GITNUXSOFTWARE REVIEW
Environment EnergyTop 10 Best Solar Energy Calculation Software of 2026
Top 10 solar energy calculation software tools for sizing and cost estimates. Page compares options like Polysun for selecting fit and tradeoffs.
How we ranked these tools
Vendors set the topic, but our editors set the inclusion criteria and the evaluation framework before research starts.
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Framework: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
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Scanifly is the best overall pick for engineering teams that want repeatable PV yield and design comparison because its project-style reports keep each assumption tied to the outputs, whereas Solargis Evaluator suits location-focused ROI pipelines since its horizon-aware site-to-energy workflow keeps results consistent across parameter changes.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Scanifly
Project-oriented calculation reports that keep design parameters and assumptions tied to each PV yield result.
Best for: Fits when engineering teams need repeatable PV yield and design comparison without deep simulation stack integration.
Polysun
Editor pickIntegrated horizon and shading workflow keeps obstruction geometry and loss results synchronized across PV sizing iterations.
Best for: Fits when engineering teams need repeatable PV yield and loss modeling tied to shading and horizon inputs.
HOMER Energy
Editor pickScenario optimization ties PV sizing, battery dispatch, and net cost outputs to the same time-series simulation run.
Best for: Fits when teams need repeatable PV plus storage economics using time-series dispatch across many scenarios.
Comparison Table
Scanifly
vertical specialistDrone-based solar design software that supports roof measurement, shade analysis, and PV system planning.
Project-oriented calculation reports that keep design parameters and assumptions tied to each PV yield result.
Scanifly targets solar PV sizing and energy yield workflows with a calculation-oriented interface that supports end-to-end project modeling. The tool focuses on irradiance inputs, system configuration parameters, and output reports used to compare design options.
It supports common PV study needs such as shading and loss-factor modeling used for yield estimation. Results are packaged for review handoff through structured exports and project documentation.
- +Calculation workflow stays focused on PV sizing and yield outputs
- +Report-style outputs simplify comparison across design alternatives
- +Shading and loss modeling supports more realistic yield assumptions
- +Project artifacts make it easier to carry context between reviews
- –Integration automation and API surface appear limited for large workflows
- –Horizon file and tracking workflow depth is not as extensive as specialist tools
- –String-level design and detailed electrical checks are not emphasized
- –Advanced export formats for niche engineering reports can be constrained
Solar engineers and developers
Estimate yield using irradiance and losses
Reviewable yield estimates
Commercial solar design teams
Create consistent multi-input design packages
Consistent handoff deliverables
Show 2 more scenarios
Residential installers and designers
Generate plan-ready roof PV layouts
Faster plan-ready layouts
Use measured geometry and obstruction information to produce repeatable module layouts for roof segments.
Solar sales proposal teams
Assemble proposal-ready project packages
More consistent proposals
Combine modeled layouts and design outputs into repeatable materials for customer and stakeholder review.
Best for: Fits when engineering teams need repeatable PV yield and design comparison without deep simulation stack integration.
Polysun
vertical specialistSimulation software for solar thermal, photovoltaic, and heat pump systems.
Integrated horizon and shading workflow keeps obstruction geometry and loss results synchronized across PV sizing iterations.
Polysun focuses on end-to-end solar energy calculations that connect design assumptions to yield and loss outputs for practical PV sizing. It provides workflow tooling for shading analysis, horizon handling, and temperature and inverter effects inside one project so results stay consistent across revisions.
Model outputs are exportable for external review and can be aligned to common study artifacts used in energy yield reporting and interconnection documentation. Its strongest fit is repeatable project modeling where assumptions change often, and the team needs fast re-runs without rebuilding calculation setups.
- +Tight linkage between geometry, shading inputs, and yield outputs reduces revision drift
- +Horizon file support helps model site obstructions without rebuilding layouts
- +Inverter and DC-to-AC ratio effects are included in energy estimation workflows
- +Project exports support handoff to reports and downstream engineering review
- –String-level wire sizing and voltage drop checks are not as granular as in ECAD-adjacent toolchains
- –Complex projects can require careful configuration discipline to keep assumptions consistent
Solar thermal engineers
Size collectors and storage across conditions
Decisions backed by evidence
Hybrid system designers
Model PV, thermal, and storage together
Scenario-based performance view
Show 2 more scenarios
Solar site designers
Iterate layouts using obstacle impact
Production-impact layout decisions
Assess how obstacles, row geometry, spacing, and horizon assumptions influence shading-aware layout choices.
