User Guide

Everything you need to know about using SunTrace3D to analyze solar potential, simulate shadows, and estimate energy yield for any location worldwide.

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Video Tutorials

3D Solar Simulation Software Demo

Ground Mount Solar Farm — Full Engineering Walkthrough

SunTrace3D for Homeowners

SunTrace3D for Garden & Landscape

1

Getting Started

SunTrace3D is a browser-based 3D solar analysis tool. No installation, plugins, or sign-up is required to get started. Simply open the viewer and explore.

1

Open the Viewer

Click 'Open Viewer' from the home page. The default demo location (Pula, Croatia) loads automatically with a photorealistic 3D model.

2

Search a Location

Use the search bar in the header to find any address worldwide. The 3D model updates instantly when you select a new location.

3

Explore Shadows

Use the time slider at the bottom to see how shadows change throughout the day. Pick any date with the date picker.

SunTrace3D viewer overview showing 3D city model with shadows
The SunTrace3D viewer showing the 3D city model of Pula, Croatia with real-time shadow simulation
4

Shadow Simulation

SunTrace3D calculates accurate sun positions using the SunCalc library, which computes solar altitude and azimuth based on your location's latitude, longitude, date, and time. Shadows are cast in real-time using physically-based rendering.

Time Slider

Use the horizontal slider at the bottom of the viewer to scrub through 24 hours. Watch shadows sweep across buildings as the sun moves across the sky.

Date Picker

Select any date in the header to see how shadows change with the seasons. Compare summer solstice (longest day) with winter solstice (shortest day).

Time Animation

Press the play button (or Space key) to animate the sun across the sky. Adjust the speed (15x–120x) and pick any month to compare seasonal shadow patterns. The animation loops through a full day automatically.

Sun animation controls showing play/pause button and time slider
Sun animation in progress — shadows sweep across the scene as time advances automatically

Understanding shadows

Shadow length and direction depend on the sun's altitude (height above the horizon) and azimuth (compass bearing). In the Northern Hemisphere, shadows point north at solar noon. Shadows are longest at sunrise and sunset, and shortest at solar noon. In winter, shadows are longer because the sun stays lower in the sky.

Shadow simulation showing building shadows at different times of day
Real-time shadow simulation — scrub through the day to see how shadows change across buildings
5

Sun Path Visualization

The sun path arc shows the complete trajectory of the sun across the sky for the selected date. A yellow/orange arc traces the sun's position from sunrise to sunset, with the current sun position highlighted.

What the sun path shows

Sun position marker
The bright yellow circle shows the current sun position in the sky
Sun arc
The curved line traces the sun's path from sunrise (east) to sunset (west)
Center marker
Blue pin marks the center of your selected location
Shadow direction
The directional light casts shadows opposite to the sun position
Sun path arc visualization across the sky
The sun path arc shows the complete trajectory of the sun for the selected date
6

Solar Panel Placement

Place virtual solar panels on any rooftop in the 3D model. SunTrace3D calculates irradiance based on panel tilt, azimuth, and shading from surrounding buildings.

How to place solar panels

  1. 1
    Activate panel mode
    Click the solar panel button in the toolbar (bottom-left). This activates the panel placement mode.
  2. 2
    Click on a rooftop
    Click anywhere on a rooftop surface. A virtual solar panel appears at the clicked location.
  3. 3
    Rotate and reposition
    Click a placed panel to select it. Drag it to move to a new roof position. Use the rotation ring or [ ] keys to rotate the panel ±15°.
  4. 4
    Adjust tilt angle
    With a panel selected, use the tilt slider in the sidebar to adjust the inclination angle (-45° to +45° from the roof surface). The panel lifts automatically to avoid clipping through the roof.
  5. 5
    Check orientation quality
    The sidebar shows the panel's surface angle, effective tilt, azimuth, and a star rating for direction quality (e.g. 'S · All-day ★★★★★' for south-facing).
  6. 6
    View energy estimates
    The solar dashboard automatically calculates annual energy yield based on your panel configuration and location. Energy updates in real-time as you adjust tilt and orientation.

Orientation Quality Rating

SunTrace3D rates each panel's orientation on a 5-star scale based on azimuth angle relative to your latitude. South-facing panels (in the northern hemisphere) receive the highest rating. The badge also shows the best sun exposure time — all-day, morning, or afternoon.

