Best Solar Software for Windows of 2025

The RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform facilitates the planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting of low-carbon initiatives. The more advanced version, RETScreen Expert, is accessible in Viewer mode at no cost to users. In partnership with governmental and multilateral organizations, we co-develop and secure funding for enhanced iterations of the RETScreen® platform. RETScreen Expert, which is a sophisticated iteration of the software, offers tools for benchmarking, feasibility studies, performance evaluation, and portfolio analysis across diverse facility types, such as commercial, institutional, residential, industrial, and power generation, all integrated into a single robust platform. Our innovation lab is dedicated to keeping the RETScreen software at the forefront of the clean energy technology transition, ensuring ongoing enhancements to address the intricate requirements of our extensive and expanding global user base. This commitment to innovation and user satisfaction drives our continuous development efforts in clean energy management solutions.

For solar designers seeking the utmost in precision and accuracy, PVCAD offers unmatched efficiency, allowing for quicker finalization of designs and job quotes. By utilizing the design criteria from PVCAD’s extensive integrated databases, users can save precious time while minimizing the risk of expensive errors and omissions. Our continuously expanding database includes thousands of inverters, modules, and racking partners, and users can conveniently add their own equipment via the database button located in the PVCAD ribbon. Are you interested in having your equipment included in our growing database? PVCAD leverages production modeling from PVWATTS, a tool developed by NREL, to provide accurate 8760 data that details hour-by-hour production throughout the entire year. With the most current weather data sourced globally from Meteonorm, designers can trust the reliability of their models. Additionally, the capability to model in AutoCAD ensures that users achieve the most precise system measurements available in any drafting software. With such valuable resources readily accessible, designers are empowered to produce expert-quality results, elevating their projects to new heights. This comprehensive approach not only enhances productivity but also fosters confidence in the final outcomes.

Swiftly create site capacity layouts for large-scale utility projects of various sizes by utilizing a click-and-drag interface, allowing you to position tracker blocks at any desired angle throughout the project area. Conduct more precise site evaluations in a shorter timeframe by examining all piers and confirming that trackers can be installed according to specifications. Remove uncertainty from the equation and observe how changes to structural and electrical elements influence system design and performance predictions. Produce automatic pier plans that include pier placements, surface elevations, and top-of-pile reports tailored for leading tracker systems such as Nextracker and Array Technologies. Additionally, the software can automatically create a PVSyst shade scene (.SHD) file, as well as a project file (.PRJ) and a meteo file (.MET). Once these files are generated, they can be opened in PVSyst to simulate the energy yield while considering topographical impacts. This streamlined process not only simplifies the design export to PVSyst but also enhances the accuracy of bankable energy yield modeling, making it an essential tool for project developers. The ability to visualize and adjust designs dynamically contributes significantly to optimizing project outcomes.

The simulation that incorporates the shading effects from nearby structures enables users to evaluate the best configurations and designs for modules prior to their installation. The application efficiently and accurately computes the I-V curve corresponding to the electrical properties of various manufacturers' solar products. It also assesses the expected electricity generation by factoring in the geographical coordinates and climate data of the installation location, resulting in highly accurate simulation outputs. Furthermore, the software automatically identifies the essential components needed for setting up a photovoltaic system based on user-defined parameters. It offers support for power generation simulations utilizing half-cell modules, which can also be added to the solar cell module database for further use. This comprehensive approach ensures that users have all the essential tools at their disposal to optimize solar energy solutions effectively.

GeoT*SOL enables precise minute-by-minute simulation of heat pump systems, allowing for the assessment of annual performance indicators such as the coefficient of performance (COP) and the financial margins associated with their use. Additionally, these systems can be integrated with various heat generators, including gas condensing boilers and solar energy installations. Users can choose from several operational modes, including monovalent, monoenergetic, and bivalent configurations. The annual performance factor as per VDI 4650 serves as a crucial benchmark for evaluating the efficiency of different plants. This measurement is essential for many financial support programs and regulatory approvals. Furthermore, GeoT*SOL computes the system's profitability in line with the guidelines set forth by the Federal Association of the Solar Industry (BSW), comparing costs of the heat pump system against alternative systems; it also evaluates the capital value and production costs, including the heat price, along with the modified internal rate of return (MIRR) that accounts for profit as well as reinvestment opportunities. Ultimately, the tool provides a comprehensive analysis that aids users in making informed decisions regarding their heating systems.

The PV-DesignPro suite is a dedicated tool for designing and analyzing standalone photovoltaic systems, incorporating hourly simulations that leverage climate data from 239 locations across the U.S. Developed in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, this enhanced software builds on the original PV-DesignPro-S model. Version 6.0 is compatible with various Windows operating systems, including Windows 95, 98, NT, Win2000, and Vista, and allows users to simulate the operation of photovoltaic energy systems over the course of a year, adapting to selected climate conditions and system specifications. The Solar Design Studio CD-ROM features three distinct versions of PV-DesignPro: "PV-DesignPro-S" for systems with battery storage, "PV-DesignPro-G" for grid-connected systems without storage, and "PV-DesignPro-P" for water pumping applications. Each version is designed to provide precise and comprehensive insights into expected system power output, ensuring that users can effectively plan their photovoltaic installations. Moreover, the software serves as an essential resource for engineers and designers aiming to optimize the efficiency and performance of solar energy systems.

