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.
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