Key Takeaways
- Aurora Solar is for residential/small commercial; RatedPower is for utility-scale + BESS
- RatedPower automates utility-scale design in hours instead of weeks
- Aurora has proposals and CRM; RatedPower has none
- RatedPower (now Enverus) integrates energy market data
- Zero feature overlap between these two tools
- SurgePV covers residential through 5MW in one platform
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict
Aurora Solar and RatedPower have zero overlap. Aurora handles residential design and sales. RatedPower automates utility-scale and BESS project design. Comparing them is like comparing a residential architect’s tool to an industrial site planner’s tool. If your business spans multiple project sizes, SurgePV covers residential through 5MW commercial in one platform.
Company Overview
Aurora Solar
Founded
2013
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Focus
Residential solar design & proposals
Best For
US residential & small commercial
Pricing Starts
≈$1,765/yr
RatedPower
Founded
2017 (acquired by Enverus)
Headquarters
Madrid, Spain (Enverus)
Focus
Utility-scale solar & BESS automation
Best For
Utility developers & IPPs
Pricing Starts
License-based tiers (contact sales)
Feature Comparison
These platforms serve entirely different market segments with no feature overlap.
| Feature | Aurora Solar | RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based | ✓ | ✓ |
| Residential Rooftop Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Utility-Scale Design (50MW+) | ✗ | ✓ (Automated) |
| BESS Design | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Layout Optimization | Residential auto-layout | ✓ (Utility-scale) |
| Terrain Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Cable Routing | ✗ | ✓ (Automated) |
| Interactive Proposals | ✓ (Best-in-class) | ✗ |
| CRM Integration | ✓ (Salesforce native) | ✗ |
| E-Signature | ✓ (DocuSign) | ✗ |
| Energy Market Data | ✗ | ✓ (Enverus data) |
| Grid Interconnection Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Modeling | Basic (US-focused) | ✓ (Project-level LCOE) |
| Electrical Engineering (SLD) | ✗ | Utility-scale SLDs |
Design Capabilities
Aurora Solar and RatedPower operate at completely different scales.
Aurora Solar Design Strengths
Aurora handles residential and small commercial projects using satellite imagery, LIDAR, and auto-layout tools. The design-to-proposal workflow is fast and optimized for high-volume residential sales teams. CRM integration and DocuSign make it a complete sales platform.
Aurora cannot design projects larger than a few hundred kW. It has no terrain modeling, no automated cable routing, and no utility-scale equipment libraries.
RatedPower Design Strengths
RatedPower automates utility-scale solar plant design. Upload a site boundary and topographic data, and the platform generates an optimized layout with tracker or fixed-tilt configurations, substation placement, cable routing, and civil engineering outputs — in hours rather than weeks.
The Enverus acquisition adds energy market data and grid interconnection analysis, making RatedPower a feasibility and design tool for large-scale project developers. BESS integration lets developers co-optimize solar and storage on the same site.
RatedPower has no residential capabilities whatsoever — no rooftop design, no homeowner proposals, no CRM.
Simulation & Financial Analysis
Aurora Solar Simulation
Aurora estimates residential energy production for proposal purposes. The simulation is adequate for homeowner-facing documents but not suitable for utility-scale financial due diligence or power purchase agreement modeling.
RatedPower Simulation
RatedPower produces utility-scale energy yield estimates and LCOE (levelized cost of energy) calculations. The simulation accounts for tracker algorithms, terrain-induced shading, and cable losses at scale. Integrated with Enverus energy market data, the platform can estimate project revenues against wholesale electricity prices.
Pricing Comparison
| Cost Item | Aurora Solar | RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Software License | ≈$1,765/year | License-based tiers (custom) |
| Target Project Size | 5kW-500kW | 10MW-500MW+ |
| Proposals Included? | ✓ | ✗ |
| BESS Design? | ✗ | ✓ |
| Energy Market Data? | ✗ | ✓ (Enverus) |
Aurora: $1,765/yr for residential sales — RatedPower: Enterprise pricing for utility-scale — SurgePV: $1,499/yr for resi to 5MWLooking for a Better Alternative? Try SurgePV
Design residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects up to 5MW in one cloud platform — with proposals, electrical engineering, and financial modeling included.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required · All project sizes · All features included
Pros & Cons Side-by-Side
Aurora Solar
Pros
Cons
RatedPower
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose What?
| Your Situation | Choose Aurora | Choose RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Residential solar installer | ✓ | |
| Utility-scale developer (50MW+) | ✓ | |
| BESS project development | ✓ | |
| Need homeowner proposals | ✓ | |
| Need energy market analysis | ✓ | |
| Commercial (500kW-5MW) | Consider SurgePV | |
| Mixed resi + commercial portfolio | Consider SurgePV | |
Best Alternative: SurgePV
If neither Aurora Solar nor RatedPower fully meets your needs, SurgePV bridges the gap between residential tools and utility-scale platforms. This solar design software gives you cloud-based design for rooftop and ground-mount projects up to 5MW, with native electrical engineering, interactive proposals, and global financial modeling — all without the enterprise pricing of utility-scale tools.
SurgePV delivers design, simulation, proposals, electrical engineering, and financial modeling in one cloud platform starting at $1,499/year — with all features included on every plan. For EPCs and developers working across project sizes, it eliminates the need for multiple specialized tools.
Start your free SurgePV trial and design across every project size from one platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Aurora Solar design utility-scale projects?
No. Aurora Solar handles residential and small commercial projects. It lacks the terrain modeling, automated cable routing, and multi-MW layout optimization that utility-scale projects require.
Can RatedPower design residential rooftop systems?
No. RatedPower is built for utility-scale solar and BESS (battery energy storage systems). It has no rooftop design, no residential proposals, and no homeowner-facing sales tools.
Is RatedPower owned by Enverus?
Yes. RatedPower was acquired by Enverus, an energy data analytics company. This gives RatedPower access to broader energy market data and grid interconnection insights.
How much does RatedPower cost?
RatedPower uses license-based tiered pricing. Exact costs are not publicly listed and vary by project volume and feature access. Contact RatedPower for a quote.
What’s a better alternative to both Aurora Solar and RatedPower?
SurgePV covers residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects up to 5MW in one cloud platform. At $1,499/year with native electrical engineering, proposals, and simulation included, it bridges the gap between residential tools and utility-scale platforms.
Does RatedPower include BESS design?
Yes. RatedPower supports automated battery energy storage system design alongside solar, which is increasingly important for utility-scale project development.