This app transforms your smartphone into a virtual solar panel, allowing you to estimate annual solar energy production in dollars. It helps users understand the cost-effectiveness and payback period of solar installations.
1.6
October 13, 2020
This version contains new app icon assets.
PV View uses your device's location (latitude), panel direction, panel tilt, local weather data, and local electricity prices to compute the estimated annual solar production in dollars. This calculation is based on algorithms developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The primary benefit is demystifying solar energy by providing a clear estimate of the annual dollar value produced by solar panels. This helps users understand the potential return on investment and how quickly solar installations can pay for themselves.
While PV View can simulate the production of multiple panels, its design encourages starting with a single homeowner-installed panel. This approach aims to make the initial step into solar more manageable and build user confidence before scaling up.
The app leverages expertise from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the creators of the PVWatts solar calculator, which is considered an authority in computing annual solar production. This suggests a high degree of accuracy in its estimations.
PV View is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It was released on October 12, 2020, and its latest version is 1.6, updated on October 13, 2020.
PV View has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. The app is free to download and does not contain advertisements or in-app purchases.
PV View was last updated on October 13, 2020, with version 1.6. While there haven't been recent updates, the app's core functionality is based on established solar calculation methods.
Based on its 5.0-star rating from 3 reviews, users likely appreciate PV View's ability to simplify solar energy calculations and provide clear financial insights. The app's focus on making solar accessible and understandable is a key positive aspect.
