# pvlib/pvlib-python

A set of documented functions for simulating the performance of photovoltaic energy systems.

Repository: https://github.com/pvlib/pvlib-python
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/pvlib-python
Homepage: https://pvlib-python.readthedocs.io
Language: Python
License: BSD-3-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: solar-energy, python, renewable-energy, renewables, photovoltaic
Last push: 2026-08-19T12:22:55+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 91/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 77, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4216, "days_push": 14, "days_rel": 78, "gap_med": 80.0, "n_releases_24m": 9}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1643, forks 1217 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:15.480690+00:00)

## What it is
pvlib-python is a community-developed Python toolbox providing documented functions and classes for simulating the performance of photovoltaic energy systems. It offers open, reliable, interoperable, and benchmarked implementations of PV system models.

## Use cases
- simulate the energy output of a solar panel array
- model photovoltaic system performance from weather data
- calculate solar position and irradiance for a location
- estimate PV cell temperature and its effect on power output
- compare different PV module and inverter models
- forecast solar power plant production
- research and benchmark PV performance models

## When to choose
- you need scientifically validated, peer-reviewed PV modeling implementations in Python
- you are building solar energy simulation, forecasting, or monitoring tools
- you want an open-source alternative to proprietary PV performance software like PVsyst or SAM scripting
- you need interoperable building blocks for custom PV system models

## When to avoid
- you need a turnkey GUI application for PV system design rather than a code library
- your project has nothing to do with solar energy or photovoltaics
- you need a non-Python environment without Python integration

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: simulation, math, data-science
- domain: energy, data-science
- platform: python, cross-platform
- tags: solar-energy, photovoltaic, renewable-energy, pv-modeling, scientific-computing, algorithms

## Member repositories
- pvlib/pvlib-python (main) score 91

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:15.480690+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:46:18.554132+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/pvlib/pvlib-python (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:15.480690+00:00, sha 2522a41dc255)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.