By: Dawn Haworth, Public Communications Specialist

For decades, the NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has provided individuals across the country with the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, or DSIRE, includes numerous resources for developers, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. Over 2500 policies and incentives are captured in the database, covering 124 different energy technologies. DSIRE contains the broadest scope of information in terms of coverage geographically and technologically.

NCCETC’s Policy & Markets team has just launched the DSIRE Application Programming Interface (API) which allows subscribers to access the full content of the database in real time. The DSIRE API gives individuals and organizations the ability to present the results of specific policy & incentive queries on their own websites and tools.

The qualitative and quantitative information that DSIRE contains can now be used to support purchasing decisions for a variety of uses. Those who can benefit from this new tool include heat pump manufacturers, appliance retailers, solar companies, law firms, utilities, and others that stand to capitalize on timely information about clean energy policies and incentives. The DSIRE API can allow customers to check for rebates, tax credits, loan programs, and more.

For example, a heat pump manufacturer can incorporate the DSIRE API on their website with a simple prompt like, “See if there are incentives in your area.” The customer can then type in their zip code and receive specific information about heat pump incentives relative to their area.

Another potential use is for a company’s internal sales tools. Many installation companies promote their services with a sales app, which the DSIRE API can easily be embedded into.

NCCETC recruited five organizations to beta test the API and reviewed the feedback to evaluate if improvements were needed. Midwest Geothermal, one of the beta testers, noted, “It’s very well organized and extremely reliable. The team has done a great job of creating very limited scopes and predictable request patterns.”

The API was built in Amazon Web Services (AWS) and presents results in JSON format. For an annual fee, customers will receive an API key and dial into a website provided by NCCETC. Then, customers can present the data in real time on their websites or other tools to send queries and receive results directly from DSIRE.

To access the API or to receive more information, reach out to dsire-admin@ncsu.edu. 

The Policy & Markets team at NCCETC looks forward to increasing the accessibility of DSIRE and is excited about putting the power of its data into the public’s hands through the DSIRE API.