Utility-scale solar design software, compared
Up to 96% reported design-time reduction (customer-reported)
One design environment for utility-scale solar: layout, civil, structural, electrical, energy, and cost in a single model.
Used by more than half of the top U.S. utility-scale EPCs as part of their workflow.
PVFARM, PVcase Ground Mount, RatedPower pvDesign, and Autodesk Civil 3D are four tools used to design utility-scale solar projects. This page compares them across 50 capabilities in seven areas, from BIM and layout to civil, electrical, energy, quantities, and collaboration, based on each vendor’s public product pages as of November 2026. The main difference is where the work happens: PVcase Ground Mount runs inside AutoCAD, Civil 3D is a desktop civil design suite, and RatedPower pvDesign and PVFARM run in the browser, with PVFARM keeping every discipline in one connected BIM model under a single license.
Compare how each tool handles 50 capabilities across design, engineering, and collaboration. Filter by discipline, or view all.
Sources reviewed November 2026View sources
Why PVFARM
Sources reviewed November 2026View sources
Sources reviewed November 2026View sources
Sources reviewed November 2026View sources
Browser-based. Windows and macOS. Internet connection required. One license covers every PVFARM workflow.
See pricingAutoCAD/Civil 3D desktop add-in. Windows only. Requires a compatible Autodesk licence
Browser-based. Windows and macOS. Internet connection required
Civil 3D desktop application. Windows only. Requires a Civil 3D licence
Fully native Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment, smart parametric objects
PV-specific DWG model, not BIM
Parametric PV model linking layout
Civil CAD environment, not BIM PV electrical modelling requires additional tools
2D and 3D views: orthographic and perspective Cross-sections A high-performance, custom browser engine built specifically for Solar layouts
2D/3D generic CAD views Cross-sections
2D/3D browser views
2D/3D generic CAD views
2D snapping-aware ruler for spacing/dimensions
Native CAD tools
2D ruler for spacing/dimensions
Native CAD tools
Layout can exceed 8 GWdc. Recommended working size: 700 MW for layout placed on the terrain, electrical design and reporting.
Limited by CAD performance, terrain detail and device resources. No published MW limit.
Up to 5 GWdc Recommended working size: is not confirmed
Limited by CAD performance and surface complexity
The surface area limit within a project is 160 km² (39,537 acres). The distance between the most distant objects in the model is limited to 200 km (124.3 miles).
No published area limit. Large sites may need separate drawings, Xrefs and simplified objects.
The surface area limit within a project is 42.5 km² (10,501 acres). The distance between the most distant objects in the model is limited to 5.0 km (3.1 miles).
No published site-area limit. Large terrain models are managed through surface references and separate drawings.
Company-shared library for: - PV modules, - single-axis trackers, - fixed-tilt racking systems, - string & central inverters, - DC & AC combiners, - transformers, - POI, - LV & MV wires (US & EU wire gauges) - customization is supported - equipment editing is supported
Company-shared library for: - PV modules, - inverters, - equipment editing is supported.
Company-shared library for: - PV modules, - single-axis trackers, - fixed-tilt racking systems, - inverters, - customization is supported
CAD block libraries. No built-in PV database.
Built-in AI recognition of modules, inverters, transformers and CBX/LBD equipment from PDF, JPG, HEIC, WebP, CSV, XLSX and TXT files.
AI recognition of modules and inverters from PDF files.
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
- Single-axis trackers, including terrain-following SAT - Fixed-tilt systems, including terrain-following FT - East-West systems - available in a separate tool: RE PILOT - Multi-row trackers - available as a separate tool: Motorblocking
- Single-axis trackers, including terrain-following SAT - Fixed-tilt systems (terrain-following is not supported) - East-West systems (terrain-following is not supported) - Multi-row trackers
- Single-axis trackers, including terrain-following SAT - Fixed-tilt systems (terrain-following is not supported) - East-West systems (terrain-following is not supported) - Multi-row trackers are not supported
Racking requires custom CAD modelling or a solar design add-in.
- Custom pile spacing - including smart presets and the most popular frame configurations - Motor/joint gaps - PV module gaps, including irregular gaps - Terrain-following settings, including irregular custom configuration - Reusable frame presets - Duplicating from existing projects
- Custom pile spacing - Motor/joint gaps - Terrain-following settings, regular configuration only - Reusable frame presets
- Custom pile spacing - Terrain-following settings, regular configuration only
Custom geometry through CAD objects, Dynamo or add-ins. No solar racking configurator.
