Unlock Your Power Potential: Why Choose RatedPower vs PVsyst?

A solid PVsyst alternative

4.5+160 reviews in G2

Whether you're a developer, EPC, or engineer, RatedPower offers numerous benefits tailored to your needs. We continuously update and enhance our software based on client feedback, ensuring it remains ahead of the curve. By utilizing our software, you can leverage these benefits to streamline your workflow and achieve greater efficiency.

In the following section, we'll explore another software, PVsyst, and provide a comparative analysis to help you understand the value you could be gaining with RatedPower.

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PVsyst Alternative

RATEDPOWER VS. PVSYST

Do more than the energy yield

We asked our best sales and customer success teammates this same question: “What are the most relevant differences between RatedPower and PVsyst?“. They gave us a handful of clear answers that should help you.

RATEDPOWER VS. PVSYST

What’s the difference between RatedPower and PVsyst?

PVsyst is a software used for studying photovoltaic systems focusing on architects, engineers and researchers. They focus on measured results, energy and economic analysis and project bankability. The software cannot be installed on a server, remote desktop or an Azure virtual desktop machine. Check out this comparative table to learn more about how you can add value to your projects and teams with RatedPower.

PVsyst
Meteo data
Up to 15 min time step meteo data input included in simulation and project performance analysis. Model under 15min weather variations and their impact on energy production.
Provides access to hourly, 15min, 5min and 1 min resolutions. This allows for detailed performance analysis and system optimization under varying weather conditions. The flexibility in data resolution helps in creating accurate simulations that are crucial for optimizing system design and maximizing energy yield, whether for small installations or large-scale projects.
Comparison Tool
Comparison of simulation with measured results. However, access to this tool can be limited depending on the licensing terms, which may restrict its use for some users.
Offers a seamless, software-embedded option for comparing different project simulations and designs. This tool allows users to assess the impact of various design parameters, such as pitch and DC/AC ratios, on system performance. The comparison tool is available without restrictions, providing unlimited access and facilitating collaboration among team members. This feature is particularly useful for iterative design processes and optimizing PV systems through comprehensive comparative analysis.
Deployment
The software runs on Windows and requires virtual machines to operate on other systems like macOS or Linux. This can add complexity to the installation process and may require additional IT resources for setup and maintenance.
The software is cloud-based, which ensures that users can access the software from anywhere, facilitating remote collaboration and real-time updates. This accessibility is particularly advantageous for large teams working on multiple projects simultaneously, streamlining workflow and reducing the need for complex IT infrastructure.
Energy Yield
Provides manual energy yield estimations to be used to evaluate project bankability.
Includes an embedded energy yield estimation tool within the software, which performs comprehensive calculations. This tool streamlines the process of predicting energy production, allowing users to quickly and accurately estimate the potential yield of their PV systems.
Calculations
Detailed energy and economic analysis. However, based on users' feedback, there are limited optimization capabilities, and it is complicated for new users. Additionally, it is not a user-friendly tool for those without experience, especially when it comes to layout definition and shading scenes creation.
Includes tools for detailed calculations, covering elements such as earthwork, electrical layout, cable sizing, SLD, BOQ, and auto-optimization of design layouts. These features allow users to perform thorough evaluations and optimizations of their PV systems. Layout calculations and simulations are streamlined and performed automatically in less than 60 seconds.

Explore your missed benefits with PVsyst

You're not ready to make a decision yet? No problem. Link with our sales team or check out our software at your own pace through this free product tour.

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RatedPower vs PVsyst

Why choose RatedPower instead of PVsyst?

  • Minimize human error and enjoy streamlined processes
  • Forget about basic calculations for your developers and engineering teams
  • Avoid limited collaboration between teams and control your projects' visibility

Thousands of professionals choose to work with our solar software

EPCists expediting PV design and deliverables with solar software

«We looked for a tool that was quick for performing basic design and optimization, automatically producing deliverables. RatedPower increased the number of bids we could prepare and submit by around 50%.»

