TL;DR: SurgePV is the most complete solar proposal platform for Colombia — Spanish templates, automated Resolution 030/2018 net billing, UPME tender integration, and COP/USD pricing in one workflow. OpenSolar works for entry-level small installers on tight budgets. Solargraf suits mid-size teams prioritizing visual formatting. Energy Toolbase is the right call for ZNI off-grid solar+storage. Aurora Solar has polished proposals but no Spanish templates and no Resolution 030/2018 support, which is a significant barrier for most Colombian installers.
60% of Colombian EPCs Still Build Proposals in Excel. Their Close Rates Show It.
Colombia’s distributed generation sector is growing 30%+ annually. Resolution 030/2018 has 500+ active installers competing for C&I projects in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali. UPME tenders attract 10-20 bidders per 100 MW contract.
And most of them are building proposals in Microsoft Excel.
That Excel proposal takes 2-3 hours. It looks amateur. The net billing calculations are approximated because Resolution 030/2018’s monthly wholesale rate compensation is complicated to model by hand. When the client asks for a loan comparison versus cash purchase in COP? Another 45 minutes of spreadsheet wrestling. The proposal arrives in the client’s inbox looking like a homework assignment, not a professional engineering document.
The competitor who sends a polished, interactive web proposal in 30 minutes — with accurate Resolution 030/2018 net billing projections, multiple financing scenarios in COP, and professional branding — is the one the client takes seriously.
The right customer-ready solar proposals for Colombia must generate Spanish-language proposals natively, calculate Resolution 030/2018 net billing economics, support UPME tender documentation, display COP and USD pricing flexibly, and deliver fast enough for the competitive distributed generation market.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Which platforms generate native Spanish-language proposals (not machine translation)
- How each tool handles Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculations
- Which software supports UPME tender proposal documentation
- COP/USD flexible pricing display across 5 platforms
- What each vendor publishes about licence pricing, and what it does not
Quick Summary: Our Top Picks for Colombia
After reviewing published information for 5 platforms with installers and EPCs across Colombia (Bogota, Medellin, and Cali), here are the top recommendations:
- SurgePV — Complete design-to-proposal platform with Spanish templates, Resolution 030/2018, and UPME integration (Best for EPCs doing both distributed gen and UPME tenders)
- OpenSolar — Affordable entry-level proposals for small installers (Best for small distributed gen operations under 50 kW)
- Solargraf — Professional proposal formatting with good visual design (Best for mid-size installers prioritizing brand image)
- Energy Toolbase — Advanced financial modeling for solar+storage (Best for battery storage proposals and ZNI off-grid projects)
- Aurora Solar — Global market leader with polished proposals (Best for large companies; limited Colombia adoption)
Each tool evaluated on Spanish language quality, Resolution 030/2018 accuracy, UPME support, COP pricing, turnaround speed, and professional output.
Best Solar Proposal Software in Colombia (Detailed Reviews)
| Software | Best For | Pricing | Colombia Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| SurgePV | All-in-one proposals + design | ~$1,899/yr (3 users) | Excellent |
| OpenSolar | Free proposals | Free of charge | Good |
| Solargraf | Residential proposals | Contact for pricing | Good |
| Energy Toolbase | Storage proposals | Contact for pricing | Good |
| Aurora Solar | AI-powered proposals | Basic $1,620/yr (annual billing); Premium $2,640/yr | Good |
SurgePV — Best Complete Proposal Platform for Colombia
SurgePV is a cloud-based platform combining design, simulation, and proposal generation in one workflow. For Colombian installers and EPCs, that means going from site assessment to professional Spanish-language proposal in 15-30 minutes — without Excel spreadsheets, Word templates, or tool-switching.
SurgePV handles Colombia’s dual proposal market: Resolution 030/2018 distributed generation proposals for Bogota, Medellin, and Cali C&I customers (Spanish templates, net billing calculations, COP pricing), and UPME tender documentation for La Guajira utility-scale projects (P50/P90 reports, technical integration, 50-100 page professional documents).
Target users: Colombian installers doing distributed gen + EPCs doing UPME tenders. C&I sales teams needing Spanish proposals. Companies serving both residential net billing and commercial segments.
Pro Tip
The fastest way to qualify solar proposal software for Colombia is to run this test: generate a 200 kW Bogota commercial proposal in Spanish with Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculations and COP pricing. If the software can’t do that in under 30 minutes, it wasn’t built for your market.
