Subscription

Which license should I get?

We generally find that people prefer our Premium license, which gives the full benefit of Aurora’s industry-leading accuracy and technology, and is a must for production-ready system design. Beyond the Basic plan, it includes monthly shading analysis, bankable shade reports, and advanced performance simulations (see more on our pricing page). The Basic plan tends to suit those who are looking to make initial estimates and proposals.

Is there a yearly contractual commitment?

There’s no yearly commitment if you are on a monthly plan. However, you can prepay for a year and receive a 15% discount.

Is there a free trial?

There is currently no trial, however, we offer a 14-day moneyback guarantee period.

What kind of training support do you offer?

We start all of our clients with a one hour one-on-one training session conducted via screenshare. Afterwards, you are free to schedule a half hour session with any of our customer success team at any point that you need help. Our customer success team is always eager to help if you can’t find an answer in our comprehensive Help Center with documentation, guides, videos and dozens of answers to Aurora’s most frequently asked questions.

Who uses your software?

Aurora is used across the solar industry – from independent installers to module manufactures to large corporate contractors.

Can more than one user be on the account at the same time?

Only one person can be logged in to a user account at a time. Please register for additional accounts for other users.

Is there a limit to the number of projects I can create per license?

Nope! You can create as many projects as you want with a single license.

Where do I download your software?

Aurora is a cloud-based web application and does not require any download. Simply sign in on the website. We recommend Google Chrome for the best performance.

What countries can I use the software in?

Aurora will work anywhere where there is weather data. Solar installers in the US, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines and other countries are happy Aurora users. If you have any questions about localization, please contact our Sales team.

Features

How accurate is your shading analysis compared to Solmetric?

Our shading analysis is within ±3% accuracy of Solmetric readings taken on a rooftop for sites that have LIDAR data, and within ±5% for sites without LIDAR. You can find out more by reading the NREL validation report.

What type of financial products can I model?

You can model cash payments, loans, leases, and PPAs in Aurora for residential systems. You can also include incentives, rebates, or grants in your calculations.

How long does it take to create a proposal?

After getting everything set up and running, our experienced users craft complete professional proposals in under 15 minutes.

Can I create electrical drawings or diagrams?

Yes, we have a single line diagram generator that converts the system you designed into a DXF file that you can use for permitting. You can also print single line diagrams directly from the software.

What is LIDAR? How does it help?

Light Detection and Ranging is a technology that can be used to remotely model building heights, roof slopes, and tree heights. It can also calculate irradiance (sunlight) and shading. LIDAR expedites the solar design process and provides more accurate site and shading analysis.

Do you have LIDAR support for my area?

Our LIDAR availability map shows where we currently have support for LIDAR data.

Who accepts your shade reports?

Our shade reports are accepted by NYSERDA, ONCOR, MassCEC, and more for rebates. Several financiers also honor Aurora’s Shade Reports. Click to see our current list.

Do I have to build a 3D model?

It is not required, however in order to get accurate results from shading analysis and performance simulation engine, you need to create a 3D model of the home.

What is submodule level simulation?

Submodule simulation is the ability to model energy production down to the individual cell strings inside solar panels. It makes Aurora’s the only engine to simulate the effects of partial shade on panels, bypass diodes, and integrated optimizers.

What makes you different from PVWatts or PVsyst?

PVWatts and PVsyst are aggregate array-level calculators that may be sufficient for rough estimates, whereas Aurora is a cell string-level simulator that builds a circuit model for each and every component, creating simulations that more accurately reflect your system’s performance.

How up to date are your component databases?

We stay up to date with all the new releases from manufacturers. Our users also have the ability to send us datasheets for specific components.

Where do you get your rate structure info? Can I add my own rates?

OpenEI. Yes, you can add your own rates or request us to update rates for you if you would like.

Where do you get your satellite imagery from?

We pull images from the Google Maps API by default, but you can always upload your own imagery as well.

Where do you get your weather data sets? How accurate are they?

We have the most accurate weather files available – TMY3 from NREL.