How SDC Verifier Engineered the Rable Calculator to Automate Solar Project Planning

Executive Summary

Client: Rable
Industry: Solar Energy | Founded: 2022 | Location: Netherlands

Rable is a Dutch company specializing in solar panel mounting solutions for weak flat roofs. Their goal is to maximize solar adoption by eliminating installation barriers like heavy ballast and costly reinforcements.

• Challenge: Before the Rable Calculator, solar installations was a time-consuming and error-prone process. Engineers had to manually calculate panel placement, anchor positioning, and load distributioт:
• Solution: SDC Verifier developed the Rable Calculator, an web-based solar layout planner platform that automates project setup and panel placement. 
• Results: Reduced planning time and improved design accuracy.

The Challenge

Rable’s mission is to make solar panel installations viable for weak industrial and commercial roofs. However, designing these systems safely required:

• Precise structural analysis – Panels must be positioned to avoid excessive load concentrations.
• Wind uplift verification – Improper anchoring could cause instability in high-wind zones.
• Obstacle detection & layout optimization – Manual planning was time-consuming and error-prone.

Engineers had to spend hours — sometimes days — manually adjusting panel placement, calculating load factors, and ensuring designs were structurally sound. Even small miscalculations could lead to costly rework or unsafe installations.

Rable needed a streamlined, error-free solution — one that automated layout generation and report creation without requiring deep engineering expertise from users.

The Solution

SDC Verifier worked closely with Rable to develop a cutting-edge tool that simplifies solar project planning. The Rable Calculator was designed to be:

• Fast – Users can generate an optimized solar layout in under 2 minutes instead of hours.
• Accurate – Built-in engineering validation eliminates errors and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Flexible – Allows manual and automatic adjustments for panel placement and anchors.
• User-Friendly – Designed for engineers, project managers, and installers with minimal training required.
• Integrated with API Services – Uses Google Maps API and Places API to accurately determine location-specific data.

Read more: How SDC Verifier Helped Rable Optimize Solar Panel Frames for Weak Roofs

The Key Features

1. Project Setup in Minutes

Users begin by inputting location, roof type, and solar panel specifications. The system:
– Automatically factors in wind zones, terrain categories, and roof geometry.

Time Savings: What previously took 3+ hours of manual work is now completed in under 2 minutes.

2. Roof Layout & Obstacle Detection

Users draw their roof layout and mark obstacles (e.g., skylights, chimneys).
– The system automatically detects distances to obstacles and edges.
– If panels are placed too close to a parapet or obstruction, the tool issues a non-recommended distance warning, ensuring safety.

3. Optimized Panel Placement & Anchoring

The system automatically calculates ideal panel placement, considering:
– Wind uplift risks based on geographic data & structural load.
– Manual anchor adjustments for secure fastening in high-wind zones.
– Users can add/remove anchors dynamically to refine placement.

Advanced Engineering: The system dynamically adjusts anchor placement every 15 meters, ensuring stability without unnecessary material use.

4. Instant Report Generation

Once the design is complete, users receive a comprehensive engineering report that includes:
– Optimized layout for maximum energy production.
– A parts list with all necessary materials for procurement.
– Key project parameters, fully validated for execution and approval.

What changed after implementing the Rable Calculator?

Metric	Before (Manual Planning)	After (Rable Calculator)	Improvement
Project Setup Time	3+ hours	Under 2 minutes (as per Rable)	-99% Faster
Design Accuracy	Prone to errors	Engineering-validated	Error-Free
Cost Savings	No automation, high labor	Optimized layouts, less material waste	Significant Reduction

Key Takeaway

With SDC Verifier, Rable transformed solar project planning from a slow, error-prone process into a fully automated, precision-driven system. Unlike standard design platforms, it is:

1. Built by SDC Verifier, a leader in structural verification software.
2. Specifically designed to enable solar installations where traditional mounting systems fail.
3. While automation speeds up planning, engineers can fine-tune designs as needed.
4. Integrated with API Services. Uses Google Maps API and Places API for real-world accuracy in wind load calculations.