Best Solar Simulation Software for 2025 in Spain

Compare the top solar simulation tools for Spain in 2025. Find the fastest, most accurate platforms for design, performance modeling, and financial analysis.

Rainer Neumann
July 5, 2025

Delivering Accuracy in a Market That Demands It

Spain’s solar market isn’t just growing—it’s accelerating. In 2025, the country is expected to add over 5 GW of new PV capacity, driven by favorable climate conditions, strong grid parity, and maturing subsidy programs. But as project sizes scale and competition intensifies, basic design tools and spreadsheet-based yield estimates are no longer enough.

Today’s solar developers and EPCs face new pressures:

  • Lenders want bankable simulations that pass P50/P90 financial modeling.
  • Grid operators require performance documentation aligned with DNI/GHI profiles.
  • Investors demand transparent tariff modeling tied to hourly Spanish market data (OMIE).

Despite this, many firms still rely on outdated combinations of CAD tools, PVsyst exports, and Excel templates—creating bottlenecks, misaligned reports, and unnecessary risk.

This guide reviews the top solar simulation platforms in Spain for 2025, from traditional players like PVsyst and HelioScope to modern, streamlined tools like SurgePV, which integrates LIDAR-based design, storage forecasting, and tariff-sensitive modeling—all in a single workflow built for Spanish EPCs.

Ready to upgrade from static spreadsheets to full-lifecycle simulation? Let’s dive in.

Why Solar Simulation Matters in Spain 🇪🇸

As Spain continues its aggressive solar expansion—with over 37 GW installed and rapid residential and C&I deployment—simulation accuracy has moved from a “nice to have” to a regulatory and financial necessity.

  • 8760-hour modeling is now standard for investor-grade documents and utility interconnection requests. Installers must deliver detailed hourly yield projections to access bank financing, government subsidies, and PPA approvals.
  • P50/P90 forecasts go beyond averages. They model risk-adjusted energy outcomes and are crucial for evaluating project bankability. With growing autoconsumo and hybrid configurations, this level of precision ensures reliable ROI for both developers and homeowners.
  • Urban complexity, especially in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, means LIDAR-powered, panel-level shading is essential. Narrow streets, tile roofs, and mid-rise blocks create sharp microshading that older satellite methods miss.
  • Spain’s incentive system, including regional grants, 0% VAT for homeowners, and evolving net metering schemes, requires tools that simulate tariff-aligned performance—not just generic production.
  • Legal and sales deliverables must be localized. Installers are expected to submit Spanish-language simulation outputs, clearly annotated with yield data, consumption offsets, and tariff scenarios for funding agencies (IDAE, GSE), banks, and consumers.

Installers relying on CAD + Excel + legacy simulation stacks waste hours and risk compliance errors. Modern tools like SurgePV now offer design → simulation → quote → contract workflows—all aligned with Spain’s policy landscape.

Top Solar Simulation Platforms in Spain

SurgePV – All-in-One Simulation for Spanish Installers

SurgePV is a hardware-neutral, Spain-localized solar platform that merges LIDAR-based design with full simulation, proposal generation, and e-sign workflows. Built for installers and EPCs operating in Spain’s regulatory environment.

Features:

  • Built-in 8760-hour simulation with P50/P90 accuracy
  • AI-powered shading using LIDAR + per-module scan
  • Autoconsumo incentive engine: net billing, VAT rebate, ROI projections
  • Spanish-language PDF proposal exports, with audit-grade documentation
  • Seamless pipeline: design → simulate → quote → sign → invoice
  • Compatible with SMA, Fronius, Huawei, SolarEdge, and more

Pros:

  • Fully localized for Spain’s market and incentives
  • Speeds up project quoting and simulation by up to 60%
  • Combines all tools in one intuitive interface

Cons:

  • Tailored for commercial installers and EPCs (not academic researchers)
  • May not be ideal for teams requiring ultra-deep string modeling or grid-coupling exports

PVcase – Engineering-Focused Layout + Yield Tool

An AutoCAD-based solar engineering suite designed for high-precision terrain modeling and electrical configuration. Best for technical users and engineering firms.

