and status data. ### What if I change my SolarEdge password? Your API key is independent of your login password. Changing your SolarEdge monitoring portal password will not affect your API key or the Powerlily integration. ### Can I monitor systems I didn't install? Yes, if you have admin access to those systems in the SolarEdge portal. The system owner or installer can grant you access, at which point you can generate an API key to monitor those systems. ### Does the API work with all SolarEdge inverters? Yes, as long as the system is connected to the SolarEdge monitoring portal and reporting data. The API works with: - String inverters with optimizers - HD-Wave inverters - Commercial inverters - Systems with energy storage ### What happens if my inverter goes offline? The API will report the last known status and production data. When the inverter comes back online and reconnects to the SolarEdge servers, updated data will become available through the API. ### Can I revoke API access? Yes. In the SolarEdge Monitoring Portal: 1. Go to **Admin** → **Site Access** → **Access Control** → **API Access** 2. Delete the API key 3. Click **Save** This immediately revokes access for any application using that key. ### Is my data secure? Yes. <cite index="1-1,1-17">The API can be accessed via HTTPS protocol only</cite>, ensuring encrypted communication. API keys provide access only to the specific sites you authorize, and the access is read-only. ## Additional Resources ### SolarEdge Documentation - [SolarEdge Monitoring Portal](https://monitoring.solaredge.com/) - [SolarEdge Monitoring API Documentation](https://knowledge-center.solaredge.com/sites/kc/files/se_monitoring_api.pdf) - [SolarEdge Knowledge Center](https://knowledge-center.solaredge.com/) - [SolarEdge Support](https://www.solaredge.com/us/support) ### Video Guides - [How to Generate a SolarEdge API Key (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR26nmL5bXg) ### Powerlily Support - Email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) - Need help with integration? Contact us for personalized assistance --- **Next Steps:** - [[Fleet Management/Overview|Return to Fleet Management Overview]] - Compare with [[Fleet Management/Enphase Integration Setup|Enphase integration setup]] - Learn about [[Client Portal/Monitoring|sharing monitoring data with customers]] - Set up [[Fleet Management/Overview#Automated Alerts|automated system alerts]]