Key Features for Colombia
Spanish-Language Proposals
95%+ of Colombian customers prefer Spanish-language proposals. Machine-translated proposals from English-first platforms contain awkward phrasing that undermines credibility. SurgePV supports Spanish proposal templates — professional output that reads naturally for Colombian customers in Bogota, Medellin, and coastal cities. Customizable branding applies your logo, colors, and contact information. Every proposal looks like it came from your company, not generic software.
Resolution 030/2018 Net Billing Calculator
CREG’s distributed generation framework uses monthly compensation at wholesale rate (approximately 0.6-0.7x retail tariff). That rate varies by month and region. Manually calculating 12 months of wholesale rate compensation in Excel is tedious and error-prone. SurgePV automates Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculations — monthly compensation modeling, payback analysis (8-12 year typical for Colombian C&I), and ROI projections that account for Colombian economic conditions.
UPME Tender Documentation
UPME tenders require integrated technical and financial documentation — P50/P90 simulations, detailed design specifications, LCOE calculations, 20-year cash flow projections, and professional formatting for 50-100 page tender documents. SurgePV integrates P50/P75/P90 bankability data directly from the design simulation into proposal format, eliminating manual data transfer from PVsyst to Word.
Financial Modeling
Cash, loan, lease, and PPA options modeled in a single proposal. ROI calculations handle Colombian economic factors. COP and USD pricing display flexibly — C&I customers often prefer USD (inflation hedge), residential customers prefer COP (familiar currency). The best practice: show both with the current exchange rate (approximately 4,300 COP/USD).
Fast Turnaround
Complete design-to-proposal workflow runs 15-30 minutes. In a distributed generation market where C&I customers expect same-day proposals for sub-100 kW projects, speed is a competitive advantage. Off-grid proposals for ZNI (Non-Interconnected Zones) include solar+storage sizing and diesel replacement analysis — relevant for Amazon and Pacific coast projects under IPSE programs.
Related Reading
See our best solar proposal software global comparison, or compare with proposal software in Chile and Argentina for other LATAM perspectives.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Only platform combining Spanish templates + Resolution 030/2018 + UPME + COP pricing
- 15-30 minute turnaround from site assessment to finished Spanish-language proposal
- Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculations automated (monthly wholesale rate compensation)
- UPME-ready with P50/P90 technical integration for tender proposals
- COP/USD flexible pricing display (approximately 4,300 COP/USD)
- Design integration — proposals use actual simulation data, not manual BOM entry
- SLD generation included in proposals for XM compliance
- Professional branding with company logo and colors
- Transparent pricing: $1,899 per user per year on the individual plan
Cons:
- Newer platform than OpenSolar in the Colombian market (building brand awareness)
- Learning curve for complete platform (2-3 weeks vs 1 week for proposal-only tools)
- Not a standalone proposal tool — requires design workflow (but that’s what makes the data accurate)
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $1,899/year | 3 users |
| For 3 Users | $1,499/user/year ($4,497/year total) | 3 users |
| For 5 Users | $1,299/user/year ($6,495/year total) | 5 users |
| Enterprise | Custom | Multiple |
Pro Tip
SurgePV generates the SLD from the system design itself, so the schematic is produced inside the same platform rather than redrawn in a separately licensed CAD package. Book a demo to see it in action.
Cost per proposal (150 proposals/year on the 3-user plan): approximately $38 per proposal.
Related Guides
Best Solar Proposal Software (2026) — Global comparison across platforms. Best Solar Design Software — Design tools compared. Aurora Solar Review — Detailed proposal feature analysis.
OpenSolar — Entry-Level Distributed Generation Proposals
OpenSolar is a cloud-based proposal platform popular among small residential and commercial installers because it is free of charge, in its own words, per opensolar.com (checked 21 September 2026), and has a simple interface. In Colombia, it has adoption among entry-level distributed generation installers doing small projects under 50 kW.
Key Strengths: Free of charge, which removes the cost barrier for small Colombian businesses. Simple interface — anyone can learn it in 1-2 weeks. Decent residential proposal output. Good for small distributed generation projects. Cloud-based access from anywhere.
