Solar energy is now more accessible than ever. It’s also a great way for people and business owners to reduce their energy bills while lowering their carbon footprint. With that said, you need to know the potential that your property has when it comes to solar energy. If you don’t, then you may find it harder to understand how much you could save, and how much of a difference your panels are going to make to your carbon emissions. If you want to find out more, then there are three primary tools that you should be considering. They are PVWatts, Google Project Sunroof, and Wolf River Electric’s AI Solar Calculator. While each one serves a purpose, it’s important to know how they compare overall.
PVWatts is Simple and Straightforward
The PVWatts calculator is simple. Developed by the NREL, or National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it’s one of the most widely used calculators in the US. It’s great as it provides you with a quick and reliable estimate as to how much your system can produce, with the result expressed in kWh. All you have to do is enter a location, a system size, and a few other basic details. You also have the option to add tilt and orientation.
As this tool is very simple and easy to use, it’s best for homeowners who want a solid starting point and who want to learn about the benefits of going solar. It uses irradiance data from several trusted databases and offers solid baseline predictions. It doesn’t, however, account for things like rooftop shading or detailed characteristics that your home might have, unless you set a certain percent based loss factor but that might not be the most accurate way since only one panel might be shaded rather than the whole system. If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to explore the benefits of solar without overcomplicating the process, however, then this is one of the best tools on the market for that.
Google Project Sunroof
Google Project Sunroof elevates the calculator experience by merging visuals with great data analytics. The tool uses imagery from Google Maps, in combination with LIDAR data, to examine the general potential of your roof. This is done in a way that is easy to understand for those who may be new to the concept of solar. When you enter your address, it will overlay your home’s image with various sun exposure graphics. This will show you which parts of the roof receive the most sunlight. With that said, it doesn’t account for actual layout, solar panel dimensions, fire setbacks, inverter efficiency, and other factors.
One of the things that makes this tool stand out is how user-friendly it is. If you are new to solar and you want a clear and engaging overview of how solar-ready your property is, then this tool is one of the best fits out there. The ability to see how much sunlight hits your roof helps to make the concept of solar feel much more actionable.
Wolf River Electric Solar Calculator
Wolf River Electric’s Solar Calculator is another standout choice. It’s one of the most advanced option on the market right now for those who are looking for a streamlined experience. Unlike other calculators that use manual inputs, this combines 3D home modeling, AI intelligence, roof pitch, shade, panel dimensions, and even orientation. Local weather conditions are also taken into account to create a solar production estimate that you can use to your advantage. It also uses LIDAR data to assess the shade from the surrounding areas and to account for things like height and crown diameter of trees and size of the surrounding buildings. When it comes to solar design, this is often overlooked, showing what a critical feature it is.
This calculator goes above and beyond, too. Instead of offering rough figures, it provides you with a clear blueprint that you can use for your actual solar installation. If you’re serious about solar, then this is probably the tool you should be using
Ultimately, choosing the best solar calculator largely comes down to where you are in your journey. If you’re just starting, then using the one by PVWatts is a good option. If you are looking to see how much exposure your roof has to the sun, then using Google Project Sunroof is a good alternative. If you are thinking about an installation and want something precise and accurate, then Wolf River Electric’s tool remains great option in 2025, so be sure to look into that if you want a quick and accurate way to forecast your solar panel energy generation.