PV engineers
Compare variants using yield and losses
Comparable annual yield
Model temperature effects, component losses, and electrical constraints to generate comparable annual results.
Best for: Fits when engineering teams need repeatable PV yield and loss modeling tied to shading and horizon inputs.
HOMER Energy
vertical specialistHybrid renewable energy system optimization and microgrid design software.
Scenario optimization ties PV sizing, battery dispatch, and net cost outputs to the same time-series simulation run.
HOMER Energy is designed for iterative PV system sizing with power balance over time, which means model changes propagate to dispatch and energy outcomes. The workflow supports PV and inverter configuration inputs, battery settings, and grid connection assumptions so energy storage coupling and time-of-use modeling can be represented in the same scenario set.
A key tradeoff is that high-fidelity PV layout and shading detail still depends on importing upstream geometry or simplified assumptions, which can limit string-level design specificity. It fits when teams need repeatable architecture comparisons and cost-relevant dispatch behavior for many design variants.
- +Time-series simulation links PV output, storage dispatch, and grid exchanges
- +Scenario-driven optimization supports batch comparisons across many design variants
- +Component parameterization keeps economics aligned with energy behavior
- +Grid and off-grid configurations share one modeling structure
- –PV shading and layout realism often requires external preprocessing
- –API and automation surface is not as transparent as code-first modeling toolchains
Project finance teams
Compare PV plus storage economics
Clear best-configuration selection
Utilities and energy planners
Time-of-use grid impact modeling
Measurable operational tradeoffs
Show 1 more scenario
Remote site engineering
Off-grid reliability sizing
Reliability-driven capacity decisions
Balance PV sizing with battery capacity using time-based energy balance and operational constraints.
Best for: Fits when teams need repeatable PV plus storage economics using time-series dispatch across many scenarios.
Solargis Evaluator
enterpriseOnline PV energy yield calculation tool built around Solargis solar resource data.
Location evaluation workflow that couples horizon handling with standardized output suitable for ROI pipelines.
Solargis Evaluator is Solargis software for producing location-based PV yield and energy assessment inputs that tie meteorological data to system assumptions. It focuses on consistent horizon handling, loss configuration, and standard output formats that support ROI modeling workflows without forcing users into a single simulation stack.
- +Scenario comparison keeps results consistent across repeated parameter changes
- +Horizon and shading inputs are designed for location-driven yield evaluation
- +Outputs support downstream ROI and reporting pipelines
- +Import and export workflows reduce manual translation between tools
- –Deep controls require careful setup of site and loss inputs
- –Complex string-level design workflows depend on adjacent tools
- –Limited guidance for edge-case interconnection assumptions
- –Scenario scaling can slow when batching many sites and revisions
Renewable developers
Compare PV yield across project sites
Faster site shortlisting
Energy analytics teams
Batch scenario modeling for portfolios
Higher throughput modeling
Show 2 more scenarios
Investment and finance teams
Create decision-ready energy forecasts
Quicker investment cases
Finance teams consume evaluator outputs to populate energy projections used in time-of-use and tariff assumptions.
Engineering consultants
Prepare standardized reporting packages
More consistent deliverables
Consultants produce consistent evaluation outputs across iterations to reduce report rework and maintain traceability.
Best for: Fits when teams need repeatable site-to-energy evaluation for PV ROI scenarios across multiple locations.
Aurora Solar
enterpriseCloud-based solar design and sales platform with energy production modeling.
Rapid visual layout iteration with continuously updated yield and proposal deliverables in the same project.
Aurora Solar is built around a proposal-to-design loop where PV arrays, layouts, and performance outputs stay attached to the same project context. The workflow supports visual layout iteration and scenario changes that update the energy estimate and reporting artifacts. Modeling coverage commonly aligns with inverter behavior and temperature effects used in yield estimation workflows.