Features:

  • CAD-integrated layout for ground mount and rooftop systems
  • Customizable sub-array and tracker logic
  • Supports 8760-hour simulation (P50/P90 with manual config)
  • Partial Spanish UI and metric templates in development

Pros:

  • Excellent for engineering-heavy workflows
  • Terrain modeling and grading are highly configurable
  • Ideal for MW-scale design teams

Cons:

  • No built-in incentive modeling
  • Requires manual ROI exports, often into Excel
  • Learning curve for non-CAD users

RatedPower – Utility-Scale Optimization Tool

A SaaS platform focused exclusively on multi-megawatt ground-mount design. RatedPower excels in optimization, BOS calculations, and LCOE projections.

Features:

  • PV plant layout + energy yield in one step
  • Optimizes racking, trenching, inverter placement
  • Built-in 8760h simulation and economic modeling

Pros:

  • Ideal for auction bids, developers, and investors
  • Built-in LCOE and BoS estimators
  • Clean interface, API-friendly

Cons:

  • No rooftop simulation or autoconsumo modeling
  • No native support for Spanish-language proposals
  • Not ideal for small/medium installers

PV*SOL – Deep Simulation Engine for Technical Modeling

A legacy desktop tool known for high-detail simulations and shading animation, widely used by engineers across Europe.

Features:

  • P50/P90 forecasting, PVGIS integration
  • Detailed string planning, shadow animation
  • Manual configuration for financial incentives

Pros:

  • Highly trusted by consultants and engineers
  • Handles complex shading geometry

Cons:

  • Manual input for Spanish subsidies or VAT
  • Not cloud-based, requires local install
  • Poor fit for proposal or CRM workflows

Aurora Solar – 3D Simulation & Sales-Focused Tool

A cloud-based platform combining visual design with simulation, proposal generation, and CRM. Built for sales-driven teams.

Features:

  • 3D modeling with Google/LIDAR imports
  • Fast quoting interface with customer visuals
  • Shading analysis and savings calculator

Pros:

  • Great for residential or C&I teams that prioritize speed
  • Ideal for sales presentations

Cons:

  • No built-in Spanish incentive engine
  • Performance modeling not optimized for bankability
  • Outputs not localized for GSE submission

SolarFarmer – Commercial-Grade Simulation by DNV

Built by DNV, SolarFarmer is an ultra-precise yield simulator used for feasibility analysis and funding-grade audits.

Features:

  • Terrain-aware simulation with tracker logic + bifacial support
  • P50/P90-ready loss tree analysis
  • Industry-trusted by banks and IPPs

Pros:

  • Bankable simulations for C&I and utility-scale
  • Built for grid-submission and due diligence

Cons:

  • No rooftop or sales proposal workflow
  • No Spanish-language templates or automation
  • Steep learning curve

RETScreen – Educational Feasibility Tool

A free modeling tool from Natural Resources Canada, translated into Spanish and aimed at early-stage energy modeling.

Features:

  • 8760h generation
  • Climate zone inputs
  • Limited design/export features

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Good for education or first-pass feasibility

Cons:

  • Not commercial-grade
  • No shading tools or incentives
  • Inadequate for permitting or serious ROI modeling

Why SurgePV Stands Out in Spain 

In a competitive Spanish solar market where precision, speed, and localization are critical, SurgePV emerges as a category-defining tool—combining simulation-grade modeling with real-time quoting and regional financial logic. While most platforms still force EPCs to bounce between CAD tools, yield calculators, and spreadsheets, SurgePV offers an end-to-end workflow tailored for Spanish installers and developers.

Accurate, bank-ready simulations lie at the core of SurgePV’s engine. With native 8760-hour yield modeling and P50/P90 variance analysis, it ensures investors, co-ops, and financiers receive production estimates they can trust—no need to export to PVsyst for validation.

