Modular Simulation Tools

INSEL - is software for planning, monitoring and visualising energy systems. For this purpose INSEL provides state-of-the-art functions in the form of blocks that can be linked to a concrete solution, for example for simulating meteorological data, electrical and thermal energy components etc.

TRNSYS - (TRaNsient SYstem Simulation Program) is an energy simulation program whose modular system approach makes it one of the most flexible tools available. It includes a graphical interface, a simulation engine, and a library of components that range from various building models to standard HVAC equipment to renewable energy and emerging technologies. TRNSYS also includes a method for creating new components that do not exist in the standard package. A special library of components is available to simulate renewable energy-based power generation: PV systems, batteries, wind turbines, fuel cells.

Professional Economic Evaluation Tools

greenius - bei greenius handelt es sich um eine sehr leistungsfähige Simulationsumgebung zur Berechnung und Analyse regenerativer Kraftwerksprojekte wie solarthermischer Parabolrinnen-Kraftwerke, Photovoltaikanlagen, Windparks, Brennstoffzellen oder Dish/Stirling-Systemen.

HOMER - the HOMER energy modeling software is a powerful tool for designing and analyzing hybrid power systems, which contain a mix of conventional generators, cogeneration, wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, hydropower, batteries, fuel cells, hydropower, biomass and other inputs. It is currently used all over the world by tens of thousands of people.

Solar Advisor Model (SAM) - The System Advisor Model (SAM) is a performance and economic model designed to facilitate decision making for people involved in the renewable energy industry, ranging from project managers and engineers to incentive program designers, technology developers, and researchers

Other Economic Evaluation Tools

RETScreen® - RETScreen® International is a clean energy awareness, decision-support and capacity building tool. The core of the tool consists of a standardised and integrated clean energy project analysis software that can be used world-wide to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emission reductions for various types of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies (RETs).

SOLinvest - umfangreiche Software zur Planung und Wirtschaftlichkeitsberechnung von PV-Anlagen. Beinhaltet eine Solar-Strahlungskarte des Deutschen Wetterdienstes, berücksichtigt verschiedene Kredite der KfW und die Konditionen des aktuellen EEG. Die Ergebnisse können als Tabelle oder als 3D-Diagramme ausgegeben werden.

Photovoltaic Industry Related Tools

APOS photovoltaic StatLab - APOS photovoltaic StatLab is a software tool for the statistical analysis and the quality assessment of photovoltaic (PV) modules. It makes advanced statistical methodology available for non-statisticians. Based on joined research of RWTH Aachen University and TÜV Rheinland Group, it calculates acceptance sampling plans to assess the quality of the power output of modules. Standard approaches as well as innovative procedures taking into account flash data tables are implemented. It provides easy data handling and data analysis of flash data and lab (control) measurements.

Organic Photovoltaics Analysis Platform - Organic Photovoltaics Analysis Platform (OPVAP) is a group of software used in the field of solar cells, which include analyzing experimental data, calculating optimum architecture based on your materials, and even some research assistant tools such as PicureProcess.

Analysis and Planning Tools

Archelios - online design, simulation and analysis of PV projects.

DDS-CAD PV - with DDS-CAD PV, complete photovoltaic systems (roof-mounted, roof and facade installation as well as in open spaces) can be professionally planned and visualized in high quality.

DEKSOFT Photovoltaics - is a specialized program for calculating electricity produced by the photovoltaic system. Following systems configurations are supported: PV power plant with a converter connected to the distribution system, power plant with inverter and batteries connected to the distribution system, power plant with inverter and water heating, PV power plant designed exclusively for hot water heating.

Meteodyn PV - The software for solar resource assessment and PV power plants design.

POLYSUN - photovoltaics, solar thermal and geothermal simulation tool.

PV F-CHART - is a comprehensive photovoltaic system analysis and design program. The program provides monthly-average performance estimates for each hour of the day. The calculations are based upon methods developed at the University of Wisconsin which use solar radiation utilizability to account for statistical variation of radiation and the load.

pvDesign - is a software developed by RatedPower, that optimizes the design and carries out the engineering of utility-scale (>1MW) solar photovoltaic plants, reducing the process from 4 weeks to under seconds. With pvDesign you can perform different simulations to optimize the layout of PV projects and then obtain the documentation to quote the construction or EPC (layout, design report, energy report, Bill of Quantities, single line diagrams, etc.). The platform allows you to design faster and more accurately, as well as to easily compare and manage all the projects.