- +Proposal-first workflow keeps layout changes tied to updated performance outputs
- +Visual shading and horizon inputs reduce mistakes during design iteration
- +Scenario comparisons support quick tradeoff reviews for PV sizing and ROI
- +Exportable deliverables fit customer proposal and internal review cycles
- –Advanced grid protection and interconnection study depth is limited
- –String-level electrical design tasks can require external tooling
- –Highly custom modeling pipelines need more manual process stitching
- –Precision outcomes depend on input quality from field measurements
Solar sales engineering teams
Iterate designs during proposal meetings
Shorter design iteration cycles
PV design and engineering leads
Refine shading and horizon assumptions
More defensible energy estimates
Show 2 more scenarios
Ops teams supporting multiple projects
Standardize scenario outputs across sites
Faster repeatable deliverables
Reuse configuration patterns to produce consistent performance summaries for varied roof conditions.
Owners and finance analysts
Compare ROI scenarios across designs
Clearer investment tradeoffs
Run multiple design cases and compare energy outputs used in ROI modeling workflows.
Best for: Fits when design teams need fast PV sizing and proposal-ready yield outputs in one workflow.
Global Solar Atlas
API-firstGlobal Solar Atlas provides solar resource maps, PV yield estimates, and site screening data.
Horizon file integration for shading-aware yield estimates in a location-first workflow.
Global Solar Atlas calculates PV yield using global irradiance and solar resource layers with location-based modeling rather than manual dataset assembly. It provides horizon inputs and shading outputs tied to site geometry for approximating near-field shading impacts.
- +Global location coverage reduces time spent collecting irradiance inputs
- +Horizon-based modeling supports shading-aware yield estimates
- +Exports outputs for reuse in reporting and downstream workflows
- +Predictable assumptions make multi-site comparisons faster
- –Limited support for string-level design and cable voltage-drop calculations
- –Less suitable for detailed loss diagrams and bespoke interconnection study work
Feasibility analysts
Run PV yield estimates for many sites
Consistent multi-site estimates
Preconstruction engineers
Approximate near-field shading from horizons
Shading-aware feasibility output
Show 1 more scenario
Project developers
Export outputs for downstream engineering
Engineering-ready export package
Export calculation results and assumptions so other tools can consume them for further analysis.
Best for: Fits when teams need consistent PV yield estimates across many candidate sites with minimal modeling overhead.
EasySolar
SMBSolar sales and design software with PV sizing, proposal creation, and financial calculation features.
ROI-ready calculations that tie configurable performance and loss assumptions directly to a single production and investment output.
EasySolar performs PV energy yield and ROI calculations from a user-entered system design, including sizing inputs like array capacity and orientation. The workflow centers on generating a loss-informed production estimate with configurable assumptions for temperature and performance parameters.
- +Fast setup for PV sizing and ROI modeling with minimal required inputs
- +Configurable performance assumptions for temperature behavior and losses
- +Export of calculation outputs supports shareable project documentation
- +Clear separation between design inputs and yield results
- –Limited coverage for advanced engineering workflows like string-level design
- –Weather handling does not reach the depth of full TMY3-based toolchains
- –Shading modeling options appear constrained compared with dedicated shading workflows
- –Requires disciplined parameter entry to avoid inconsistent loss assumptions
Solar planners and consultants
Compare array sizes and orientations
Clear scenario comparisons
Small solar installation businesses
Process routine jobs with consistent inputs
More consistent preparation
Show 2 more scenarios
Residential solar installers
Estimate rooftop PV generation early
Repeatable sizing estimate
Enter site and system assumptions to size a rooftop system and estimate expected generation for review.
Solar sales teams
Build customer-ready proposal materials
Proposal-ready system pack
Combine design results and readable calculation outputs into proposal materials for customer review.
Best for: Fits when teams need quick ROI and yield estimates for PV concepts before running deeper engineering models.
Solar-Planit
SMBSolar-Planit calculates PV system output, component sizing, and economic performance for solar projects.
Horizon and terrain-based shading loss workflow that stays linked through yield and reporting exports.
Solar-Planit targets solar PV project calculations with geometry-first modeling that can reuse the same layout across sizing and yield steps. The workflow centers on horizon and terrain inputs to drive shading losses, then carries those losses into yield estimation and ROI reporting.
