Solar Panel Planner - UE5

Solar Panel Planner was a collaborative project built in Unreal Engine 5 together with three classmates. Our goal was to create a configurator that allows users to place solar panels on a building, calculate how many panels fit on the roof, and display both installation cost and estimated energy output.

Users can choose between three different panel sizes and optionally add one of two battery types to simulate stored energy and see how this affects both cost and efficiency. Panels are placed directly with the mouse cursor and snap to a custom-built grid system that conforms to the roof’s mesh. Developing this system proved to be one of the most challenging parts of the project — we spent a lot of time solving issues with inconsistent snapping, floating panel placement, and visibility problems on complex surfaces.

We also built our own cost and energy calculation systems, which dynamically update in real time depending on the number of panels and batteries placed. To make the tool more flexible, we added the ability to place panels on a factory roof as well, demonstrating its scalability for different types of buildings. Finally, we implemented a screenshot export feature, laying the groundwork for an extended quotation system.

This project was a great exercise in technical problem solving, team collaboration, and designing systems that merge interactivity, data calculation, and visual feedback in a user-friendly way.