Cloud computing smart solar configurator

A method comprising:

• displaying, by a computing device, a user interface for receiving user configuration data for a virtual solar photovoltaics or solar photovoltaics (SPV) with storage (SPV/S) system;
• receiving, by the user interface, a user selection of an objective function of the virtual SPV or SPV/S system, one or more constraints on the virtual SPV or SPV/S system and a location of the virtual SPV or SPV/S system;
• generating, by the computing device, a base case economic model using only energy purchased from the electrical utility to supply the load at the rates and tariffs charged by the electric utility for the location of the virtual SPV or SPV/S system;
• generating, by the computing device, an objective function model and one or more constraints for the virtual SPV or SPV/S system that includes the atmospheric data, and technology purchase and energy costs;
• calculating, by the computing device, an optimal size of the virtual SPV or SPV/S system that achieves the objective function described by the objective function model within the constraints described by the constraints model by comparing the virtual SPV or SPV/S system economic model with the base case economic model;
• performing, by the computing device, a power flow simulation of the virtual SPV or SPV/S system based on the calculated size and operation schedule;
• generating, by the computing device, an optimally configured virtual SPV or SPVS system based at least in part on the power flow simulation;
• and
• generating, by the computing device and based on the optimally configured virtual SPV or SPV/S system, data for building a real-world SPV or SPV/S system.