PV*SOL - PV*SOL is a multi-product suite of software for the design, simulation and financial analysis of photovoltaic systems ranging from small off-grid residential systems to large commercial grid-connected and utility-scale systems. The range of PV*SOL programs include: PV*SOL basic for the quick design, financial analysis and creation of customer proposals for residential and small commercial PV systems up to 300kW. PV*SOL Pro for the detailed analysis of complex PV systems of up to 100MW comprised of up to six different arrays, each can be designed using different sizes, orientations, modules, inverters and losses. PV*SOL Expert which contains all the capabilities of PV*SOL Pro plus the added capability of 3D array design and detailed near shade analysis. The calculations installers, engineers and designers can make are based on hourly data and results can be presented in 3D graphic form, in a detailed project report or in a results summary.

PVcase - PVcase is an AutoCAD plugin. Incorporating 3D detail in solar design enables more accurate and comprehensive analysis of solar projects that avoid foreseeable obstacles in later stages of design and development.

pvPlanner - Simulation tool for planning and optimisation of photovoltaic systems using climate and geographic data at high temporal and spatial resolution and new generation high performance algorithms.

PVSYST - is a PC software package for the study, sizing, simulation  and data analysis of complete PV systems. It is suitable for grid-connected, stand-alone and DC-grid (public transport) systems, and offers an extensive meteorological and PV-components database. This software is oriented towards architects, engineers, and researchers, and holds very helpful tools for education.

Pylon - Pylon is a solar design software made for designers who want accurate and high-converting solar proposals. Using high resolution aerial imagery and the azimuth of the sun at the install site, designers can calculate the dimensions of nearby objects using their shadow and create a 3D model of the install site. The software can then apply hour-by-hour sunlight hours to predict energy output with extreme precision.

Solar Pro - Company Laplace System offers diverse software tools. Photovoltaic simulation software Solar Pro is also suitable for shadowing analysis.

Solarius PV - Software Progettazione Impianti Fotovoltaici.

Monitoring and Control Tools

Meteocontrol - safer´Sun is a tool for local and/or remote monitoring of photovoltaic systems.

SolarEye - Based on the use of Performance Modeling based on proprietary algorithms, as well as decision support mechanisms, SolarEye Platform aims at achieving the fastest possible fault isolation, while in parallel it automates and simplifies everyday tasks like fault detection and status monitoring.

Site Analysis Tools

METEONORM - Global Meteorological Database for Solar Energy and Applied Meteorology. METEONORM is a comprehensive climatological database for solar energy applications: a meteorological database containing comprehensive climatological data for solar engineering applications at all points of the globe between the polar circles; a computer program for climatological calculations; a data source for engineering design programs in the passive, active and photovoltaic application of solar energy with comprehensive data interfaces; a standardization tool permitting developers and users of engineering design programs access to a comprehensive, uniform data basis.

Shadow Analyser - Shadow Analyzer is an advanced parametric CAD tool for professionals in the area of Solar Energy Engineering and Architecture.

Shadows - Shadows is a program used to design sundials and astrolabes and it is very useful also in solar energy engineering. Supports plane sundials with polar style of any orientation and reclination, analemmatic sundials, cylindrical and bifilar sundials. Simulates, displays and animates the shadow of the style and offers complete ephemeris of the Sun and draws the Solar Diagram.

SKELION - solar systems design in plugin for Sketchup.

BlueSol - BlueSol is a software for the design of photovoltaic systems in every country in the world. It allows you to perform the entire process of designing a PV system, from the preliminary assessment of producibility to the realization of the project documentation. BlueSol top features are: use of wizards or direct editing for the dimensioning of the photovoltaic system; insertion and verification of cables and electrical components; integrated CAD system to arrange modules, strings, cables, panels and inverters in the planimetry; 3D visualization of layout with simulations of shading of near obstacles and assessments of irradiations on surfaces; electrical scheme automatically created; irradiations specified by the user, from NASA-SSE world wide data, or imported from PVGIS; default and user templates of documents with integrated word processor.

Energy Periscope - EnergyPeriscope™ is designed to speed up and enhance the sales process. Quickly spec out customized solutions, across a spectrum of possibilities: Accommodates solar electric (PV), solar thermal (water, pool/spa, hydronic floors), wind turbines, energy storage and energy efficiency.