Stefano PapaleGlobal Head of Business Development at FATA
Stefano Papale

Accelerating solar design from 5GW to 30GW per year

«Before RatedPower, there was a high level of variability, simple land layout to more irregular layouts. Now, we can quickly filter down sites from what is possible to what is realistic.»

Robert WrightDirector for Solar and Storage at Burns & McDonnell
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Expanding solar projects beyond local borders

«We can now run simulations hundreds of times to find the most optimal solution for our customers, considering everything from modules, inverters, and pitch distance, to the financial assessment of all these different configurations.»

Grant PadiniProject Planner for Utility-Scale PV Systems at Ampere Dynamic
Grant Padini

Transitioning from 1MW ground-mounted projects to 250MW in 9 months

«RatedPower really helped us eliminate our bottlenecks. It goes beyond other tools because it helps us design not just the low voltage or medium voltage, but also the connection point to the grid.»

Lorik HaxhiuFounder, iRN
Lorik Haxhiu

Harnessing RatedPower to carry out invaluable PV equipment analysis

«RatedPower provides us with simplicity and flexibility in our solar projects while requiring fewer resources. Other software options typically demand more resources on our end to complete these calculations.»

Nicolás Fernández-VelillaSystem Solution Engineer at Sungrow
Nicolás Fernández

Empowering solar PV design customization through faster iterations

«In one or two weeks, I became very familiar with the software. I was able to do more iterations on our solar layouts, and we could fill the interconnection requests in no time.» 

Íñigo Sangroniz Solar Development Engineer at Solea Power

Competitive positioning in large-scale overseas PV plant bidding

«RatedPower has a solid customer base and good reputation abroad. It delivers required documents in multiple languages for our global bids while adopting international design standards»

Feng YuHead of New Business Department, Overseas Business Division at POWERCHINA
Feng Yu

Optimizing PV projects and overcoming the limitations of legacy software 

«We have received a highly professional response when we needed support or training from the team. RatedPower helps us optimize our projects and provides us with a significant advantage over our competitors.»

Saad UmerExecutive Manager, Solar PV Network Head at ACWA Power
Saad Umer

Enhancing land assessment efficiency for PV developers

«RatedPower produces a set of documentation to deal with most of the environmental agencies' requirements and for application of grid connection authorization processes.»

Luis Guilherme CastroSolar Development, Engineering Manager at Casa Dos Ventos

RatedPower's speed helps us boost our competitive advantage

«Now we can turn around design documents within hours and minutes to stakeholders, landowners, partners or engineers, to get through our regulatory process. This has allowed us to move projects forward faster.»

Megan ParsonsChief Engineer at Blue Ridge Energy
Megan Parsons

Centralizing solar development in one app

«We used to use a mix of tools like AutoCAD, spreadsheets and PVsyst. Now with RatedPower, our team can be innovative and explore more possibilities without wasting time, as each design only takes minutes to run.»

Thomas GerstchHead of Engineering at Iberdrola
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Iberdrola

Get real-life inspiration from energy professionals like you

Check how other development and engineering teams are leveraging software to increase ROI and mitigate risks of their utility-scale solar assets.

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All success stories

What are the main advantages for you?

Check out how you can gain a competitive edge by using RatedPower's software and start increasing your profits by more 20%!

From solar site planning to feasibility study and beyond

Unlock the potential and boost the productivity of your development and engineering teams across the entire PV project lifecycle. Find how PVsyst competes against their alternatives or use cases.

Prospect sites efficiently

Easily clone your PV plant designs and add, remove, or edit parcels within the project. Change any equipment—such as modules, inverters, or racking systems. Analyse prices, LCOE, energy production, and more. Prepare the project documentation ready for later stages.
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Prospect sites efficiently

Find the best electrical configuration

Iterate the electrical configuration of your project. Group the string in pitch or axial direction. Pick the design of your solar field— with either a string box or a DC bus system. Define the cable standard and use a range of parameters for each cable type. Compare each electrical setup and create the project documentation.
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Find the best electrical configuration