PV Designer software is an excellent choice for residential and small commercial energy systems, allowing users to effortlessly create roof outlines, set parameters for set-backs and keep-out zones, and integrate SunEye shading data at precise roof locations. With features that facilitate dragging and dropping modules, sizing strings, checking inverter capacities, and computing the AC energy output, it streamlines the design process significantly. The program is equipped with comprehensive global databases for modules, inverters, and historical weather patterns, making it a versatile tool. Users can experiment with various design options and analyze their AC kW-hr outputs side-by-side, helping to pinpoint the most efficient design. Although PV Designer is particularly suited for systems of around 15 kW, it can accommodate larger designs of up to 100 kW as well. Its user-friendly interface ensures that even those new to solar design can navigate it with ease, while still providing the in-depth analysis typically reserved for more complex engineering software. This combination of accessibility and robust functionality makes PV Designer a standout tool in the solar design landscape.

PVsyst caters to architects, engineers, and researchers, and serves as an excellent educational resource as well. It boasts an extensive contextual Help menu that clarifies the various procedures and models employed, ensuring a user-friendly experience while guiding users through project development. Additionally, PVsyst can import meteorological data and personal data from various sources, enhancing its versatility. Regarding inverter sizing, the second graph illustrates the annual distribution of array power alongside the nominal power of both the array and inverter. Moreover, managing storage within a grid system presents a multifaceted challenge, as different objectives can necessitate various strategies and configurations of PV systems. This adaptability makes PVsyst an invaluable tool for anyone engaged in the solar energy field.

Photovoltaic systems can vary widely, ranging from small installations on residential rooftops to expansive utility-scale projects. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems are utilized for generating electricity and come in various forms, such as parabolic troughs, power towers, and linear Fresnel designs. Projects often involve power purchase agreements (PPAs) that connect the system to the grid at a designated interconnection point, allowing revenue generation through the sale of electricity. Ownership of these projects can reside with a single entity or involve partnerships that may include flip or leaseback arrangements. Additionally, there are instances of third-party ownership where the solar system is situated on the property of the customer, but the ownership lies with a separate developer who compensates the host for the electricity produced, typically through a PPA or a lease agreement. This model not only facilitates the adoption of solar energy but also provides financial incentives for property owners to invest in renewable energy solutions.

BlueSol is a global software solution designed for the creation of photovoltaic systems, enabling users to navigate the entire process from initial yield assessments to the development of comprehensive project documentation. Featuring an intuitive Microsoft interface, BlueSol is user-friendly while meticulously managing every aspect of PV system design. It offers automated and optimized integration of components such as strings, inverters, panels, batteries, and cables. Additionally, the software provides calculations for radiation distribution maps across various areas, along with the capability to export system layouts in both DWG format and image files. Users can engage in interactive designs utilizing internet maps and a 3D view, enhancing the overall planning experience. Furthermore, BlueSol is offered as a single installation and supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a diverse range of users worldwide. With its robust features, BlueSol stands out as a comprehensive tool for anyone involved in photovoltaic system design.

T*SOL is a simulation tool designed to assess the performance of thermal solar systems. It caters to various applications including domestic water heating, heating augmentation, swimming pool heating, and process heating. With T*SOL, you can effectively plan and size your solar thermal installations, including storage solutions and collector configurations, even for east-west roof orientations, while analyzing their economic viability. At the outset of your design journey, you have access to a wide array of relevant systems tailored for heating water, supporting heating needs, managing swimming pools, and addressing process heat demands. The software offers dimensioning recommendations throughout the design phase and allows for parameter adjustments, enabling you to discover the most effective combinations of storage capacity and collector area. Furthermore, the simulation outputs, including energy values, temperatures, and volumes, can be visualized in various graphical formats. Users can select from options like bar charts and line graphs, with the flexibility to adjust the time frame from a single day to an entire year, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the system's performance over different periods. This versatility makes T*SOL an invaluable resource for optimizing solar thermal system designs.

The EDAMS Asset Management Systems encompass the comprehensive lifecycle of assets, focusing on effectively monitoring, operating, maintaining, upgrading, rehabilitating, and eventually disposing of or replacing assets while ensuring a consistent level of service. They involve the establishment and upkeep of dependable, industry-specific asset registers. The maintenance management aspect is designed to enhance productivity, efficiency, and the quality of service provided. Additionally, asset management planning seeks to reduce the overall costs associated with asset ownership while preserving the infrastructure in optimal working order. Network analysis plays a crucial role in facilitating cost-effective upgrades to infrastructure and maximizing the utility of existing assets. Furthermore, the system includes GIS and data management for utilities, specialized management for solar parks, and comprehensive GIS and data management for natural resources. Overall, these components work in tandem to create a robust framework for maintenance management, strategic asset planning, and efficient network modeling in the water and sanitation sectors.

Eturnity software is designed to support installers and salesmen of climate friendly building technologies (photovoltaic/solar, heat pumps, charging stations etc.). We offer excellent support throughout the entire process of customer acquisition and consultation with our products. Eturnity facilitates customer acquisition by offering a first consultation that is highly effective and efficiency in the preparation of offers. Our customer can digitize their entire customer consultation, from initial planning and design of the building system to final compilation of quotes and sales. Eturnity is looking for sales partners! Eturnity has been serving Switzerland since 2015 with its software products. However, it is also inspiring more customers from all over the globe. We rely on highly motivated and competent sales partners to ensure our customers receive the best possible service. Do you see potential in your mar