Best Solar Analysis Software in 2026

What to Look for in Solar Analysis Software

Choosing the right solar analysis tool depends on your role — site assessor, residential installer, commercial designer, or utility developer — and which stage of the project you're working on. Key criteria include data accuracy (which irradiance sources are used), ease of use (time to first analysis), pricing, AI and automation (does the tool interpret results or just display data?), and integration with existing workflows. Entry-level tools focus on feasibility screening; enterprise platforms add component-level modeling, portfolio management, and bankable simulation reports acceptable to lenders.

Best Solar Analysis Software 2026

1. SolarScope — Best for AI-Powered Site Analysis

Price: Free tier available · $99/year (Pro)

SolarScope is an AI-powered solar site analysis platform built for fast, location-based feasibility studies. Its map-first Site Studio interface lets users drop a pin anywhere in the US and immediately pull solar irradiance data from NREL and NASA, overlay grid hosting capacity and FEMA flood zone maps, and receive a GPT-4o AI analysis assessing site viability.

Key features:

• Real-time solar irradiance data (GHI, DNI, PSH) from NREL and NASA POWER
• Grid hosting capacity overlay via ArcGIS
• FEMA flood zone analysis
• GPT-4o AI assistant for site interpretation
• Solar data for 200+ US cities with monthly breakdowns
• Financial estimates with 30% ITC calculations for 5–5,000 kW systems

Best for: Solar developers, consultants, and site assessors doing initial screening and feasibility analysis on new locations. At $99/year it's the most affordable professional-grade option.

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2. Aurora Solar — Best for Residential Design

Price: ~$135–220/month (varies by plan and region)

Aurora Solar dominates residential solar sales workflows. It uses satellite imagery and LIDAR data to generate accurate 3D roof models without a site visit, enabling precise shade analysis and automated string sizing. Aurora's proposal tools create polished customer-facing reports that close deals.

Key features:

• 3D satellite roof modeling with shade analysis
• Automated string sizing and panel layout
• Customer proposal generation with financing options
• CRM integration for residential sales teams
• Energy storage (battery) design tools

Best for: Residential solar installers and sales teams who need accurate roof models and customer proposals.

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3. HelioScope — Best for Commercial PV Design

Price: ~$95–259/month (varies by plan)

HelioScope, owned by Aurora Solar, is the go-to tool for commercial PV system layout and energy yield simulation. It models mismatch losses, wiring losses, and inverter clipping at the module level, producing defensible energy yield estimates suitable for project financing.

Key features:

• Detailed module-level energy yield simulation
• Commercial roof and ground-mount layout tools
• Bankable production reports with full loss trees
• Inverter and wiring configuration
• Integration with Aurora Solar platform

Best for: Commercial solar designers and EPC contractors who need detailed, bankable energy yield reports for C&I projects.

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4. PVcase Prospect — Best for Utility-Scale Site Prospecting

Price: $1,200+/month (enterprise pricing)

PVcase Prospect is designed for developers and investment firms screening large land areas for utility-scale solar. Its GIS-based constraint filters — slope, setback rules, land use classification, proximity to grid infrastructure — enable teams to identify viable parcels across entire regions efficiently.

Key features:

• Portfolio-scale land screening with multi-constraint GIS filters
• Slope, setback, and zoning analysis
• Proximity to transmission lines and substations
• Automated land area and capacity calculations
• AutoCAD and Revit integration for detailed design handoff

Best for: Utility-scale solar developers and investment firms screening portfolios of hundreds of candidate sites simultaneously.

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5. PVsyst — Best for Bankable Energy Yield Simulation

Price: ~$3,400/year (single-user license)

PVsyst is the industry standard for detailed energy yield analysis accepted by lenders, investors, and utilities worldwide. Its simulation engine accounts for soiling losses, spectral corrections, near shading from 3D objects, and module degradation — producing P50/P90 production estimates required for project financing.

Key features:

• Highly detailed energy yield simulation with complete loss tree
• Near-shading analysis with 3D object modeling
• Meteonorm and NASA weather data integration
• Module and inverter database with 10,000+ products
• Industry-accepted for bankable P50/P90 production estimates

Best for: Independent energy consultants and project developers producing bankable production reports for project financing and investor due diligence.

6. SAM (NREL System Advisor Model) — Best Free Research Tool

Price: Free (open source, maintained by NREL)

SAM is NREL's free, open-source techno-economic analysis tool. It models performance and financial returns of solar, wind, and other renewable energy systems. SAM's algorithms are the foundation for many commercial software platforms and is the preferred tool for researchers and academic institutions.

Key features:

• Comprehensive PV and CSP performance modeling
• Full financial analysis: NPV, IRR, LCOE, PPA pricing
• Integration with NREL TMY weather datasets
• Open source with no commercial restrictions
• Batch simulation and parametric analysis

Best for: Researchers, academics, and engineers who need a powerful, peer-reviewed tool without licensing costs.

7. Google Project Sunroof — Best for Homeowner Estimates

Price: Free

Google Project Sunroof gives homeowners a quick rooftop solar estimate based on Google Maps satellite imagery. It calculates estimated sunlight hours, recommended system sizes, and annual savings estimates — a useful first step before contacting an installer, though not accurate enough for professional use.

Best for: Homeowners wanting a fast, zero-effort ballpark estimate before consulting an installer.

Comparison Summary

Which Tool Is Right for You?

For residential solar companies, Aurora Solar leads for design and sales proposals. For commercial and industrial projects, HelioScope provides the deepest simulation. For utility-scale development, PVcase is the portfolio tool of choice. For fast site screening, AI-guided feasibility analysis, and financial modeling across all project types, SolarScope offers the best combination of data quality, AI insight, and affordability at $99/year — making it accessible to individual analysts and small teams that can't justify $1,000+/month enterprise tools.

Explore SolarScope's free site analysis to pull real NREL and NASA irradiance data for any US location in under a minute.