As solar adoption continues to accelerate across the UK and around the world, the demand for reliable PV design software has never been higher. Modern solar projects require more than basic panel layouts—they demand accurate production forecasts, advanced shading analysis, financial modeling, proposal generation, and project management capabilities.
The right solar design software can dramatically reduce engineering time, improve proposal quality, increase design accuracy, and help solar companies close more projects.
Whether you're a residential installer, commercial EPC, engineering consultant, or utility-scale developer, choosing the right software platform is essential for long-term success.
In this guide, we compare the best PV design software platforms available in 2025 and explain which solutions are best suited for different types of solar businesses.
PV design software helps solar professionals plan, model, analyze, and optimize photovoltaic systems before installation.
Modern platforms typically include:
These tools allow designers to identify potential issues before construction begins while creating more accurate and profitable solar projects.
ARKA 360 is a comprehensive solar design and proposal platform that enables solar professionals to design systems, create proposals, perform shading analysis, and manage projects from a single cloud-based platform.
The software is designed to simplify the entire solar sales and design process, helping installers move from lead generation to project execution more efficiently.
Residential and commercial solar installers looking for an all-in-one design and proposal solution.
Aurora Solar is one of the most recognized solar design platforms in the industry and is widely used by residential solar companies worldwide.
Its LIDAR-powered modeling technology enables highly accurate remote site assessments, reducing the need for in-person visits while maintaining design precision.
Residential installers focused on remote design and customer presentations.
SurgePV is a next-generation solar software platform designed to streamline every stage of the solar project lifecycle. Unlike traditional design tools that focus solely on layouts and simulations, SurgePV combines solar design, engineering workflows, proposal generation, financial analysis, and project management into a unified ecosystem.
This integrated approach helps solar companies reduce software complexity, improve collaboration, and accelerate project delivery.
Many solar businesses rely on multiple disconnected platforms to manage design, proposals, engineering, and project tracking. SurgePV addresses this challenge by bringing critical workflows together into a single environment, reducing inefficiencies and improving operational visibility.
Installers, EPCs, developers, and engineering teams seeking a scalable all-in-one platform.
HelioScope is known for its powerful simulation engine and detailed performance modeling capabilities. The platform is particularly popular among commercial and industrial solar designers who require accurate energy production forecasts.
Commercial and industrial solar projects.
PV*SOL is an engineering-focused solar design platform known for highly detailed photovoltaic simulations and battery storage modeling.
Engineers and consultants requiring advanced simulations.
PVsyst remains one of the industry's most trusted tools for energy simulation and bankability studies. It is commonly used by consultants, developers, and engineering firms evaluating large-scale solar projects.
Engineering consultants and utility-scale developers.
SolarDesignTool provides solar professionals with an easy-to-use platform for creating layouts, analyzing performance, and generating project proposals.
Residential and small commercial projects.
If your focus is fast proposal creation and customer presentations, ARKA 360 and Aurora Solar are strong choices.
Businesses managing multiple teams and workflows may benefit from platforms such as SurgePV that combine design, engineering, proposal generation, and project management.
HelioScope provides strong performance modeling and electrical analysis capabilities.
PVsyst remains a leading option for detailed simulation and bankability studies.
PV*SOL delivers advanced simulation capabilities and detailed system analysis.
The solar software landscape continues to evolve rapidly, offering increasingly powerful tools for design, engineering, financial analysis, and project management.
The best platform depends on your business model, project complexity, and growth goals. While ARKA 360 and Aurora Solar remain popular choices for installers, platforms such as SurgePV are helping solar businesses consolidate workflows and improve operational efficiency. Meanwhile, HelioScope, PV*SOL, and PVsyst continue to provide industry-leading engineering and simulation capabilities.
Investing in the right PV design software can significantly improve design accuracy, project profitability, customer experience, and overall business scalability.