Virtual solar panels placed on a rooftop with energy calculations
Place virtual solar panels on rooftops and see real-time energy yield calculations
Panel tilt slider adjusting the inclination angle of a placed solar panel
Adjust the panel tilt angle with the sidebar slider — the panel lifts to prevent roof clipping

Rectangle Array Placement

For larger installations, use Rectangle placement mode to fill an entire roof area with a grid of panels in one drag — much faster than placing panels one by one.

How to place a panel array

  1. 1
    Enter Rectangle mode
    While in Place Panels mode, press R on the keyboard or select 'Rectangle' from the placement dropdown in the toolbar.
  2. 2
    Place a seed panel
    Click on a rooftop surface to place a single panel. This panel becomes the starting point for your grid and is automatically selected.
  3. 3
    Drag to create a grid
    Drag the '+' handle that appears above the selected panel. A live ghost preview shows the grid layout with cyan cells for valid positions and red cells for invalid ones.
  4. 4
    Review and release
    A floating label shows the panel count and total peak power (kWp) in real-time. Release the mouse to commit the array. All placed panels become a group that can be tilted, rotated, or deleted together.

Adjusting Panel Spacing

After placing a panel array, select any panel in the group. A 'Gap between panels' slider appears in the sidebar, allowing you to adjust spacing from 0 to 10 cm. The default gap is 2 cm.

Eraser Mode

Press E to toggle Eraser mode. Click on any placed panel to remove it individually. Press E again to return to the previous placement mode.

Rectangle array placement showing a grid of solar panels
Drag to create a rectangular array of solar panels — the live preview shows panel count and total peak power
7

Shadow Analysis

SunTrace3D automatically analyzes shading from surrounding buildings for every solar panel you place. The system simulates approximately 154 sun positions throughout the year to calculate how much each panel is blocked by nearby geometry.

How shadow analysis works

  1. 1
    Automatic detection
    Shadow analysis begins automatically when you place or move a panel. A spinning indicator shows while the calculation runs.
  2. 2
    Annual sun sampling
    The system simulates sun positions every 15 days throughout the year, sampling every 2 hours during daylight hours — approximately 154 positions in total.
  3. 3
    3D raycasting
    For each sun position, a ray is cast from the panel toward the sun. If a building or other geometry blocks the ray, that time slot is counted as shaded.
  4. 4
    Weighted calculation
    Higher sun positions contribute more weight because the sun delivers more energy at steeper angles. Midday shading therefore impacts the result more than dawn or dusk shading.

How shading affects energy yield

The shading loss percentage is applied as a direct multiplier to the energy yield: a panel with 25% shading loss produces 25% less energy than an identical unshaded panel. Monthly estimates also reflect this — winter months may show higher losses when the sun is lower and more easily blocked by buildings.

Shading indicators

0–10% — Minimal shading, excellent placement
10–30% — Moderate shading, consider repositioning
>30% — Heavy shading, significantly reduced yield
Shadow analysis showing per-panel shading loss percentages
Shadow analysis showing per-panel shading loss from surrounding buildings
8

Energy Yield Analysis

SunTrace3D estimates annual energy yield using the PVGIS (Photovoltaic Geographical Information System) database maintained by the European Commission. PVGIS provides satellite-based solar irradiance data for locations worldwide.

What's calculated

  • Annual energy yield in kWh
  • Peak power output in kW
  • Specific yield (kWh/kWp)
  • Monthly energy production breakdown
  • Shading loss factor
  • System losses (inverter, wiring)

Input parameters

  • Panel tilt angle (0° – 90°)
  • Panel azimuth (compass direction)
  • Total panel area (m²)
  • Panel efficiency (typically 18-22%)
  • Location coordinates (automatic)
  • Local solar irradiance data (PVGIS)

About PVGIS data

PVGIS uses satellite imagery and meteorological data to provide solar irradiance values averaged over many years. The data accounts for typical weather patterns, cloud cover, and atmospheric conditions. System losses of 14% are applied by default to account for inverter efficiency, wiring losses, and temperature effects.