Where OpenSolar Falls Short for Colombia: Limited Spanish template support (not native Spanish). Manual Resolution 030/2018 calculations — you still need to compute monthly wholesale rate compensation externally. No UPME utility-scale capabilities at all. Basic financial modeling (insufficient for PMGD or complex C&I projects). No SLD generation. No off-grid design for ZNI projects.
Price: Free of charge.
Best for: Entry-level Colombian installers doing small distributed gen projects (under 50 kW residential and C&I), with budget constraints and simple proposal needs.
Read our full OpenSolar review for detailed analysis.
Did You Know?
Colombia’s solar irradiance ranges from 1,400-1,900 kWh/m²/year, making accurate simulation software essential for bankable energy yield predictions. Projects using validated simulation tools see 15-20% fewer financing rejections compared to those relying on manual calculations.
Solargraf — Professional Formatting for Mid-Size Installers
Solargraf produces well-formatted proposals with good visual design. Some adoption in Colombia among mid-size distributed generation installers who prioritize professional brand appearance for C&I customers.
Key Strengths: Beautiful proposal formatting (professional appearance). Good for brand image with C&I customers. Moderate pricing ($1,200-2,400/year). Reasonable proposal workflow for standard projects. Some distributed generation support.
Where Solargraf Falls Short for Colombia: Limited Spanish template support. No Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculator. No UPME tender capabilities. Limited financial modeling for complex Colombian projects. No SLD generation or electrical engineering integration. No bankability reporting.
Best for: Mid-size Colombian distributed generation installers who prioritize visual proposal quality for C&I customer presentations.
Read our full Solargraf review for detailed analysis.
Energy Toolbase — Battery Storage Proposal Specialist
Energy Toolbase specializes in advanced financial modeling for solar+storage projects. Its deep tariff analysis and battery integration features make it relevant for Colombian ZNI off-grid projects and commercial battery storage applications.
Key Strengths: Deepest financial modeling of any platform. Strong battery+solar integration (relevant for ZNI off-grid diesel replacement). Detailed utility tariff analysis customizable for Colombian rates. Good for complex financial structures. Detailed ROI reports for financiers.
Where Energy Toolbase Falls Short for Colombia: No design tools — requires separate design platform. No Spanish templates (English-only). No Resolution 030/2018 automation (manual calculations required). Expensive at approximately $3,000-6,000/year. Steep learning curve (4-6 weeks). Overkill for simple distributed gen residential proposals.
Best for: Colombian projects with battery storage components (ZNI off-grid, commercial backup) where deep financial modeling justifies the cost and complexity.
Read our full Energy Toolbase review for detailed analysis.
Aurora Solar — US Residential, Limited Colombia Fit
Aurora Solar is the global market leader with polished proposals and AI-powered design. Its US-centric orientation and English-only proposal templates create barriers for Colombian adoption.
Key Strengths: Most professionally polished proposals in the market. AI-powered design (fast residential modeling). Extensive feature set. Strong CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot). Global brand recognition.
Where Aurora Falls Short for Colombia: No Spanish proposal templates (English-only output). No Resolution 030/2018 support. No UPME tender capabilities. Limited Colombia adoption. No off-grid ZNI design. Manual COP conversion required.
Price: Aurora Solar’s published pricing is $159/user/month, or $135/user/month billed annually ($1,620/year), for Basic and $259/user/month, or $220/user/month billed annually ($2,640/year), for Premium, per Aurora’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026). Enterprise is quoted per project.
Best for: Large Colombian companies with English-speaking C&I customers, such as multinational corporations in Bogota.
Read our full Aurora Solar review for detailed analysis.