Hybridize your plant with BESS

Add AC-coupled BESS to new or existing PV plant projects. Pick the storage inverter and the number of inverters per PCS. Select maximum or a specific capaicty. Define the supply cycle duration, and the dimensions of PCS, containers and distances between blocks. Download the BESS design report, layout or SLD.
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Hybridize your plant with BESS

Perform cut-and-fill cost-benefit analyses

Use Google Earth or your own topography data within your design. Define installation limits for your racking so they’re excluded from your layout and apply earthworks where necessary. Use the BoQ to determine the total cut-and-fill volume and make confident data-driven decisions.
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Perform cut-and-fill cost-benefit analyses

Optimize land use

Find the best civil configuration to make the most of your acreage. Define your site and upload your topography —including cut-and-fill. Optimize your project by either maximizing or setting a specific capacity. Iterate your layout by adjusting the pitch distance or AC/DC ratio and setting power station location and setbacks.
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Optimize land use

Simplify your interconnection process

Design your substation or switching and breaking station by picking your preferred electrical standard using a range of available parameters. Manually choose the type or size of the power transformer, the whole gen tie layout and set losses at substation transformer level.
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Simplify your interconnection process

Quote projects with accurate BoM, CAPEX, and LCOE

Define the year of your project simulation to calculate output according to standard deviation. Upload horizon and albedo and set advanced parameters for losses. Use the built-in CAPEX templates or upload templates used by your company’s financial team. Create a BoM, and a comprehensive financial analysis of your plant ready to hand over to your off-taker.
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Quote projects with accurate BoM, CAPEX and LCOE

Determine project capacity and energy yield

Each tweak in your plant design will be reflected in the rated power, peak power, DC/AC ratio, or BESS-related results. Analyze the energy production estimates over time. Get energy yield results, design reports, and losses. Iterate your design based on the results of these data points until your project is optimized.
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Get project capacity and energy yield

Find the optimal layout with GCR, tilt and DC/AC ratio iterations

Easily edit those parameters for each design iteration of your plant. Use the powerful batch design to create up to ten simulations simultaneously with slight variations in GCR or DC/AC ratios. Compare them to find your optimal project layout.
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Find the optimal PV plant layout with GCR and DC/AC ratio iterations
Black and Veatch Report
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An energy yield +0.24% different to PVsyst

Energy yield modeling is a mix of hard data and thorough scientific-led methodology. Specific yield or annual degradation are common results in any energy yielding software, such as PVsyst or their alternatives.

We turned to Black & Veatch to compare RatedPower's energy yield module to PVsyst output in four real-life cases. Deltas range between +0.24% and +1.08%. Related detailed yielding documentation is available in both tools.

Read BV comparison report

We've got you covered

RatedPower's software can serve as an alternative or complement to PVsyst, offering additional functionalities such as in-depth calculations for battery storage (BESS), topography analysis, earthworks, and more. While PVsyst primarily focuses on energy yield calculations with a single report of yield data simulation, RatedPower provides built-in modules for feasibility analysis, conceptual design, and proposal generation in addition to energy production calculations.

No, PVsyst is not a cloud-based software. It requires installation on the workstation where it will be used, with one license required per computer. In contrast, RatedPower is a cloud-based software, enabling faster simulations and calculations and eventually saving up to 90% of the time spent by engineering teams.

The RatedPower software is used to get quick estimations on site location, inverter selection, grid point, electrical configuration, amongst others. You can leverage additional calculations like BESS-Coupling, topography, sub-hourly meteo data, etc.

Through our software you can export your designs and projects to CAD and other compatible software. You can use the software on any device and system (Microsoft, OS, etc.).

Our dedicated team of technical experts is readily available to support you with your questions. In addition to that, we have dedicated explanatory materials at your disposal. Talk to a sales representative or check out our knowledge hub section.

We listen to and value our customers’ feedback and believe that it’s the core of our software development. How do we do that? Through ongoing surveys, and dedicated meetings to collect insights on what we should continue doing and what we should improve or add to make our software more complete.

Questions about how RatedPower compares to PVsyst?

Ask our solar experts about RatedPower products, pricing, security or deployment.

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