Amethyst ShadowFX - Amethyst ShadowFX is a sun and shadow modeling program for architects and town planners. Amethyst ShadowFX enables you to easily generate shadow profiles cast by buildings and other objects for any latitude, longitude and time of year.

GOSOL - Mit dem städtebaulichen Simulationsprogramm GOSOL können städtebauliche Planungen solar+energetisch schnell und zielsicher verglichen, bewertet und optimiert werden.

Solar Radiation Maps

SolarGIS - SolarGIS is a web based system that includes high-resolution climate databases, maps and software for solar energy applications.

WhiteBox Technologies - Building energy simulations require weather data as an essential input. White Box Technologies provides useful tools to find "typical year" and historical year weather files created from weather reports of over 10,000 official weather stations around the world.

3TIER - Renewable Energy & Information Services.

Photovoltaic Geographical Information System - PVGIS, Geographical Assessment of Solar Resource and Performance of Photovoltaic Technology. Calculations for European teritory, Mediteranian region and Africa are available.

Urbasun - Urbasun software provides solar radiation data analysis in urban areas. UrbaSun is intended for architects, environmental and Renewables consultants, urban design engineering offices.

Site Management Tools

BPS Asset Management - The BPS Asset Management and Monitoring Software has been developed for PV Asset Managers and Owners with diverse portfolios who require a single system of reference to operate effectively and efficiently. With the focus of the solar industry shifting to long term O&M, skilled management combined with useful software can make a significant difference to the bottom line. Providing a wholistic management solution, the BPS platform closes the gaps between performance monitoring, contract obligations, asset tracking, maintenance, warranty, and reporting.

OnLine Tools

Eturnity - is a B2B SaaS software platform that combines white-label programs that focus on an automated, precise and customer-oriented process. For each step along the life cycle there is an app that covers the specific needs of Eturnity customers in the renewable energy branch: Lead generation, automated indicative proposals, technical planning, design, dimensioning, cost calculation as well as simulations. Currently covered are the areas of solar, heating, district heating and e-mobility. All this is integrated in one solution. The results are presented in customer-friendly offers. This increases the sales quota by 30% and saves up to 80% of the time that it typically takes for installers and energy utilities.

Mayfield Design Tool - One of the most important aspects of designing a solar array is sizing module strings to operate within the parameters of the selected inverter. Mayfield Renewables has developed a tool to help in that process. Most inverter manufacturers offer some type of sizing tool, whether it's simple or advanced, it's usually limited to selecting only their products. The Mayfield Design Tool lets you select from a wide variety of products and manufacturer's and is completely free.

SolarDesignTool - SolarDesignTool.com is an online PV design web app that makes it easy for anyone to design and configure optimal solar electric power systems and panel layouts. The solar design software has a number of features including string configuration for string inverter and distributed MPPT inverter systems, branch configuration for microinverter systems, automatic optimal panel layout generation, remote design using 3D models derived from satellite and aerial imagery, and an embedded drawing tool to quickly sketch or modify installation areas. The tool's mission is to automate system design and make this technology available at an affordable price to independent contractors.

easy-pv.co.uk - is a free to use suite of tools to make designing a PV system easy. It does array design to scale (on roof, roof integrated and flat roof), inverter sizing, structural and wind load calculations, performance calculation, voltage drop, calculates mounting kit required and gives a quote on the kit as well as generating a report for your records. If you're logged in it will save projects to come back to.

Aurora Solar - Aurora Solar's one-stop solar design software platform allows a user to quickly build complex 3D models, perform detailed shading analysis of a site, and automatically create full system designs in just a few clicks. Aurora easily generates NEC compliant designs and their associated electrical one-line diagrams. Inbuilt financial simulations produce a detailed cash flow model and investment summary. To tie everything together, Aurora's software can create fully customizable proposals, with uploaded logos, photos, and charts, as well as 2D and 3D viewports.

HelioScope - PV system design.

Logiciel CalSol - Estimation de l'énergie solaire disponible pour une application énergétique

Modsolar - Use the only platform in solar built specifically to deal with all the solar financing options.

Solar Census - online shade tool.

i-PALS WEB - i-Pals WEB is PV customizable simulation software including system design and layout and detailed array, string and module settings and information.

Smart Phone Apps

easysolar - asySolar app is currently the most advanced tool to design PV available from smartphone that contains advanced algorithms developed by engineers of the best European universities of technology.