Plan PV systems – from drone photo to yield simulation
Plan and sell photovoltaic systems with a single piece of software. autarc covers the entire planning process: from roof measurement via photogrammetry to automatic module layout and shading analysis, all the way to financial feasibility calculations.
What is the autarc
PV planning module?
The autarc PV planning module is a software platform for the complete design of rooftop PV systems. It combines photogrammetry, module layout, string planning, shading analysis, and financial feasibility calculations into a single application. This allows solar installers and electrical contractors to digitize the entire planning process, from the initial drone photo to the final quote.
As seen in
What features does the PV planning module include?
Why is roof surveying the bottleneck in PV planning?
Roof surveying is the bottleneck because most companies perform it manually on-site – an employee drives to the customer, measures the roof with a tape measure or laser, and then transfers the dimensions into design software. For complex roof shapes (dormers, chimneys, skylights), this takes several hours per building. Every inaccurate measurement propagates throughout the entire planning process: incorrect module areas, unrealistic yield forecasts, and rework on the construction site.
The alternative – a professional drone flight with external analysis – only partially solves the problem. With most providers, the analysis takes 24 hours, costs separately per model, and delivers a result that must be manually imported into the design software. Thus, surveying remains the bottleneck: a time-consuming choke point between customer contact and proposal generation.
Why do many solar installers rely on gut feeling instead of calculations for string planning?
Many solar installers plan strings manually because their design software doesn't automate this step or because it's in a separate tool. However, string planning – meaning how modules are electrically connected and distributed among inverters – determines the actual annual yield of a PV system. Incorrect configurations lead to mismatch losses that accumulate over 20 years. The result: the error rate increases, planning time grows, and proposals are less reliable.
How does PV planning work with autarc?
Measure your roof
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Simply survey the roof using a standard commercial drone. All relevant roof areas and obstacles are digitally captured, providing the foundation for further PV planning.
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Create 3D roof model
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Photogrammetry converts 25 to 75 drone photos into a centimeter-accurate 3D model, complete with roof surfaces, pitch angles, obstacles, and precise measurements. The finished model is ready in the software within 15 minutes. Solar installers can capture the drone photos directly on-site with the customer and begin planning during the appointment itself.
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Automatically place modules
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The module placement calculates the optimal positioning of all modules on the 3D roof model – automatically or via drag-and-drop, even for complex roof shapes with dormers and offsets.
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Calculate strings and shading
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The string planning automatically distributes the modules to strings and MPP trackers. The shading analysis calculates the shading losses of each individual module throughout the year – based on the real 3D model, not on estimated values.
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Simulate profitability and create an offer
The system simulation calculates annual yield, self-consumption rate, payback period, and return on investment – including storage and wallbox if required. The results are directly integrated into the offer creation of the autarc office module.
Which businesses is the autarc PV planning module suitable for?
Solar installers and electrical contractors
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...who plan rooftop systems for private homes and commercial properties and want to significantly reduce the planning effort per project.
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HVAC businesses with PV offerings
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...who want to plan heat pumps and photovoltaics in one go and offer them as a combined project.
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Businesses without their own surveying equipment
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...who receive precise roof models via photogrammetry service – without investing in equipment.
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Startups and growing businesses
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...who want to plan digitally from the start and work without CAD software or separate planning tools.
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What do solar installers achieve with the PV planning module?
1,200+ companies rely on our software.
Less planning effort. More closed deals.
Additional modules: Everything in one software
Office
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Heating design
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Thanks to LiDAR scanning and AI-supported data collection, autarc saves you up to 12 hours when planning and installing a heat pump. Buildings, rooms, and heating surfaces are captured digitally and made directly available for heat load calculations, hydraulic balancing, and heat pump design.
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Construction site
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With the Field App, your technicians have all project information right on their smartphone or tablet. Document construction progress and create acceptance reports easily and conveniently. Offline work is supported. Data synchronizes automatically as soon as an internet connection is available again.
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Services
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autarc supports you with grant applications, the creation of energy performance certificates, grid connection, and oil tank disposal. This allows you to handle all essential administrative steps directly from the software, significantly reducing your office workload.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does autarc cost for PV planning?
Do I need my own drone for PV planning with autarc?
How accurate is the 3D roof model from photogrammetry?
Can autarc perform string planning automatically?
How does autarc's shading analysis work?
Can autarc simulate PV systems with a wallbox and storage together?
Which roof types can autarc process for PV planning?