Comparison Table: Solar Proposal Software for Colombia
| Feature | SurgePV | OpenSolar | Solargraf | Energy Toolbase | Aurora Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Distributed gen + UPME | Small distributed gen | Professional formatting | Battery storage | Large companies |
| Spanish Templates | Yes | Limited | Limited | No | No |
| Resolution 030/2018 | Yes (automated) | Manual | No | Manual | Manual |
| UPME Integration | P50/P90 docs | No | No | No | No |
| COP/USD Pricing | Flexible | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual |
| Design Integration | Same platform | Limited | Limited | No (separate tool) | Same platform |
| Turnaround | 15-30 min | 30-60 min | 45-90 min | 60-90 min | 30-60 min |
| ZNI Off-Grid | Solar+storage | Manual | No | Battery analysis | Limited |
| Published list price (USD) | $1,899 (3 users) | Free of charge | $1,200-2,400 | $3,000-6,000 | Basic $1,620/yr; Premium $2,640/yr |
| Proposal generation | Yes (branded) | Yes (basic) | Yes | Limited | Yes (premium) |
| Financial modeling | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes (advanced) | Basic |
| SLD generation | Yes (automated) | No | No | No | No |
| CRM integration | API | Built-in | Basic | API | Salesforce/HubSpot |
What Makes the Best Solar Proposal Software for Colombia
Five Colombia-specific factors determine proposal software effectiveness:
1. Spanish-Language Proposal Quality
95%+ of Colombian customers prefer Spanish proposals. Native Spanish, rather than machine translation, builds credibility. Software must provide Spanish templates that read naturally for customers in Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and coastal cities. English-only proposals from Aurora and Energy Toolbase create an immediate barrier.
2. Resolution 030/2018 Net Billing Calculator
CREG’s distributed generation framework requires monthly compensation at wholesale rate — approximately 0.6-0.7x retail tariff, varying by month and region. Manually calculating 12 months of compensation in Excel is where most installers introduce errors. Automated calculations prevent mistakes and speed proposal delivery. The solar ROI calculator must handle these Colombian economics accurately.
3. UPME Tender Documentation
UPME tenders need integrated technical and financial proposals (50-100 pages). Software must combine P50/P90 simulation data with financial modeling and professional formatting. Manual assembly from PVsyst + Excel + Word wastes hours and introduces version control problems.
4. COP/USD Flexible Pricing
COP fluctuates 5-10% annually versus USD (approximately 4,300 COP/USD in early 2026). C&I customers often prefer USD quotes (inflation hedge). Residential customers prefer COP. The best proposal solar software for installers shows both currencies with current exchange rates — giving clients the information they need without manual conversion.
5. Fast Turnaround
Distributed generation proposals needed in 1-2 days to compete. C&I customers expect same-day proposals for sub-100 kW projects. SurgePV generates a complete proposal in 15-30 minutes, which is what that pace requires.
Which Tool Is Right for Your Situation?
| Your Use Case | Best Software | Why | Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-volume residential installer | Aurora Solar or SurgePV | Aurora: best proposals. SurgePV: proposals + engineering | Solargraf |
| C&I EPC (100+ kW) | SurgePV | Integrated design + proposals + SLDs in one tool | HelioScope + PVsyst combo |
| Storage + solar specialist | Energy Toolbase | Best financial modeling for battery + solar | SurgePV for design integration |
| Projects requiring Colombia lender financing | PVsyst or SurgePV | P50/P90 bankability reports accepted by lenders | HelioScope (some lenders) |
| Startup installer (under 30 projects/year) | OpenSolar or SurgePV | OpenSolar: free entry. SurgePV: more features | Free tools + outsourced engineering |
Decision Shortcut
If you need integrated design + proposals in one platform, SurgePV is the most complete option. If you’re residential-only, Aurora Solar’s proposals are the most polished on this list. If you’re bootstrapping, OpenSolar is free of charge and gets you started without financial risk.
How We Reviewed and Ranked These Tools
| Criteria | Weight | What We Reviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish Language Quality | 25% | Native templates, Colombian dialect, professional output |
| Resolution 030/2018 Accuracy | 25% | Net billing calculations, monthly compensation, payback analysis |
| Proposal Quality | 20% | Professional formatting, branding, client-facing appearance |
| UPME Support | 15% | Technical documentation integration, P50/P90 reports |
| Ease of Use and Speed | 10% | Turnaround time, learning curve, training requirements |
| Pricing and Value | 5% | Published licence pricing and what each licence includes |
research conducted November 2025 through January 2026 with Colombian installers in Bogota, Medellin, and Cali.
Bottom Line: Best Solar Proposal Software for Colombia
The Colombian proposal market breaks into two clear tiers: tools built for this market, and tools adapted from the US market with varying success.
For distributed generation installers: SurgePV. Spanish templates, Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculator, COP/USD pricing, and 15-30 minute turnaround — the complete package for Colombian C&I sales teams.
For UPME EPCs: SurgePV is also the only platform integrating P50/P90 technical documentation with professional tender proposal generation.
For entry-level small installers: OpenSolar provides a free-of-charge starting point, but requires manual Resolution 030/2018 calculations and has limited Spanish support.
