Discover our PV*SOL Review 2025 with in-depth features, pros & cons. Learn how PVSOL boosts your solar simulations and maximizes system performance—discover now!
PV*SOL, developed by Berlin-based Valentin Software, has long been regarded as one of the most technically robust solar simulation tools on the market. Known for its deep configurability and highly detailed modeling engine, PV*SOL is built primarily for engineers, EPCs, and solar designers who need to simulate not just basic layouts, but also comprehensive energy yields, shading losses, component behavior, and financial metrics like LCOE or payback.
This 2025 review offers a complete breakdown of PV*SOL’s current capabilities—covering its strengths and limitations, real-world use cases, and how it stacks up against more modern cloud-based solutions like SurgePV, Aurora Solar, or OpenSolar.
We'll walk through the software’s most valuable features, outline who it’s really built for, and highlight what’s new this year—such as expanded PV component libraries, refined LCOE calculations, and updates to its shading horizon visualizations and 3D modeling tools.
If you're evaluating PV*SOL as part of your solar design tech stack—or looking to upgrade from spreadsheet-heavy workflows—this review gives you the insight you need to decide whether it’s still the right fit for your team in 2025.
Developer & Background:
PVSOL is a professional photovoltaic simulation software developed by Valentin Software GmbH, a Berlin-based company established in 1988. With over three decades of experience, Valentin has become a trusted name in PV system design, known for its emphasis on engineering-grade accuracy and technical depth. PVSOL is widely used across Europe and internationally by engineers, EPCs, system designers, and researchers.
PV*SOL is offered in multiple editions to suit varying technical needs and budgets:
The software is tailored for technical professionals—including solar engineers, consultants, academic researchers, and EPCs—who need detailed performance simulations, bankable energy yield forecasts, and loss factor transparency.
Originally launched in 1998, PV*SOL has evolved through more than eight major versions. The 2025 editions feature:
Its legacy and precision make PV*SOL a go-to tool for those prioritizing accuracy and depth over simplicity or design speed.
PV*SOL Premium offers a highly detailed 3D design environment that supports advanced shading analysis. Users can model buildings, trees, terrain contours, and other obstructions with precision. Import options include LIDAR, CAD files (OBJ, DAE), and digital terrain models. The animated sun-path visualization enables hour-by-hour irradiance assessments across the year, critical for shading-sensitive installations.
The software includes robust auto-stringing tools with flexible options for poly-string layouts. Users can configure string lengths, inverter MPPT channels, and system voltages, while simultaneously analyzing electrical losses due to current mismatches, DC cabling, and inverter efficiency. Outputs include full DC/AC schematics and yield curves per configuration.
PV*SOL comes preloaded with global irradiance data from Meteonorm, PVGIS, and NASA-SSE, while also allowing the import of site-specific meteorological files (e.g., TMY, CSV). This ensures climate-specific accuracy for any project location.
Simulates PV system performance with 8,760-hour resolution. Outputs include:
These simulations are considered bankable and are widely accepted in technical and financial documentation.
Advanced financial simulation tools are embedded, including:
This enables users to build incentive-compliant scenarios for both residential and commercial systems.
PV*SOL allows in-depth simulation of self-consumption, energy storage, and time-of-use strategies. Users can define load profiles, storage sizing, cycle limits, battery aging, and charge/discharge logic—essential for hybrid and backup system scenarios.
Full compatibility with DXF, 3DS, DAE, and PVC files makes it easy to import architectural or terrain data. The PhotoPlan tool lets users create basic rooftop geometry by tracing from aerial photographs or scanned images.
Generates comprehensive documentation:
These reports are ideal for both client presentation and permitting.
PV*SOL is a Windows-only desktop application, requiring local installation. It does not support macOS or Linux systems natively, meaning Mac users must rely on virtualization tools like Parallels or Boot Camp. There is no browser-based or mobile version, which makes it less flexible for remote teams or field use.
The interface is function-focused but visually dated. The UI prioritizes control and technical flexibility over aesthetics, which may appear overwhelming for first-time users. Menus are dense, icons are not always intuitive, and settings are buried within submenus. However, once mastered, the software offers granular control over every simulation parameter—from electrical topology to meteorological imports.
While PV*SOL is highly accurate, it is also resource-intensive. Large-scale simulations (e.g., >7,000 modules or multi-inverter systems) can lead to notable performance slowdowns, especially during 3D rendering or hourly yield simulation. The software benefits from high-RAM setups (16 GB+), dedicated graphics cards, and multi-core CPUs. Without this, design workflows and export times can lag.
PV*SOL has a steep learning curve, particularly for users unfamiliar with solar modeling terminology or engineering workflows. Detailed configuration settings, multi-tab interfaces, and nested menus make it more complex than cloud-based alternatives. However, Valentin Software provides robust learning support, including:
New users should expect to invest 5–10 hours of self-guided training before becoming proficient with basic simulations.
Despite its complexity, PV*SOL excels in structured engineering environments, especially for:
It handles grid-tied, self-consumption, and hybrid systems equally well, making it a top choice for EPCs needing high-accuracy simulations over aesthetic presentation.
PV*SOL offers tiered pricing based on product functionality and user type. All licenses are seat-based and require renewal on an annual or quarterly basis.
Included in the annual fee:
“Very intuitive regarding the choice of the orientation of the PV modules… makes you faster in processing.”
“Friendly user-interface which is easy to navigate… simplifies the process.”
“Its user friendly interface and accurate calculations make my job more manageable… saves time and effort.”
“User friendliness could be improved to reduce the steep learning curve.”
“Lacks advanced tracking or complex shading scenarios.”
PV*SOL remains a top-tier simulation engine in 2025—engineered for users who demand technical precision. With detailed 8,760-hour energy modeling, bankable P50/P90 outputs, and extensive inverter/battery libraries, it is one of the most trusted tools for feasibility studies, financial modeling, and project certification. However, that power comes at a cost: a steep learning curve, a desktop-only workflow, and time-intensive setup.
SurgePV delivers the same energy accuracy—plus LIDAR-based shading, EEG-ready tariffs, and instant, German-language proposals in a fraction of the time.
📅 Book a Free SurgePV Demo Built for German Workflows
Join a 30-minute live session to see how SurgePV models your roof, simulates tariff earnings, and generates a complete proposal—faster than PV*SOL, with no spreadsheets.
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