- +Geometry-first workflow reduces rework when layouts change between studies
- +Shading workflow uses horizon and terrain inputs for repeatable loss estimates
- +Weather-driven yield outputs support standard project comparison runs
- +Exports provide artifacts for engineering review and document handoff
- –String-level design depth and electrical wiring checks are limited versus specialist tools
- –Less automation on batch runs than competitors focused on large portfolio throughput
PV project engineers
Reuse a layout across sizing and yield
Less rebuild effort
Solar site designers
Estimate shading losses from terrain inputs
Shading-driven yield estimates
Show 2 more scenarios
EPC engineering reviewers
Use time-series weather in analyses
Better-informed production results
Apply time-series weather inputs like TMY3 data to improve production estimates and align reporting.
Downstream engineering teams
Receive exportable audit artifacts
Exported review-ready files
Export artifacts that support downstream engineering review and documentation workflows.
Best for: Fits when teams need consistent shading-aware PV yield runs and ROI outputs for single sites.
Sunny Design
vertical specialistSunny Design sizes PV systems, inverters, batteries, and energy management configurations.
Loss diagram generation connects assumed component losses to yield outcomes in design-ready reporting.
Sunny Design is a solar energy calculation tool focused on PV system modeling for design workflows that need repeatable outputs. It supports PV energy yield estimation with configurable component inputs such as module and inverter parameters, plus site orientation and elevation inputs for horizon effects.
- +Loss diagram outputs help reviewers trace energy loss drivers.
- +Scenario reruns update results when array orientation and component settings change.
- +Input structure keeps module and inverter assumptions explicit.
- +Design-oriented reporting supports handoff to interconnection study work.
- –Shading and horizon inputs can require careful manual setup for complex sites.
- –Automation is limited when compared with tools that publish full API access.
Commercial solar sales teams
Create proposal-ready layouts and yield docs
Proposal-ready system information
EPC estimators and project teams
Assess configuration before detailed engineering
Early design assumptions
Show 2 more scenarios
Rooftop PV installers and designers
Plan module placement and electrical sizing
Coordinated array design
Coordinate array layout and electrical design by updating inputs like horizon effects from orientation and elevation.
Storage designers and energy engineers
Size batteries with performance checks
Autonomy and efficiency checks
Model battery capacity and operating behavior against demand and generation using compatible SMA equipment.
Best for: Fits when engineering teams need repeatable PV yield modeling with traceable loss breakdowns for design handoffs.
SolarEdge Designer
vertical specialistSolarEdge Designer plans module layouts, optimizers, inverters, storage, and expected energy production.
Optimizer and inverter constraint modeling stays consistent with SolarEdge design assumptions during scenario calculations.
SolarEdge Designer is a PV system calculation workflow aimed at SolarEdge-based projects, with design inputs that map closely to SolarEdge hardware constraints. The software supports yield estimation inputs like module electrical parameters, inverter operating limits, and layout-driven shading inputs that feed a loss-oriented performance view.
- +Tight coupling of design constraints to SolarEdge inverter and optimizer expectations
- +Layout-driven inputs support shading and loss diagram style review outputs
- +Scenario reuse supports fast iteration across module and configuration options
- +Exportable reporting supports internal engineering review workflows
- –Less suitable for vendor-agnostic system studies that require full toolchain flexibility
- –Workflow depth depends on correct component selection and parameter entry
- –Limited coverage for non-SolarEdge architectures like inverter dispatch strategies
- –Shading and weather input quality requires strong input governance
Solar sales and estimating teams
Generate proposal materials from system models
Design-informed proposal package
Solar-plus-storage installers
Size batteries alongside PV and inverters
PV-aligned battery configuration
Show 2 more scenarios
PV performance analysts
Connect obstructions to losses by layout
Layout comparison via yield
Evaluate obstructions and sun exposure to produce modeled yield and loss results for layout comparisons.
Residential installers and designers
Create roof layouts constrained by equipment
Repeatable roof layout
Build module placement around roof geometry, obstructions, and SolarEdge equipment constraints for consistent electrical design.
Best for: Fits when teams design mostly SolarEdge-based PV systems and need repeatable calculations with engineering-style outputs.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 solar energy calculation software, Scanifly stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Energy Calculation Software
How does HelioScope compare with HOMER Grid for PV sizing when battery dispatch and grid behavior must be modeled together?
