Publisher disclosure: SurgePV publishes this guide and offers Clara AI. This is a documented-scope and evaluation guide, not an independent product test. Official pages were checked on September 14, 2026.
What the official product pages establish
| Question | Clara AI in SurgePV | Aurora AI |
|---|---|---|
| What is being evaluated? | The Clara page presents AI assistance within a SurgePV project. Ask which requests produce explanations, suggestions, or project changes. | Aurora’s AI page describes generating a 3D roof model and a residential design workflow. |
| What input does the vendor describe? | Confirm which geometry, equipment, and project assumptions are available to the assistant in the demonstrated version. | Aurora describes using an address and one month’s utility bill to generate a home solar design. Check imagery coverage and any additional inputs for your site. |
| What should the buyer inspect? | The response, any proposed design changes, the editing controls, and the resulting project state. | The generated roof model, shading and production assumptions, and the corrections needed before using the design. |
| What establishes cost? | SurgePV’s pricing page and a written quote confirming seats and Clara availability. | Aurora’s pricing page and a quote confirming AI access, usage allowances, and required services. |
Do the published speed claims answer your question?
Aurora’s AI page currently uses both “under 10 seconds” in its headline and “under 15 seconds” in its body for roof-model generation. These are Aurora’s published statements, not timings measured by SurgePV. Ask which workflow and conditions each figure describes.
This guide does not establish a measured Clara-versus-Aurora speed or accuracy result. A roof-model generation time alone does not include the work needed to correct geometry, configure equipment, review assumptions, and prepare the deliverable your team needs.
Run a like-for-like project evaluation
- Define the task. Choose roof modeling, layout revision, a design question, or proposal preparation. Do not compare different tasks as if they were the same output.
- Record the inputs. Use the same address and available site information. Record imagery dates, equipment choices, and any assumptions the software supplies.
- Record the product version and plan. Note the features and external services enabled during each demonstration.
- Inspect the output. Record geometry corrections, missing information, editing options, and the reviewer’s decision.
- Include review effort. Measure generation, correction, and review separately. Keep the acceptance criteria consistent.
- Check handoff and price. Inspect a sample output in the next tool your team uses, then compare written quotes for the same seats and workflow scope.
Download the comparison worksheet (CSV) to record the observations and unresolved questions.
Which workflow should your team prioritize?
If your immediate need is a residential roof model, evaluate the model and its editable geometry first. If the need is help with a project question or revision, evaluate the assistant’s response and the resulting project changes. Teams needing both should test both workflows.
For commercial projects, international sites, CAD handoffs, or a specific integration, request a demonstration of that requirement. This guide does not establish unsupported markets, universal export compatibility, or a capability gap in either vendor.
Questions to resolve before choosing
Is either tool more accurate?
No comparative accuracy result is established here. Define the quantity being measured, a suitable reference, the project sample, and review criteria before interpreting an accuracy claim.
Can AI output replace engineering review?
Treat generated geometry, calculations, and assistant responses as outputs to inspect. Keep the site verification and professional review required for your project.
Can existing projects be migrated automatically?
Request a sample import or export using the actual file format and receiving application. Do not assume that one vendor’s project files can be opened by the other.
Sources and next step
- Aurora AI official product page: workflow description, inputs, and the two published timing statements.
- Aurora official pricing: current plan details to check against a quote.
- Clara AI product evaluation and SurgePV pricing: prepare the SurgePV side of the evaluation.
Request a Clara AI walkthrough with a representative task and your review criteria. For a broader platform comparison, browse the solar software comparisons.