Where SurgePV truly shines is in LIDAR precision and Spanish-specific financial logic. Installers can import rooftop LIDAR or drone scans to analyze per-panel shading on pitched or tiled roofs, essential in dense Spanish cityscapes. These visuals tie directly into heatmaps, irradiance layers, and module-level performance projections—no guesswork required.

From there, SurgePV moves into what legacy tools can’t match: fully localized, Spanish-language PDF outputs. These include VAT-inclusive quotes, regional incentive calculations, and autoconsumo ROI tables—automatically updated with the latest national and regional programs. Whether your client qualifies for the Castilla-La Mancha storage bonus or needs net billing under RD244/2019, it’s modeled inside the simulation—not on a spreadsheet.

Hardware neutrality is another win: SurgePV works with SMA, Fronius, Huawei, SolarEdge, and more—ensuring design flexibility across residential, C&I, and municipal installs.

And the best part? SurgePV isn’t just about simulation. It’s a complete design → simulate → quote → e-sign → invoice platform, reducing your EPC team's tool stack by over 60%.

“We dropped simulation time from 4 hours to 35 minutes and cut proposal mistakes to zero. SurgePV changed how we work.”
“Only SurgePV brings together Spanish-ready incentives, LIDAR accuracy, and bankable 8760h modeling into one seamless simulation engine—built for real-world EPC speed.”

Summary

If you’re an EPC, installer, or solar developer operating in Spain, it’s time to stop juggling outdated workflows. SurgePV replaces your fragmented stack of CAD tools, spreadsheets, and simulation software with a single, unified platform. From AI-powered LIDAR shading, to bankable 8760-hour forecasts, to Spanish-language incentive reports, SurgePV doesn’t just model accurately—it reflects the regulatory and financial realities of the Spanish solar market. Whether you're quoting residential systems in Barcelona or utility installs in Castilla y León, SurgePV gives your team the speed, confidence, and precision needed to close projects faster and comply effortlessly with Spanish permitting.

Book Your SurgePV Demo

Why book a demo?

  • See how SurgePV simulates 8760-hour + P50/P90 yield forecasts in minutes—fully localized for Spain.
  • Experience LIDAR-based per-panel shading on rooftops in Madrid, Seville, or Valencia.
  • Preview incentive-ready PDF exports with autoconsumo, VAT, and net billing pre-configured.
  • Walk through the design → simulate → quote → invoice workflow in real time.
  • Learn how EPCs in Spain are reducing project turnaround times by 60–70%.

Whether you're quoting 5 kW residential or 500 kW C&I, this demo shows how SurgePV makes Spanish solar workflows faster, simpler, and fully compliant.

Book Your SurgePV Demo

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Does SurgePV support 8760-hour and P50/P90 simulation for Spanish permitting?

Yes. SurgePV meets standard project bankability requirements with integrated hourly modeling and P50/P90 projections built into every simulation.

Q2: Can SurgePV simulate per-panel shading on Spanish rooftops?

Yes. SurgePV uses LIDAR and AI-assisted tools to perform precise per-module shading analysis, including sun-path visualization and irradiance mapping across tiled and pitched Spanish rooftops.

Q3: Are yield reports and proposals exportable in Spanish?

Absolutely. SurgePV generates all output documents—including proposals, invoices, yield summaries, and SLDs—in Spanish, with correct units, VAT, and autoconsumo labeling.

Q4: How does SurgePV compare to PV*SOL or RETScreen in speed?

SurgePV cuts simulation + proposal time by 60–70%. Unlike PV*SOL or RETScreen, it eliminates the need for manual data stitching across CAD layouts, PVGIS exports, and Excel ROI sheets.

Q5: Can it integrate Spanish tariffs or autoconsumo subsidy models?

Yes. SurgePV includes logic for autoconsumo directo, net billing (RD244/2019), export bonuses, and VAT-aware ROI calculation—all built natively into the simulation and quoting engine.