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Connect pvnode with Home Assistant

This guide shows how to use the pvnode Forecast API in Home Assistant via the built-in RESTful Sensor — no custom component required.

Prerequisites

• A running Home Assistant installation
• A pvnode API key (create one here)
• Access to configuration.yaml (File Editor add-on or SSH)

1. Store the API key securely

Open secrets.yaml in your config/ directory (create it if it doesn't exist):

Code
pvnode_api_key: "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

2. Add a REST sensor in configuration.yaml

Paste the following block into your configuration.yaml and adjust the location and PV configuration to match your system:

Code
rest:
  - resource: https://api.pvnode.com/v1/forecast/
    method: GET
    headers:
      Authorization: !secret pvnode_api_key
    params:
      latitude: 48.27564
      longitude: 11.83972
      slope: 30
      orientation: 180
      pv_power_kw: 10
      forecast_days: 2                 # number of forecast days
      required_data: "pv_watts,temp"   # power and temperature returned
    scan_interval: 3600                # update every 60 minutes
    sensor:
      - name: "pvnode Power Now"
        unique_id: pvnode_power_now
        unit_of_measurement: "W"
        device_class: power
        state_class: measurement
        value_template: >
          {% set rounded = now().replace(second=0, microsecond=0, minute=(now().minute // 15) * 15) %}
          {% set target = rounded.astimezone(timezone('UTC')).strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') %}
          {% set match = value_json.values | selectattr('dtm', 'eq', target) | list %}
          {{ match[0].pv_watts | round(0) if match else 0 }}
        json_attributes:
          - values
          - latitude
          - longitude
          - slope
          - orientation
          - elevation

Parameter overview

Parameter	Description
latitude / longitude	Location of the PV system
slope	Module tilt in degrees (0 = flat, 90 = vertical)
orientation	Azimuth in degrees (0 = North, 90 = East, 180 = South, 270 = West)
pv_power_kw	Installed capacity in kWp
forecast_days	Number of forecast days (0–7)
required_data	Which fields the API should return — see all available fields here

A complete overview of all parameters and data fields is available in the Forecast API documentation.

3. Reload the configuration

After saving, in Home Assistant: Developer Tools → YAML → Reload all YAML configuration. On first setup, a full restart is required.

Under Developer Tools → States, find the sensor sensor.pvnode_power_now — the state shows the current power in watts, while the attributes contain the full 15-minute forecast.

4. Visualize the forecast as a chart

With the ApexCharts Card (installable via HACS), you can plot the entire forecast series as a curve:

Code
type: custom:apexcharts-card
header:
  show: true
  title: PV Forecast
graph_span: 48h
span:
  start: day
series:
  - entity: sensor.pvnode_power_now
    name: pvnode Forecast
    type: line
    stroke_width: 2
    extend_to: false
    data_generator: |
      return entity.attributes.values.map(point => {
        const utcTime = new Date(point.dtm + 'Z').getTime();
        return [utcTime, point.pv_watts];
      });

Use cases

With the pvnode forecast in Home Assistant you can, for example:

• Control your wallbox: Charge your EV when sufficient solar production is expected
• Schedule heat pumps: Run hot water preparation during expected surplus periods
• Optimize batteries: Fully charge before forecasted poor-weather periods
• Shift loads: Start washing machines, dryers, or dishwashers during peak production

Tips

• Higher resolution with Nowcasting: With the Nowcasting add-on, the forecast updates every 10 minutes based on live satellite data. In that case, set scan_interval: 600.
• Multiple arrays: For east/west roofs or multiple strings, simply add additional REST sensors with different unique_id values.