Key Takeaways
- Solargraf and RatedPower serve entirely different market segments with zero overlap
- Solargraf targets Enphase residential installers with proposals and permitting
- RatedPower (Enverus) automates utility-scale solar and BESS plant design
- RatedPower’s pvDesign generates utility plant layouts in minutes instead of weeks
- Neither platform serves the commercial mid-market (100kW to 5MW)
- SurgePV fills the gap between residential and utility-scale with all-in-one coverage
Quick Verdict
Our Verdict
Solargraf and RatedPower operate in different worlds. Solargraf helps residential installers close deals with Enphase equipment. RatedPower helps utility-scale developers design multi-megawatt solar farms and battery storage plants. If your company works in the commercial mid-market — rooftop or ground-mount projects from 100kW to 5MW — neither tool fits. SurgePV covers that range with design, simulation, proposals, and engineering at $1,499/yr.
Company Overview
Solargraf
Founded
2016 (acquired by Enphase 2022)
Headquarters
Montreal, Canada
Focus
Residential design, proposals & permitting
Best For
Enphase installers in US/Canada
Pricing
Opaque / premium (contact sales)
RatedPower
Founded
2017 (acquired by Enverus 2023)
Headquarters
Madrid, Spain
Focus
Automated utility-scale PV & BESS design
Best For
Utility-scale developers & EPCs
Pricing
Enterprise subscription (contact sales)
Feature Comparison
These platforms have zero functional overlap. The comparison table illustrates two completely different product categories.
| Feature | Solargraf | RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based | ✓ | ✓ |
| Residential Rooftop Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Utility-Scale Plant Design | ✗ | ✓ (Automated) |
| BESS Design & Optimization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Terrain & Topographic Analysis | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Plant Layout | ✗ | ✓ (Minutes, not weeks) |
| Energy Yield Simulation | Basic | ✓ (Bankable-grade) |
| Electrical Design (MV/HV) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Customer Proposals | ✓ (Interactive, branded) | ✗ |
| E-Signatures | ✓ | ✗ |
| Financing Integration | ✓ (30+ providers) | ✗ |
| Permitting Workflow | ✓ | ✗ |
| Residential SLD Generation | ✗ | ✗ (Utility-scale electrical only) |
| Auto-Roofline Detection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Financial Modeling | Basic (US/Canada residential) | ✓ (LCOE, IRR, NPV for utility) |
| Commercial Rooftop (100kW-5MW) | ✗ | ✗ (Utility-scale focus) |
Design & Engineering Capabilities
Solargraf: Residential Sales Speed
Solargraf is designed to move a residential homeowner from initial contact to signed contract as fast as possible. Auto-roofline detection models the roof in seconds. Enphase microinverter auto-assignment eliminates manual string sizing. Branded proposals with multiple financing options go out the same day.
The engineering depth is shallow. Solargraf does not generate SLDs, calculate wire sizes, or produce any documentation that a utility or AHJ would accept for technical review. For jurisdictions that require engineering stamps, Solargraf’s output is not sufficient.
RatedPower: Utility-Scale Automation
RatedPower’s pvDesign platform automates the preliminary engineering of utility-scale solar plants. Upload a site boundary and terrain data, configure your equipment preferences, and pvDesign generates an optimized plant layout with electrical design, energy yield estimates, and financial projections in minutes. Tasks that traditionally took engineering teams weeks are compressed to hours.
The platform handles tracker and fixed-tilt layout optimization, medium and high-voltage electrical design, BESS sizing and integration, and bankable energy yield calculations. Since Enverus acquired RatedPower in 2023, the platform has also integrated with Enverus’s energy data and market intelligence tools.
RatedPower is built for projects measured in tens or hundreds of megawatts. It does not design residential rooftops, generate homeowner proposals, or handle residential permitting.
Proposals & Financial Modeling
Solargraf: Homeowner Proposals
Solargraf produces branded, interactive proposals for residential homeowners. The proposals include savings estimates, financing options from 30+ lending partners, and built-in e-signature capture. The financial modeling is basic — focused on US/Canada residential utility rates and loan/lease structures.