Built-in AI recognition of racking drawings for a custom frame setup DXF/DWG file formats Exclusive access
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Custom naming and blocks numbering
Labeling tool
Not available or not confirmed
Native CAD labeling
- Automatic maximum-DC and target-DC layouts - Automatic block target - Automatic Max pitch - Automatic electrical blocking - Respecting project constraints: - pitch (row-to-row space) - GCR - ILR (inverter-loading ratio)
- Automatic maximum-DC and target-DC layouts - Some automatic electrical blocking - Respecting project constraints: - pitch (row-to-row space) - GCR
- Automatic maximum-DC and target-DC layouts - Respecting project constraints: - pitch (row-to-row space) - GCR
Manual layout or solar design add-in required
- Smart equipment editing - Manual blocking - Semi-automated electrical block reassignment
- Manual equipment editing
- Manual electrical block reassignment
PV configurations require manual setup or add-ins
Automatic layout generation to a specific area set with no setting limits
Not all settings can be applied to separate areas
Not all settings can be applied to separate areas
Manual layout or solar design add-in required
- Automatic road-aware layouts, including: - EW access roads - NS access roads - Existing roads - Perimeter roads - Manual roads - Spacing rules - Manual road editing
- Manual roads, including turning radius and add hammerheads - Manual road editing
- Automatic road layouts - Spacing rules - Manual road editing
Not available or not confirmed
Buildable and restricted areas supported - Terrain- and grading-based boundary tools - Equipment and electrical circuit-based boundary tools
Buildable and restricted areas supported
Buildable and restricted areas supported
Parcels, boundaries, offsets and terrain analysis. PV placement rules require additional tools
Automatic generation for boundaries around selected equipment or electrical groups. Terrain-based selection available.
Draw or offset boundaries manually in CAD, including fence as shading object design
Not available or not confirmed
Draw or offset boundaries in CAD
Automatic grading under equipment, linked to surfaces, quantities and costs. Cut/fill volumes and grading maps.
Automatic grading under equipment, linked to surfaces and quantities. Cut/fill volumes and grading maps.
Automatic grading under equipment, linked to surfaces, quantities and costs. Cut/fill volumes and grading maps.
Detailed grading and drainage design. Automated surface optimization through Grading Optimization
Earthwork minimization, Cut/fill balance, Target net volumes, Cut-only and fill-only options.
Earthwork minimization the rest is not confirmed
Earthwork minimization the rest is not confirmed
Earthwork minimization, Cut/fill balance, Target net volumes, Cut-only and fill-only options.
Frame slopes, Terrain slopes (North, South, EW slopes) Daylight slope, Undulation / terrain-following setup using real racking configuration Pile reveal & embedment ranges, Grading window Ground clearance (flooding area support) Vertical exposure
Frame slopes Terrain slope Pile reveal range Ground clearance the rest is not confirmed
Frame slopes, Terrain slopes Undulation / terrain-following setup Pile reveal & embedment ranges, the rest is not confirmed
Terrain slopes
Shrink/swell factors for earthworks and grading. Volume and material quantities with respect to the shrink and swell factors
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Shrink/swell factors for earthworks and grading. Volume and material quantities with respect to the shrink and swell factors
Automatic pile optimization, with or without grading. Pile and steel assessment considers wind loading and equipment position.
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Requires custom algorithms or a solar design add-in.
Configurable length bins, color-coded pile locations, quantification and Excel 3D placement data
Configurable length bins, color-coded locations, group counts and Excel placement data
Not confirmed
Requires custom classification and reporting
Wind exposure included Single-axis tracker and Fixed-tilt piles adjusted by wind load configuration Ability to customise pile types
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Basin simulation with net-balance target
Not available
Not available
Basin simulation with target net volumes
Strings, combiners, inverters and transformers linked in hierarchy, with circuit quantities and SLDs
Strings, combiners, inverters and transformers linked in hierarchy, with circuit quantities and SLDs
Strings, combiners, inverters and transformers linked in hierarchy, with circuit quantities and SLDs
No built-in PV circuit model. Requires electrical software or a solar add-in
String and central inverters. Automatic inverter and block sizing, ILR support
String and central inverters Automation is not confirmed
String and central inverters Automation is not confirmed
No built-in PV inverter tool
- Daisy-chain / Single-row - Leapfrog Custom stringing is not supported
- Daisy-chain / Single row - U-shaped, - Leapfrog, - Custom stringing, with polarity controls - String and equipment naming
- Leapfrog only
No built-in PV stringing tool
Automatic LV routing, Flexible CBX placement Predefined electrical schemes Manual LV editing with automated runtime electrical recalculation
Automatic/Semi-automatic LV routing
Automatic LV routing and CBX placement
Routes drawn manually or generated through custom tools. No PV circuit-based routing.