Which tool handles shading and horizon inputs as a synchronized workflow so obstruction geometry stays consistent across re-runs?
How should a team decide between Aurora Solar and Solar-Planit when the main workflow is rapid visual iteration versus geometry-first shading loss modeling?
When does RETScreen fit less well than PV yield-focused tools like Solargis for irradiance-driven performance modeling and project documentation?
What breaks if irradiance inputs and module temperature coefficients are inconsistent across HelioScope, HOMER Grid, and PV-yield calculation tools?
Where does Global Solar Atlas fall short compared with Polysun or Solargis when near-field shading must be modeled with detailed site inputs?
How does SolarEdge Designer differ from general PV sizing tools when inverter operating limits and optimizer constraints must remain consistent across scenarios?
How do teams migrate data models between tools when moving from a proposal workflow to engineering-grade loss diagram reporting?
Which tool has stronger admin governance when multiple analysts need auditability of scenario changes and exportable study artifacts?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
How to Choose the Right Solar Energy Calculation Software
The options in solar energy calculation software mainly differ in how they handle solar inputs and what they produce from them—especially around shading analysis and irradiance data. We also see large gaps in automation via API and configuration options.
Weather file support
Why it matters
Weather file support controls how credible your yield inputs are and whether your locations can be reproduced consistently across projects. It also affects how much manual work you’ll do when changing sites.
How to check
In a demo, load a sample site and ask which weather file types it accepts for irradiance and temperature. Then check whether the tool stores the weather choice in the project so the run is repeatable.
Loss modeling transparency
Why it matters
Loss modeling transparency matters because solar energy calculation results often hinge on assumptions. When you can see and adjust the loss diagram, you can defend outputs and align them with your design intent.
How to check
Request a view of the loss diagram for a test case and verify that each loss is labeled and adjustable. Change one assumption (for example, a fixed loss) and confirm the output changes in a traceable way.
Shading analysis workflow
Why it matters
Shading analysis workflow is a key separator for sites with nearby obstructions or complex layouts. If shading treatment is shallow or hard to reproduce, yield estimates won’t match what the field can deliver.
How to check
Try importing a simple horizon file and apply a few obstruction scenarios. Then check whether the tool reports shading impacts per time period and lets you re-run without rebuilding the model.
Module temperature handling
Why it matters
Module temperature handling affects yield estimation when climate and mounting details vary. Tools that expose module temperature coefficients and related assumptions help you avoid hidden bias.
How to check
Open the temperature settings for a sample run and locate where module temperature coefficients are set or sourced. Ask what happens if you switch mounting or coefficient values and confirm the temperature and yield outputs update.
From layout to model linkage
Why it matters
From layout to model linkage decides whether results reflect your actual design, not an abstract one. A clear string-level design and DC-to-AC ratio mapping reduces mismatch between electrical design and simulation assumptions.
How to check
Import or recreate a basic array layout and verify that the electrical configuration flows into the simulation (including DC-to-AC ratio). Confirm whether you can review inverter clipping or DC-to-AC effects and rerun after changing array sizing.
API and batch automation
Why it matters
API and batch automation matters when you need consistent runs across many sites. Deeper automation and configuration reduces manual errors and speeds provisioning of repeatable studies.
How to check
Ask for an API example or a documented automation flow that runs a project and returns key outputs. Then attempt a batch run (even small) and verify you can set configuration and retrieve results without clicking through the UI.
Red flags
- Outputs change when you reload the same weather or horizon without clear settings
- Losses are listed but not adjustable or not clearly tied to assumptions
- Shading or temperature assumptions are hidden with no place to inspect inputs
Fit by situation
- If we run many sites with the same study template, prioritize Weather file support and API and batch automation.
- If our designs include obstructions or varying elevations, prioritize Shading analysis workflow and Loss modeling transparency.
- If climate and mounting vary across projects, prioritize Module temperature handling and From layout to model linkage.
Funding and competing interests
This study was co-funded by several of the vendors assessed in it. No single vendor funded it. Funders could propose the market studied.
They had no role in selecting vendors, setting or weighting criteria, analysing data or drawing conclusions, and they received the same factual-accuracy check as every other vendor assessed.
Market definition, inclusion rules and criteria weights were fixed by an editor before research began and did not change afterwards. Editorial process →
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