At Solargraf, to continue offering innovative solutions that keep your business at the forefront of the solar industry, we’ve introduced several new revolutionary features in last quarter. From expanding existing solar systems, comparing multiple battery options to generating install-ready permit plan sets, our new advancements will improve the economies of solar, save time, and reduce cost while maximizing productivity.
System design
System expansion: Easily expand existing solar and storge systems by adding panels to meet energy shortfalls and lower utility bills.
LIDAR update: Users will now be able to load low resolution LiDAR in areas where high-resolution LiDAR is not available.
New image sources: Added Google Maps HD & Azure (Bing) map integrations for enhanced aerial imagery, particularly in rural areas and international regions.
Inverter validation in design: Solargraf designs that include at least one panel, must now include a valid inverter before calculating production numbers. Users will be required to select an inverter for all designs and will be unable to create custom inverters for projects.
Battery design tool revamp: Compare and customize battery options from over 25 manufacturers with our newly designed tool, which is designed to tailor for self-consumption, backup, or savings goals supporting both export mode and grid-tied solutions.
Flexible EV charging profiles and EV enhancements: Users can configure custom electric vehicles (EVs) not listed in the dropdown, with the ability to model EV charging profiles based on charger capacity. Solargraf will also allow you to adjust the EV charging start time based on the homeowner’s preference.
Busbar PCS: Configure busbar PCS to avoid main panel upgrade during solar designs. Solargraf’s Busbar PCS solution monitors the input sources of current into the main panel to limit the current within the main panel’s busbar limit.
ROI and payback display: The data dialog located at the top-right corner of the design tool now features a “Financials” tab which shows utility bill offset, ROI and payback period for a cash deal.
Demand charges: Solargraf has the capability to accurately model peak demand (kW) charges for both commercial and residential tariffs, enhancing cost prediction accuracy. The bill calculation considers accurate time-of-use and tiering of demand rates and calculates demand charges. This change will impact all bill calculations with tariffs containing demand charges across the US. Users can choose the appropriate billing demand type in utility settings as per tariff data.
Permit design
DIY permit generation: Transform solar and storage proposals into install ready, AHJ-compliant permit plan sets in just a few clicks through the power of automation.
Grid-tied support for SLD and permits: Users will be able to generate permit-ready single line diagrams and self-serve permits for Grid-tied mode on the IQ battery 5P.
MPPT validation: Create optimal string designs that maximize power output and ensure efficient MPPT operation. Solargraf supports string design validation and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) verification for string inverter systems.
Up-to-date AHJ database: Users will be able to review 200+ data attributes associated with each Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) covering solar and storage design, proposal and permitting requirements in detail. The database contains more than 16,000 AHJ records across all 50 states.
Global
Stringing in Canada: Canadian installers can add string inverters to their solar designs and perform stringing.
Dynamic tariff grid connection: When a user selects dynamic tariff, grid connection type will be enabled for editing in the utility settings for Netherlands users.
Incentives
Grid services incentive: The Duke Powerpair incentive has been added as a global incentive in Solargraf and can now be applied through incentive settings on qualifying projects.
Domestic content Tax Credit (10%): A new pair of federal incentives has been added to the global database, for both residential and commercial projects, applicable on the loan type financing option for projects with sufficient US based components.
USDA REAP Grant update: The USDA REAP Grant with incentives up to 50% of project cost has been added to Solargraf. Older USDA REAP Grant incentives allowing up to 25% of project cost still exists for older projects.
Others
New proposal settings: Users can find proposal settings under a new section in company settings. This includes settings for change in proposal language, T&C, timeline and quote email.
Upload negative usage: Users can upload grid export/import data (negative usage) in CSV/GBD file formats.
Support PDF upload for proposal orders: Users can upload an image or PDF while placing a PaaS order to convey specific details related to the project.
Fixed charge: Users can configure a fixed charge as part of custom tariffs.
Design tool canvas revamp: The data dialog inside the design tool and web shade report have been updated with a cleaner UI to conform with the new snackbar design.
Panel placement UX improvements: Improved UX for selecting an array vs an individual panel.
Solargraf’s newest features mark an exciting leap forward, empowering you with the most advanced platform in the industry. Whether you’re looking to compare multiple battery options, expand existing systems, or generate compliant permit plan sets, we’ve got you covered. Additionally, the introduction of Busbar power control system and demand charge analysis ensures that your designs are more efficient, accurate, and profitable than ever. These innovations are designed to save you time, boost your productivity, and help you offer more value to your customers.
Stay ahead of the competition with these cutting-edge features and watch your solar business thrive!
Stay tuned for more updates and enhancements as we innovate and improve our solar design tool to serve your needs better.
Schedule a demo with our experts to learn about these enhanced features and updates.
United States
Germany/Austria
Brazil
Netherlands