Key Takeaways
- SurgePV is an all-in-one solar design, simulation, and proposal platform
- Solargis is a solar resource data and yield assessment API — not a design tool
- Solargis offers industry-leading irradiance data but zero design capabilities
- SurgePV includes everything from roof layout to permit packages in one platform
- Teams needing Solargis-branded bankable reports may use both tools together
- For residential and commercial installers, SurgePV replaces the need for Solargis
Quick Comparison
Our Verdict
SurgePV and Solargis serve different purposes. If you need to design solar systems, generate customer proposals, and produce permit documentation, SurgePV is the only viable choice. If you need the highest-resolution solar resource data for utility-scale bankable reports, Solargis is the industry standard. Most solar installers and EPCs will find SurgePV covers their entire workflow without needing Solargis.
Company Overview
SurgePV
SurgePV is a cloud-based solar design software platform built for solar installers, EPCs, and developers. It combines satellite imagery, AI-powered auto-design, 8760-hour shade simulation, proposal generation, and native electrical engineering in a single browser-based tool.
Teams can go from address entry to a branded proposal in minutes. The platform supports residential rooftops, commercial projects up to 5MW, ground-mount arrays, carport solar, and utility-scale design. All features are included in every plan, with no required add-ons.
Solargis
Solargis, operated by the Slovak company GeoModel Solar, is a specialized provider of solar resource data and photovoltaic energy yield assessment. It maintains one of the most accurate and high-resolution solar irradiance databases in the world, with data granularity down to 250 meters and historical time series dating back to 2000.
Solargis is not a design platform. It does not create panel layouts, roof models, or electrical diagrams. Instead, it provides irradiance maps, meteorological data feeds, and yield simulation reports that other software platforms or consulting engineers use as inputs.
Feature Comparison Table
Here is a detailed feature-by-feature breakdown comparing SurgePV vs Solargis across the capabilities that matter most to solar professionals.
| Feature | SurgePV | Solargis |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Based | ✓ (Browser, any OS) | ✓ (Web portal + API) |
| Panel Layout / Design | ✓ (AI-powered auto-design) | ✗ |
| Satellite Imagery | ✓ (Google & Nearmap) | ✗ |
| 3D Roof Modeling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Energy Yield Simulation | ✓ (8760-hour simulation) | ✓ (Industry-leading accuracy) |
| Solar Irradiance Database | High-quality meteo data | ✓ (250m resolution, global) |
| Bankable Reports | Growing acceptance | ✓ (Accepted by major lenders) |
| Shade Analysis | ✓ (8760-hour shade maps) | Basic horizon shading |
| Auto Panel Layout | ✓ (AI-powered) | ✗ |
| String Sizing | ✓ (Auto-stringing) | ✗ |
| Single-Line Diagrams (SLD) | ✓ (Native) | ✗ |
| Three-Line Diagrams | ✓ (Native) | ✗ |
| Bill of Materials | ✓ (Detailed with pricing) | ✗ |
| Permit Package Generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Proposal Generation | ✓ (Web + PDF) | ✗ |
| Financial Modeling | ✓ (Global, multi-currency) | Basic economic metrics |
| Battery Storage Design | ✓ | ✗ |
| Commercial Projects (>100kW) | ✓ (Full workflow, up to 5MW) | ✓ (Yield assessment only) |
| Utility-Scale | ✓ (Design + simulation) | ✓ (Yield assessment only) |
| API Access | ✓ (All plans) | ✓ (Primary delivery method) |
| Historical Weather Data | Typical meteorological year | ✓ (2000-present, multiple years) |
Solar Data and Irradiance
SurgePV Solar Data
SurgePV includes meteorological data suitable for design and proposal work. The platform sources typical meteorological year (TMY) data for global locations and integrates it into the 8760-hour simulation engine. For most residential and commercial projects, this data is accurate enough to produce reliable production estimates and customer-facing proposals.
The shadow analysis engine uses this data to produce hour-by-hour shade maps across the year, helping installers identify obstruction patterns and optimize panel placement.
Solargis Solar Data
Solargis is widely regarded as the gold standard for solar resource data. Its database offers:
- 250-meter spatial resolution for global coverage
- Historical time series from 2000 to present
- Multiple data delivery formats: web maps, time series, PDF reports, and REST API
- Bankable energy yield reports accepted by major lenders and independent engineers
For utility-scale projects where financing depends on the accuracy of the yield estimate, Solargis data is often specified by name in lender requirements. This is its primary advantage over the meteorological data included in design platforms.
Pro Tip
If your project requires Solargis-branded data for lender acceptance, you can design the system in SurgePV and export the system parameters to Solargis for the final yield report. This gives you the best of both workflows.