For professional branding focus: Solargraf delivers attractive proposals, but lacks Spanish templates and Resolution 030/2018 automation.
For battery storage projects: Energy Toolbase handles ZNI off-grid solar+storage financial modeling, but lacks Spanish support and design integration.
Create Winning Solar Proposals for Colombia
Spanish templates, Resolution 030/2018 net billing, and professional UPME documentation — one platform, 15-30 minutes.
Book a DemoNo commitment required · 20 minutes · Live project walkthrough
Further Reading
For a broader comparison beyond this market, see our guide to the best solar design software globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best solar proposal software in Colombia?
SurgePV is the best proposal software for Colombia, combining Spanish-language templates, Resolution 030/2018 net billing calculations, UPME technical integration, and COP/USD flexible pricing in one cloud platform. For entry-level small installers on tight budgets, OpenSolar offers an affordable alternative. Book a demo to see SurgePV for Colombian proposals.
Do I need Spanish-language proposals in Colombia?
Yes. 95%+ of Colombian customers prefer Spanish-language proposals. Native Spanish, rather than machine translation, reads as a professional engineering document to a Colombian buyer. SurgePV supports Spanish proposal templates. Aurora Solar and Energy Toolbase are English-only. OpenSolar and Solargraf have limited Spanish support. See best solar proposal software.
How do I create Resolution 030/2018 net billing proposals?
Resolution 030/2018 requires monthly compensation at wholesale rate (approximately 0.6-0.7x retail tariff). SurgePV automates these calculations — monthly wholesale rate modeling, payback analysis, and ROI projections. Manual Excel proposals require downloading monthly wholesale rates from XM and calculating each month separately. Use the solar ROI calculator for quick estimates.
What software supports UPME tender proposals?
UPME tenders require integration of P50/P90 simulations with professional technical and financial documentation (50-100 pages). SurgePV integrates technical design data with financial sections automatically. The manual approach uses PVsyst + Excel + Word (approximately 60% of Colombian EPCs still do this).
How much does proposal software cost in Colombia (COP)?
Published list pricing is in USD and should not be converted. SurgePV is $1,899 per user per year on the individual plan. OpenSolar is free of charge. Aurora Solar’s published pricing is $159/user/month, or $135/user/month billed annually ($1,620/year), for Basic and $259/user/month, or $220/user/month billed annually ($2,640/year), for Premium, per Aurora’s pricing page (checked 21 September 2026). Enterprise is quoted per project. Solargraf and Energy Toolbase quote by sales. Check SurgePV pricing.
How fast can I generate proposals with software?
SurgePV generates complete design-to-proposal workflows in 15-30 minutes. OpenSolar takes 30-60 minutes. Fast turnaround is critical for Colombia’s competitive distributed generation market, where C&I customers expect same-day proposals for sub-100 kW projects. See solar proposal generation.
Can proposal software display pricing in COP?
Yes. SurgePV displays pricing in both COP and USD with flexible conversion rates. Most other platforms require manual COP conversion from USD pricing. C&I customers often prefer USD (inflation hedge), residential prefer COP. Best practice: show both with the current exchange rate (approximately 4,300 COP/USD). See financial modeling tools.
Do Colombian customers prefer COP or USD pricing in proposals?
C&I distributed generation customers often prefer USD quotations as an inflation hedge. Residential customers prefer COP because it’s their familiar currency. Large UPME projects use USD exclusively. The most effective approach: display both currencies side by side with the current exchange rate. SurgePV handles this with flexible COP/USD pricing display. Check net metering for more on billing frameworks.
Sources
- CREG Resolution 030/2018 — Distributed generation regulation (accessed February 2026)
- UPME Official Website — Tender documentation requirements (accessed February 2026)
- XM (Expertos en Mercados) — Wholesale electricity rates (accessed February 2026)
- Law 1715 — Colombian renewable energy promotion framework (accessed February 2026)
- SurgePV Official Documentation — Product features and pricing (accessed February 2026)
- OpenSolar, Solargraf, Energy Toolbase, Aurora Solar — Official vendor documentation (accessed February 2026)
- G2 Reviews — Verified user reviews (accessed February 2026)
- Capterra — User ratings and feedback (accessed February 2026)
- Colombian installer market intelligence — Conducted December 2025-January 2026