Automatic sizing for voltage drop, derating and short-circuit requirements
Automatic sizing for voltage drop, derating and short-circuit requirements
Automatic sizing for voltage drop, derating and short-circuit requirements
Requires separate electrical calculations.
LV/MV sizing to voltage-drop limits. Automated optimization and unification by circuits: - wire, - CBX group, - electrical block - full layout.
LV/MV sizing to voltage-drop limits. Optimization and unification are not available or not confirmed
LV/MV sizing to voltage-drop limits. Optimization and unification are not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
- Automatic MV collection routing and sizing - Corridor constraints - Voltage-drop optimization - SLD
- Automatic/Semi-automatic MV collection routing and sizing - Branching - SLD
- Automatic MV collection routing and sizing
Electrical sizing and losses require separate tools
Not available
HV routing including grid-connected sub-stations
Overhead-line and underground HV cable design, including sizing and voltage drop
HV electrical design requires separate tools.
POI calculator to find inverter AC capacity and quantity from target POI power, including electrical losses.
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
Automatically generated from cable routes, respecting buried-cable spacing. Trench dimensions from cable requirements and safety standards.
User-defined trench routes and cable-separation settings.
Automatically generated trenches Details are not defined
Cable-driven generation requires custom automation.
In-app yield, detailed losses, terrain and row shading, bifaciality, export to PVSyst and PlantPredict
QuickYield included for early comparison: flat terrain, row shading, and a bundled loss factor.
Energy assessment supported.
Solar energy modeling requires another tool.
Shading objects include walls, trees, and buildings simulations. Bankable validation can continue in PVsyst.
Terrain-aware detailed simulation uses separate PVcase Yield.
Terrain-aware, module-level 3D energy yield packages are listed as add-ons.
Solar energy modeling requires another tool.
Available as a standalone product: RE STACK
Available
Available
Not available
BoQ/BoM quantities available. Benchmark/custom CapEx templates linked to 3D model quantities, specific cost and LCOE
BoQ/BoM quantities available BoQ/BoM feeds external costing
BoQ/BoM quantities available. Standard/custom CapEx templates linked to quantities, specific cost, LCOE and financial reports.
Civil estimating through quantity takeoff and pay items. No built-in PV LCOE model.
Smart interactive cost map that provides comparative analysis per block or tracker Heat maps: - LCOE - $/W - total cost - including granular analysis by PV modules, PCS, Electrical, Civil, Structural BoS
Not confirmed
Not confirmed
Not available or not confirmed
DXF/SHP/KML/KMZ boundaries DXF existing layouts DXF/LandXML/GeoTIFF/PVFM terrain PNG underlays PAN/OND/DWG/PDF/JPG/HEIC/WebP/CSV/XLSX/ TXT equipment data
DXF/DWG/KML/KMZ boundaries PAN/OND/PDF equipment data Civil 3D TIN/COGO objects need conversion for terrain use
DXF/KML/KMZ boundaries CSV XYZ terrain
DWG/DXF, LandXML, survey/point data, DEM/GeoTIFF Civil 3D TIN/COGO objects need conversion for terrain use
DXF / KML / IFC - layout COLLADA / SHD / CSV for PVSyst - 3D shading scene and terrain data CSV / LandXML / GeoTIFF - terrain XLSX - BoQ/BoM PDF - full project report
DWG / DXF / KML - layout LandXML / GeoTIFF - terrain XLSX - BoQ/BoM export to PVSyst
DWG / DXF / KML - layout PVsyst PVC scenes CSV - terrain XLSX - BoQ/BoM
DWG/DXF, LandXML
BoQ/BoM LCOE & Cost report SLDs CAD drawings Energy report PDF report Shared company templates Reports are not limited
BoQ/BoM SLDs CAD drawings
BoQ/BoM Financial report SLDs CAD drawings Energy report Deliverables depend on the package
BoQ/BoM Civil drawings The rest require other tools
Equal-privilege service. Private or company-wide projects, with real-time co-editing for authorized teammates. Company-shared equipment library. Company-shared report templates.
