Solar Software
25 terms in the solar software category.
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Aurora Sales Mode vs Design Mode
Aurora Solar provides two simulation modes: Sales Mode (fast, ±5–8% accuracy, for customer conversations) and Design Mode (NREL SAM-driven, ±3–5%, for permit-stage engineering). Choose based on project stage.
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Aurora Solar
Aurora Solar is a cloud-based residential solar design platform that uses LIDAR and satellite imagery to model rooftops, calculate shading, lay out modules, run financial pro formas, and generate sales proposals — the dominant residential design tool in North America.
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AutoCAD Electrical
AutoCAD Electrical is Autodesk's CAD platform purpose-built for electrical schematics, used widely for PE-stamped solar Single Line Diagrams (SLDs), three-line diagrams, conduit schedules, and panel schedules.
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Bluebeam Revu
Bluebeam Revu is the leading PDF markup and review software in the construction/engineering industry, widely used for solar permit drawing review, redlining, and digital sign-offs.
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Energy Toolbase
Energy Toolbase is an industry-leading commercial solar + storage economic modeling platform. Combines hourly energy modeling, full TOU rate analysis, NEM 3.0 / NBT integration, and battery dispatch optimization.
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EnergySage
EnergySage is a US solar marketplace connecting homeowners with vetted installers for competitive multi-quote comparisons. Educational content, calculator tools, and aggregate price/performance data.
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Helioscope
Helioscope is a web-based solar design platform built for fast commercial rooftop layouts. It auto-routes stringing, computes annual energy yield, exports DXF and PDFs, and supports component-database-driven design used by EPCs, designers, and consultants worldwide.
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Helioscope DXF Export
Helioscope DXF Export is the file format that translates Helioscope's solar layout (modules, strings, equipment, conduit, labels) into AutoCAD-compatible DXF for further refinement into permit-ready PE-stamped drawings.
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HOMER
HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources) is a software platform from HOMER Energy that models and optimizes hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, batteries, fuel cells, and diesel generators. Used for off-grid, microgrid, and islanded applications.
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HOMER Grid
HOMER Grid is the commercial behind-the-meter variant of HOMER software, optimizing solar + battery storage + demand charge management against utility TOU rates.
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Meteonorm
Meteonorm is a global weather database providing Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data — GHI, DNI, DHI, temperature, wind speed — used by PVsyst and other solar simulation tools. Meteonorm 8 (2020) is the current bankable standard.
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NSRDB / TMY3
NSRDB (National Solar Radiation Database) is NREL's free database of hourly GHI, DNI, DHI, temperature, and wind speed for ~2 million US sites from 1998–present. TMY3 is the canonical Typical Meteorological Year format used for solar simulation.
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OpenSolar
OpenSolar is a free cloud-based residential solar design platform competing with Aurora Solar. Provides rooftop layout, shading analysis, basic financial pro forma, and customer proposals at no per-user cost.
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PowerFactory (DIgSILENT)
DIgSILENT PowerFactory is the leading commercial power system simulation tool used for utility-scale solar grid interconnection studies — load flow, short circuit, harmonics, dynamic stability, and protection coordination.
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PVcad
PVcad is an AutoCAD plugin for solar PV electrical schematics, providing pre-built symbol libraries, automatic SLD generation, and equipment schedule integration.
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PVcase
PVcase is a cloud-based automated solar design software for utility-scale ground-mount projects. Handles terrain modeling, tracker layout, road planning, BOM generation, and DXF export.
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PVsyst
PVsyst is the most widely used solar PV simulation software for bankable energy yield assessments. It models hourly system performance using site-specific weather (TMY), module (.PAN) and inverter (.OND) datasheets, shading scenes, and detailed loss accounting to produce P50/P90 yield estimates trusted by lenders worldwide.
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PVsyst Project File (.PRJ)
The PVsyst Project File (.PRJ) is the native project file format containing all simulation inputs — system layout, module/inverter files, weather data, loss assumptions — and outputs. Standard documentation included in bankable EYA submissions.
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RatedPower
RatedPower is a cloud-based automated solar design platform for utility-scale ground-mount projects. Handles site layout, tracker geometry, BOM, road planning, and basic yield estimates. Spanish origin; competes with PVcase.
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Revit MEP for Solar
Autodesk Revit MEP is a BIM (Building Information Modeling) platform supporting solar PV design integrated with building electrical and mechanical systems. Used for new construction with rooftop solar.
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SAM (System Advisor Model)
System Advisor Model (SAM) is the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's open-source PV simulation and financial modeling tool. Combines hourly energy modeling with full project finance — used widely for utility-scale solar bankability cross-checks and policy analysis.
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SAM Financial Model
SAM (System Advisor Model) includes a comprehensive financial engine modeling LCOE, IRR, NPV, debt sizing, tax equity, ITC, depreciation, and PPA tariffs. Used for utility-scale solar project finance modeling.
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SketchUp for Solar
SketchUp is a 3D modeling tool used in solar PV for site visualization, obstruction modeling, and customer-facing 3D renderings. Companion to PVsyst for detailed shading scenes.
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Solargis
Solargis is a satellite-based solar resource database providing hourly GHI, DNI, DHI, and POA data for bankable Energy Yield Assessments. Premium service with high-accuracy data for site-specific bankability studies.
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SolarPlus
SolarPlus is a cloud-based residential solar design and proposal platform. Competes with Aurora and OpenSolar in the small-to-mid-size installer market.