RatedPower: Utility-Scale Financial Analysis
RatedPower generates detailed financial models for utility-scale projects, including LCOE (levelized cost of energy), IRR, NPV, and revenue projections based on power purchase agreements. These are the financial metrics that project developers and investors evaluate when making multi-million-dollar investment decisions.
RatedPower does not produce customer-facing proposals. Its output is technical and financial documentation for internal decision-making, investor presentations, and permitting applications.
Pricing Comparison
| Aspect | Solargraf | RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Subscription (opaque) | Enterprise subscription (opaque) |
| Target Customer | Residential installers | Utility-scale developers & EPCs |
| Typical Budget Range | Small-to-mid residential companies | Large developers with multi-MW portfolios |
| Additional Software Needed | Engineering tools for SLDs | May need PVsyst for bankable validation |
| Pricing Transparency | Not published | Not published |
| Free Trial | Demo available | Demo available |
Both platforms keep pricing behind sales conversations. RatedPower’s pricing reflects the high-value nature of its users — utility-scale developers processing hundreds of millions in project value. Solargraf’s pricing is premium for its category given the Enphase acquisition and integration depth.
Looking for a Better Alternative? Try SurgePV
Cover residential through 5MW commercial with design, simulation, proposals, and native engineering docs — all at $1,499/yr.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required · No hardware lock-in · Residential to commercial
Pros & Cons Side-by-Side
Solargraf
Pros
Cons
RatedPower
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose What?
| Your Situation | Choose Solargraf | Choose RatedPower |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Enphase installs | ✓ | |
| Need homeowner proposals and e-sign | ✓ | |
| Utility-scale plant design (10MW+) | ✓ | |
| BESS design and optimization | ✓ | |
| Bankable energy yield modeling | ✓ | |
| Project finance (LCOE, IRR, NPV) | ✓ | |
| Commercial rooftop (100kW-5MW) | ||
| Native SLD generation | ||
| Residential + commercial in one tool |
Best Alternative: SurgePV
The gap between Solargraf and RatedPower is the entire commercial mid-market. Projects from 100kW to 5MW — commercial rooftops, small ground-mount installations, carports — are too large for Solargraf and too small for RatedPower.
SurgePV covers this range as a cloud-based, all-in-one solar software at $1,499/yr:
- Residential through 5MW commercial design and simulation
- Native SLD generation, three-line diagrams, and permit packages
- 8760-hour shade simulation with P50/P75/P90 yield confidence levels
- Professional proposals with global financial modeling and multi-currency support
- Hardware agnostic — works with any inverter, panel, or battery manufacturer
- AI-powered auto-design with automatic string sizing
SurgePV does not compete with RatedPower for 50MW utility plants or BESS optimization. But for companies that serve both residential homeowners and commercial building owners, SurgePV is the only platform that handles both segments without requiring separate tools.
Pro Tip
SurgePV offers a free trial with full access. Test it against your current residential and commercial project workflows. Start your free trial here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Solargraf do utility-scale solar design?
No. Solargraf is built for residential rooftop projects only. It has no terrain modeling, no utility-scale layout tools, and no BESS design capability.
Can RatedPower do residential solar?
No. RatedPower (now part of Enverus) focuses on utility-scale solar farms and battery energy storage systems. It has no residential rooftop design, proposals, or permitting features.
What is RatedPower’s pvDesign?
pvDesign is RatedPower’s automated utility-scale solar design platform. It generates optimized plant layouts, electrical designs, energy yield estimates, and financial models for large-scale solar and BESS projects in minutes rather than weeks.
Is SurgePV a better alternative to both?
SurgePV covers the mid-market that falls between residential and utility-scale. It handles projects from residential rooftops through 5MW commercial with native engineering docs, proposals, and financial modeling at $1,499/yr. It does not replace RatedPower for 50MW+ utility plants.
How does RatedPower pricing work?
RatedPower uses enterprise subscription pricing that is not publicly listed. The platform is designed for developers, EPCs, and utilities working on multi-megawatt projects. Contact their sales team for a quote.
Which tool handles battery storage better?
RatedPower includes dedicated BESS design and optimization for utility-scale battery projects. Solargraf supports Enphase residential batteries only. For commercial-scale storage financial modeling, Energy Toolbase is the specialist.