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Automated Monthly Energy Reports with PostgreSQL, PDF.co & Email Delivery

by WeblineIndiaUpdated: Last update a month agoSource: n8n.io
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Getting Started

Monthly Energy Generation Report (PostgreSQL → PDF → Email)

This workflow automatically collects monthly energy generation data from a PostgreSQL database, converts it into a structured PDF report and emails it to stakeholders. It eliminates manual report creation and ensures timely delivery of performance summaries.

Who’s it for

  • Energy companies monitoring solar, wind or hydro generation
  • Operations & maintenance (O&M) teams needing monthly summaries
  • Managers and executives who require periodic performance reports
  • Data analysts who want automated reporting instead of manual exports

How it works

  1. Monthly Trigger → Schedules the workflow to run once a month.
  2. Postgres Node → Fetches energy data from the energy_data table.
  3. Code Node (Transform Data) → Structures the raw records into JSON with metadata (date_range, records, note).
  4. HTTP Request (PDF.co API) → Converts structured data into a formatted PDF report.
  5. Gmail Node (Send Report) → Sends the PDF report (or link) via email to the configured recipient.

How to set up

  1. Import the workflow JSON into n8n.

  2. Configure credentials:

    • PostgreSQL connection (DB host, user, password, database, schema).
    • Gmail OAuth2 credentials.
    • PDF.co API key (for HTML → PDF conversion).
  3. Update:

    • Database table (energy_data).
    • Email recipients in the Gmail node.
    • PDF template (if custom formatting is required).
  4. Activate workflow.

Requirements

  • n8n (self-hosted or cloud)
  • PostgreSQL database with energy generation data
  • PDF.co API account with valid API key
  • Gmail account with OAuth2 access
  • Internet access for API calls

How to customize

  • Change the SQL query in the Postgres node to filter specific plants or date ranges.
  • Update the Code node to add extra fields (e.g., average power, anomalies).
  • Modify the PDF.co request body to use a custom HTML template for branding.
  • Replace Gmail with Outlook, SMTP, or Slack for distribution.

Add-ons

  • Add Slack/Teams node to notify teams when reports are sent.
  • Store PDFs in Google Drive or S3 for archival.
  • Add a dashboard (e.g., Grafana or Superset) that references the same DB for real-time view.
  • Integrate with Jira to auto-create tasks for underperformance alerts.

Use Case Examples

  • Solar company emailing monthly reports to plant owners.
  • Wind farm operator generating regulatory compliance reports.
  • O&M teams automating KPI summaries for executives.
  • Consulting firms monitoring multiple clients’ energy production.

Common Troubleshooting

IssuePossible CauseSolution
Workflow does not triggerCron not set correctlyVerify Schedule Trigger node interval is monthly
No data returned from PostgresWrong schema/table or DB credsCheck DB connection and table name
PDF not generatedInvalid/missing PDF.co API keyGenerate a new key in PDF.co dashboard
Email not sentGmail OAuth expired or wrong recipientReconnect Gmail credentials and confirm recipient email
PDF output malformedIncorrect JSON → HTML conversionCheck Code node formatting and PDF.co request body

Need Help?

Our n8n workflow automation experts at WeblineIndia can help you:

  • Set up the PostgreSQL connection securely,
  • Customize the PDF layout with your company branding,
  • Add more delivery channels (Slack, Teams, S3),
  • Extend reporting logic (KPIs, charts, anomaly detection),
  • And so much more.