Hybrid service (could require cloud project permissions) Company-shared equipment library
Role-based service Private / Public projects Simultaneous editing of one model
Shared references/templates and Autodesk cloud collaboration. Some services require additional subscriptions
Manually saved project versioning Works like 'Save as' and creates a new version within a project. Creates project change log
Manually saved DWG drawings Works like 'Save' or 'Save as' and creates a new DWG file. The project's change log is not supported.
Manually saved project versioning Works like 'Save as' and creates a new version within a project. Creates project change log
Drawing/reference management and cloud document versions
Available
Available as Enterprise APIs
Available
.NET/COM APIs and Dynamo for custom automation
Batch creation of over a 1,000,000 simulations with yield, cost, LCOE, capacity metrics in one with multiple parameter optimization Available as a standalone product: RE PILOT
Batch creation of up to 100 simulations, Dependent on few parameters only for quick yield and capacity estimates
Batch creation of up to 10 simulations Dependent on few parameters only for quick yield and capacity estimates
No built-in PV design batch workflow
Project versions comparison
Pinned layout iterations and drawing-file versions
Design cloning for scenario comparison
Not available or not confirmed
Available: - AI datasheet recognition - AI DWG racking recognition - PV design AI assistant - personal AI assistant within a project - PDF customization AI assistant
Available: - AI datasheet recognition - PV design AI assistant
Available: - PV design AI assistant
Available: - Autodesk Assistant provides guidance and drawing-context assistance
PVFARM, PVcase Ground Mount, RatedPower pvDesign, and Autodesk Civil 3D all support utility-scale solar design, but each fits a different workflow. PVcase Ground Mount suits teams standardized on AutoCAD, RatedPower pvDesign suits browser-based generation of PV and hybrid designs, and Civil 3D suits civil-first work like grading, roads, and drainage. PVFARM suits teams that want layout, civil, structural, electrical, energy, and cost in a single browser-based BIM model, with every workflow under a single license.
Comparison last reviewed November 2026.
This comparison covers PVFARM’s solar engineering platform. Designing battery storage? See RE STACK. Exploring PV + BESS configurations before detailed engineering? See RE PILOT.
It would take hours to populate the data needed to give a customer what they needed to install the piles, and then to iterate that process when even small changes are made is really the difficult part.
At the end of the day, you need to design according to what’s actually available out there. PVFARM is the only platform I’ve seen that’s made it possible for us... it actually makes it possible to design something that’s ultimately buildable.
You can churn out a DXF that has full wiring, piles, everything in let’s say an hour. Which is not really possible with anything else.
Yes. PVFARM is a browser-based alternative to PVcase Ground Mount for utility-scale solar design. PVcase Ground Mount runs as an AutoCAD plugin; PVFARM requires no desktop CAD application and keeps layout, civil, structural, electrical, energy, and cost in a single connected model. Teams can still export DXF when drawings are finished in CAD. See how PVFARM works as solar design software for utility-scale teams.
No. PVFARM runs fully in the browser, with no desktop CAD install. It supports industry-standard input and output formats, including DXF, LandXML, GeoTIFF, CSV, and PVsyst SHD files, and exports equipment to IFC for BIM handoff. That lets it fit alongside existing AutoCAD and Civil 3D workflows.
Yes. PVFARM has been tested on gigawatt-plus projects with complex terrain. In an internal evaluation of a typical 500 MW site, most individual calculations, including layout, LV/MV trenching, grading, and pile checks, ran in under about 2 minutes each. Actual runtime depends on model complexity, terrain detail, hardware, and connection.
PVFARM exports DXF drawings, LandXML, GeoTIFF, CSV, PVsyst SHD files, PDF and spreadsheet reports, plus equipment export to IFC for BIM handoff. Quantities and reports are linked to the 3D model, so exports reflect the current design rather than a stale copy.
PVFARM capabilities are outlined in the PVFARM product documentation. Runtime figures are PVFARM internal evaluations, labeled as such in the table; actual runtime varies. Competitor capabilities are based on each vendor’s public product pages as of November 2026. Products change often, so if anything here is out of date, please let us know at info@pvfarm.io.
Bring a site and the decisions you need to test. We’ll show you how the design responds.
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