Solar Software

For the most part, the solar energy industry consists of manufacturers of hardware components -- cells, modules, inverters, etc. -- and the innovations being pursued like concentrating photovoltaic or thin-film nanotechnology don't lend themselves to much of an interesting software component. However, I have found some software products in the space, mostly serving the installers/integrators, providing assistance to them in one of several steps in the estimating/designing/managing/permitting process.

Here are the ones I've found:

• CPF Tools from CleanPowerFinance is a slick, web-based toolset for installers to use to manage their leads, design systems, and create proposals for customers. It includes a significant database of CEC/CSI-approved equipment to draw on for creating quotes, which include a wide range of detailed financial and environmental reports. CPF is primarily a solar finance company, but they acquired this software from Energy Matters in 2007 (it was called Solar Pro Tools). The company leverages its direct consumer finance business by providing qualified leads to installers using their software (leads are automatically populated in the system).
• Quick Quotes from Clean Power Research is a more focused product, providing quotes/proposals with a lot of detailed financial information and graphs, highlighting energy savings in various ways. They provide packages for an individual installer, a small group, or a larger company. CPR is the developer of the PowerClerk system that is used by the California Solar Initiative to track all the solar projects in the state.
• OnGrid Solar Financial Analysis Tool is a leading solar project estimator and proposal generator, although this one is Excel based.
• SunEye from Solmetric is a really clever device that is used by most solar installers. It's a customized, GPS-enabled PDA with camera that an installer takes onto a roof, marking off the corners of a proposed solar installation and taking pictures of the skyline. The software then analyzes the information, determines the amount of sunshine/shade the panels would receive and provides detailed information that is critical to the proper assessment of the system's potential output.
• RoofRay provides a cool tool for consumers to assess the solar potential of their own homes or businesses. Google Map's satellite view is used to locate the building, and the user than draws out polygons representing potential panel locations. Once additional data is entered such as the pitch of the roof and orientation to the sun, as well as information on current electric usage patterns, the tool instantly provides an assessment of the output potential and generates graphs showing the savings of a solar installation. It's a nice, simple way for individuals to get an immediate sense about whether a solar system will be feasible.
• SolarPermits is working on a system to automate the process for solar permitting. Currently, solar installers have to deal with a different situation in every municipality where they have projects. The forms and requirements are all unique, and just getting the basic information can be a time-consuming challenge. The founders have a background in online permitting, and seem to be making a lot of progress.
• EGauge (now that's a minimalist website!) is a solar energy analyzing solution that leverages current transducers (CT's) which slip over the wires that carry the juice from the solar panel, as well as what's coming in from the grid, and sends the data over Ethernet or powerline wireless network to a browser-based software package that runs on your computer. The system displays detailed usage information, and can even show a "kiosk" mode that shows current data in big, constantly updated numbers.
• RECtrack from Energy Recommerce is another solar energy monitoring system, with a focus on commercial applications that also include both hardware and software components. They have commercial-grade features such as the ability to monitor and manage multiple sites, or to manage billing for energy used. The company also provides residential level systems.

It's exciting to see all of the development in software to support the solar industry.

So -- what have I missed?