Best Solar Design Software — Clean Energy Reviews (2024)

Early solar software was used to estimate the amount of solar generation a PV array would provide throughout the year based on the tilt (roof) angle and the orientation (azimuth angle). Over the years, solar design packages have become increasingly advanced and enabled system designers to use high-resolution aerial photos to position scaled solar arrays on building rooftops, thus accurately determining how many panels may fit on a particular roof area accounting for obstacles and potential shading. Another significant enhancement is comparing solar generation profiles with consumption (load) profiles to more accurately size a system to meet the customer's requirements. Additional features have also been added to help manage project workflow and customer relationships (CRM), business inventory, and accounting. However, many of these advanced features have made solar programs difficult to use and navigate, resulting in designers requiring training and support. This is not a problem for larger solar companies with dedicated designers, but it can be problematic for part-time users. With this in mind, we have broken up this review to highlight the best solar software suited to the following categories.

Software Category winners

• Best free solar design software for small to medium companies –Photonik

• Best solar design software with CRM for large companies –Pylon Observer

• Best software for designing energy storage and off-grid systems –SolarPlus

• Best free solar design software with CRM package –OpenSolar

• Best solar software for advanced 3D system design –HelioScope

• Best solar design software for ground-mount utility-scale systems – PVcase

Software Summary Table and Pricing *

Photonik

Best FREE solar design software for small to medium solar companies

Photonik is the latest solar design software package built by a small team of solar professionals. From the very beginning, the Photonik team set out to develop the most intuitive and user-friendly solar design software available. Photonik is very powerful but extremely quick and easy to use, making it perfect for both part-time and full-time solar installers and small to medium solar companies which do not require a complete CRM package.

Highlights

• Completely Free

• Simple, easy-to-use design interface and solar proposals

Features

• High-resolution imagery included (Aus, NZ)

• Easy-to-use panel positioning tool

• Smart battery system sizing guide

• Array efficiency comparison table

• Project planning and tracking

• Online customer acceptance form (TBC)

• Create detailed site plans (as per AS/NZS5033:2021)

• EV charging load simulator

• Custom solar proposals - coming soon

Cons

• No energy meter data upload (coming soon)

• Only fixed load profiles (user-adjustable profiles coming soon)

PRICE: Free

Pylon Observer

Best solar design software with CRM for large solar companies and retailers

Pylon Observer is one of the most popular solar design software packages for solar businesses and retailers. With high-resolution imagery and advanced 3D solar shading analysis, Pylon can offer highly accurate solar performance estimates. The software also boasts the most up-to-date component database, integrated finance options and CRM tools. Although with all the advanced features and options, it does require some practice, so it's best suited to larger solar companies with dedicated designers. Also, the user interface can be a little cumbersome, so some training may be required.

Highlights

• Built-in CRM

• High-resolution imagery included (Aus, NZ, US)

Features

• Complete solar design and CRM package

• Pay-as-you-go – No fixed fees

• Online customer acceptance & payment

• Advanced 3D solar shading analysis

• Build custom consumption profiles

• Upload energy meter data for more accurate results

• Create installer job sheets

• Create site plans (AS/NZS5033:2021)

• Customise proposals

Cons

• The user interface is not very intuitive.

• The panel placement tool can be a bit slow and cumbersome

PRICE: $4 to $10 per project. Pay-as-you-go model

SolarPlus V4

Best software for developing advanced energy storage and off-grid systems

Developed by Australian Solar Industry Guru Glen Morris, SolarPlus is one of the most powerful and advanced solar design software packages, designed especially for the Australian market. It features an integrated CRM, battery and energy storage performance modelling, and advanced off-grid design tools. However, considering the high price and many features, it's more tailored toward experienced solar industry professionals who want to take the time to design and develop highly accurate solar and energy storage systems.

Highlights

• Advanced battery storage modelling

• Off-grid system design tools

• Full compliance documents (AS/NZS) and system manual

Features

• Complete solar design and CRM package

• System operating manual generation

• Auto-generation of system documentation

• Compliance documents to AU/NZS Standards & guidelines

• Create site plans (AS/NZS5033:2021)

• Automated cables sizing, isolator/fuse protection sizing

• Online customer acceptance & payment

• Integration with apps, including accounting and CRM tools

• Build custom consumption (load) profiles

• Upload consumption and energy meter data for more accurate results

Cons

• Expensive

PRICE: From $190 per month (or $4 per project limited)

OpenSolar

Best free solar design software and CRM package for companies

OpenSolar is a free solar design and CRM package which is unique in that its revenue comes from numerous industry partners, including many of the world's leading manufacturers and service providers. It's a very powerful tool that is ideal for solar companies and retailers looking for sophisticated solar design software to manage projects and team members efficiently with tailored tasks and permissions, plus digital contracting and payment processing solutions. However, much like Pylon, OpenSolar also suffers from a complex and cumbersome user interface, so some training is recommended, and it's best suited for solar companies with a dedicated design team.

Highlights

• Built-in flexible CRM

• Option to create 3D rendered designs

• Creates detailed BOMs (bill of materials)

Features

• Complete solar design and CRM package

• Online customer acceptance & payment

• Integration with apps, including accounting and CRM tools (Open API)

• Inbuilt accounting and ordering system to facilitate component supply

• Full 3D modelling and automated solar array placement

• Advanced shading losses calculated automatically

• Performance calculations built on models from a leading US Government agency

• Build custom consumption profiles

• Customise proposals

Cons

• The user interface is not very intuitive and has a steep learning curve

• Some training required

PRICE: Free

HelioScope

Best solar software for advanced 3D system design (CAD based)

HelioScope is the most powerful solar design package for developing accurate 3D designs of large-scale commercial systems. The CAD based 3D design tool is very sophisticated but surprisingly easy to use and features advanced shading analysis and performance estimates right down to the module level throughout the year. The software also easily creates very clear professional electrical schematic (SLD) diagrams and provides very detailed and customisable solar proposals.

Highlights

• Advanced 3D modelling

• Automated electrical diagrams (SLD)

Features

• Complete solar design and CRM package

• High-resolution imagery from multiple sources

• Online customer acceptance & payment

• Advanced 3D solar shading analysis

• Build custom consumption profiles

• Customise proposals

Cons

• User interface is not very intuitive.

• Training is required to utilise all the features.

PRICE: From $95 per month for 5 users

PVcase Ground Mount

Best solar design software for utility-scale systems

PVcase is a very powerful CAD based tool for designing large-scale ground mounted solar arrays. The software is packed with sophisticated tools to enable accurate ground-mounted designs across all types of terrains to avoid shading using 3D shadow analysis. Other features include automated topographical 3D cabling to determine cable layout and lengths and piling collision analyis over undulating terrain.

Highlights

• Advanced 3D terrain modelling

• Automated electrical diagrams (SLD)

Features

• Advanced CAD based solar design tool

• Automated topographical 3D cabling - determine cable layout accounting for terrain

• Automatic array cross-section analysis

• Advanced 3D solar shading analysis

• Piling and collision analysis

• Customise proposals

Cons

• Expensive

• Training required

PRICE: Indicitive price is $850 per month