Design and Engineering Capabilities
SurgePV Design and Engineering
SurgePV provides the complete design workflow in one platform. Teams can draw roof outlines on satellite imagery, use AI-powered auto-design to generate optimized panel layouts, and run an 8760-hour shade simulation — all without leaving the application.
The platform also includes native electrical engineering: automatic string sizing, SLD generation, three-line diagrams, wire sizing calculations, and permit package creation. For teams that currently use separate tools for design, simulation, and engineering, SurgePV replaces all of them.
Solargis Design and Engineering
Solargis has no design or engineering capabilities. It does not create panel layouts, roof models, string configurations, or electrical diagrams. It expects users to input a pre-designed system with module counts, tilt angles, azimuths, and loss factors, then returns energy yield estimates.
For the design portion of the workflow, Solargis users must rely on a separate platform — such as SurgePV, PVsyst, or another design tool — to create the system layout before running the yield assessment.
Pricing Comparison
SurgePV and Solargis use fundamentally different pricing models. SurgePV is a subscription-based software platform. Solargis is a data service priced per project or by API volume.
| Pricing Aspect | SurgePV | Solargis |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Annual subscription | Per-project or API volume |
| Starting Price | $1,499/year (3 users) | ~€50-200 per site report |
| Premium | $1,299/user/year (5 users) | €5,000-50,000+/yr (API) |
| Design Software Included? | ✓ Yes (full platform) | ✗ No design tools |
| Proposal Generation Included? | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Engineering Documents Included? | ✓ Yes (SLDs, permits) | ✗ No |
| Best For Budget | Teams doing 10+ projects/year | Consultants needing data only |
SurgePV $1,499 (unlimited projects) vs Solargis reports + design tool + proposal tool: $3,500-8,000+Replace Multiple Tools With One Platform
Design, simulate, propose, and generate permit packages — all in one platform, starting at $1,499/year.
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Best For
The right choice depends on what you need from your software stack. Use this decision matrix to find the best fit.
| Your Situation | Choose SurgePV | Choose Solargis |
|---|---|---|
| Need to design solar systems | ✓ | |
| Need customer-facing proposals | ✓ | |
| Need electrical engineering (SLDs) | ✓ | |
| Need permit package generation | ✓ | |
| Residential solar installer | ✓ | |
| Commercial EPC (under 5MW) | ✓ | |
| All-in-one platform (no add-ons) | ✓ | |
| Budget-conscious teams | ✓ | |
| Need highest-resolution irradiance data | ✓ | |
| Bankable reports for lenders/investors | ✓ | |
| Utility-scale due diligence projects | ✓ | |
| Need historical weather data back to 2000 | ✓ | |
| Data-only workflow (no design) | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SurgePV and Solargis?
SurgePV is an all-in-one solar design platform that includes panel layout, 3D modeling, electrical engineering, and proposal generation. Solargis is a solar resource data and yield assessment API that provides high-resolution irradiance data and bankable energy yield reports.
Does Solargis include solar design tools?
No. Solargis does not include panel layout, roof design, string sizing, or electrical engineering. It is a data and simulation service. You need a separate design platform like SurgePV to create the system layout before Solargis can simulate it.
Can SurgePV replace Solargis?
For most solar installers and EPCs, SurgePV’s built-in 8760-hour simulation and meteorological data are sufficient. SurgePV replaces Solargis when you need design, simulation, and proposals in one platform. Teams that require Solargis-branded bankable reports for specific lenders may still use it alongside SurgePV.
Which has better solar irradiance data, SurgePV or Solargis?
Solargis is widely regarded as having the highest-resolution and most accurate solar resource database, with data down to 250 meters and historical time series from 2000 onward. SurgePV uses high-quality meteorological data suitable for design and proposal work. For projects where the lender explicitly requires Solargis data, SurgePV can integrate or reference it.
Is Solargis a direct competitor to SurgePV?
Not directly. Solargis is a data and simulation API. SurgePV is a full design and engineering platform. Many teams use SurgePV for design and proposals while referencing Solargis data for utility-scale yield assessments.
How does pricing compare between SurgePV and Solargis?
SurgePV starts at $1,499 per year for three users with all features included. Solargis pricing is project-based or API-volume-based, typically ranging from a few hundred euros for a single site assessment to tens of thousands for enterprise API access. The two products serve different budgets and use cases.
Can I use SurgePV and Solargis together?
Yes. This is a common setup. Teams use SurgePV for design, proposals, and day-to-day simulation, then export system parameters to Solargis for bankable yield reports on large-scale or financed projects.
Which is better for residential solar installers?
SurgePV is the clear choice for residential installers. It handles roof design, panel placement, shading, and customer proposals. Solargis has no design or proposal capabilities and is overkill for typical residential projects.
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