**European Economic Area (EEA) developers**

> [!NOTE]
> If your billing address is in the European Economic Area, effective on 8 July 2025, the [Google
> Maps Platform EEA Terms of Service](https://cloud.google.com/terms/maps-platform/eea) will apply to your use of the Services. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/maps/comms/eea/faq.md.txt). In addition, certain content from the Solar API will no longer be returned. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/maps/comms/eea/solar.md.txt).

## Help

### How do I migrate to the new Solar API from the previous version?

- Review our [migration guide](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/migration.md.txt).

### Where can I get help?

- Check out [Support Options for Solar API](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/support.md.txt).

### What do these error codes mean?

- Read more about [HTTP status codes](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Status).

## Project configuration

### What permissions do I need on my Cloud project?

- See [the documentation](https://developers.google.com/maps/roles.md.txt).

### Can I use my API key with more than one Cloud project?

- No, only use your API key for one Cloud project. If you have more Cloud projects, each should have their own API key. Note that, within a single project, it's normal to have several API keys.

## Cost

### How do I limit costs?

- See the [Budgeting
  documentation](https://cloud.google.com/billing/docs/how-to/budgets) for strategies and tips.

## Solar model

### How often are data refreshed?

- New data are added all the time, but we don't have a specific refresh rate for specific regions. Some regions use imagery that is several years old. Please check the dates of the relevant imagery, and feel free to [file
  feedback](https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/new?component=1356349&template=1817492).

### Where can I learn more about the assumptions for the solar financial analysis?

- Google uses information about government solar incentives, along with other financial data and models, from [Clean Power
  Research](https://www.cleanpower.com/).

### Are chimneys and skylights taken into consideration by the API when making an assessment of solar panel placement?

- Yes, with height maps chimneys and skylights are identified as small rectangles, and solar panels are excluded by the model.

### Can the API see inside of buildings?

- No, just the roofs.

### Can the API make assessments for a specific apartment within a building complex?

- Depends. The model uses Google Maps data, and so if the apartment is classified as a whole building in Google Maps, then the roof of a specific apartment of that building are displayed as separate.

### Why does the API sometimes not return any data for a building which I know exists?

- This can happen when there are newer buildings that did not exist when mapping was realized at the time.

### How can I use the flux solar data layer for visualizing shade?

- North-facing roofs get less flux ([solar
  irradiance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_irradiance)), which means they will have higher shade. You can leverage this information when performing solar assessments. The flux data layer lets you visualize flux in colors.
- You can alternatively make your own flux tiles and customize their colors, especially if you wish to locate specific numerical values of shade on a roof.

### How can I use `hourlyShadeUrls` from the [dataLayers service](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/reference/rest/v1/dataLayers.md.txt)?

- You can get back a daily snapshot of shade throughout the year, and produce an animated GIF or video of shade changing during a year.

### Can I perform my own custom calculations?

- Yes, can use the flux and DSM (height map at each point) solar data layers for greater customization.

### Why does the API return a URL, and what can I do with them?

- The URLs are short-lived pointers to enable you to download the corresponding data layers.