Energy yield dashboard showing annual kWh estimates and monthly breakdown
The energy yield dashboard shows annual production estimates and monthly breakdown charts
33

Solar Wizard

The Solar Wizard automatically detects roof surfaces and places an optimized solar panel layout with a single click. It analyzes shading across the year, avoids obstructed areas, and positions panels for maximum energy production — or to match your specific goal.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Open the Wizard
    Switch to Place mode, then click 'Solar Wizard' in the placement dropdown or press W. The wizard requires a paid plan (Personal or higher).
  2. 2
    Choose Your Goal
    Select from four optimization strategies: Maximize Energy fills the roof, Cover My Bill matches your monthly usage, Best ROI optimizes payback period, and Go Green maximizes environmental impact.
  3. 3
    Click a Roof Surface
    Click anywhere on a roof. The wizard automatically detects the surface boundary and scans the area — you'll see golden cells appear as the detection progresses.
  4. 4
    Watch the Placement
    Panels are placed one by one with a cinematic animation. The wizard selects positions with the lowest shading and groups them together for a clean, professional layout.
  5. 5
    Review & Keep
    Review the estimated annual yield, CO₂ offset, and bill coverage. Click 'Keep Layout' to accept or 'Start Over' to try a different roof or goal. The shading analyzer will automatically refine estimates after placement.
  6. 6
    Select Equipment
    After panel placement, the wizard guides you through equipment selection. An inverter is automatically sized to match your array's DC capacity — for larger systems, multiple inverters are recommended with balanced string distribution. Optionally add a battery, with capacity recommended based on your energy profile and plan tier.
  7. 7
    Final System Summary
    The final results screen shows your complete system at a glance: panel count, annual energy yield, selected inverter(s), battery capacity, CO₂ offset, and estimated bill coverage percentage. Click 'Keep Layout' to commit the design or 'Start Over' to try again.

Optimization Goals

Maximize Energy

Places as many panels as possible on the detected surface for maximum annual energy generation.

Cover My Bill

Enter your monthly electricity usage in kWh, and the wizard places just enough panels to offset it.

Best ROI

Focuses on the least-shaded positions for the fastest return on investment.

Go Green

Maximizes the number of panels to achieve the highest CO₂ offset and environmental impact.

Automatic Equipment Sizing

The wizard auto-selects inverters from the CEC-certified catalog based on your panel array's total DC output. For systems exceeding a single inverter's capacity, it recommends multiple units with even string distribution. Battery recommendations are tier-gated — higher plans unlock larger storage options.

After the wizard places panels, you can still manually adjust individual panels — drag them, rotate with [ and ] keys, or delete with the eraser tool.

34

Ground Mount Arrays

Ground mount arrays let you design solar installations on open terrain rather than rooftops. Draw a boundary polygon on the ground, configure tilt, azimuth, and row spacing, then instantly preview the panel layout before committing.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Select Ground Mount mode
    Click the Ground Mount tool (G) in the toolbar to enter drawing mode. The Ground Mount configuration panel opens in the sidebar.
  2. 2
    Draw the boundary
    Click on the ground to place polygon vertices defining the array area. Close the shape by clicking near the first point — a yellow indicator appears within 3 meters.
  3. 3
    Configure array parameters
    Adjust tilt angle, azimuth, GCR (ground coverage ratio), panel orientation (landscape/portrait), and intra-row gap using the sidebar sliders. The row pitch updates in real time.
  4. 4
    Confirm placement
    Review the preview layout showing valid (cyan) and invalid (red) panel positions within your boundary. Click Confirm to place the array.
  5. 5
    Manage arrays
    View array details in the sidebar including panel count, peak power, tilt, azimuth, GCR, and row pitch. Use the Redraw button to reshape an array with preserved settings, or delete it entirely.

Ground mount arrays require a Pro plan or higher. Pro allows up to 2 arrays with 20 panels total. Business and Enterprise plans include unlimited ground mount arrays.

45

Panel Irradiance Heatmap

Visualize energy performance across your entire panel array with a color-coded heatmap. Each panel is shaded from red (low annual yield) through yellow (mid-range) to green (high yield), making it easy to spot underperforming panels at a glance.

How to use the panel heatmap

  1. 1
    Place solar panels
    Place one or more solar panels on the 3D model and wait for the energy calculation to complete. The annual yield per panel must be computed before the heatmap can be displayed.
  2. 2
    Open the heatmap toggle
    In the Solar sidebar, click the 'Panel Heatmap' button. It appears below the Smart Suggestions section once panels are placed and energy has been calculated.
  3. 3
    Read the gradient legend
    A color legend appears in the bottom-left corner of the viewer showing the min and max annual kWh values. Red panels produce the least energy; green panels produce the most.
  4. 4
    Toggle off
    Click the heatmap button again to return panels to their default color scheme.

Shadow-Aware Analysis

The heatmap reflects real shading conditions. Panels blocked by nearby buildings, trees, or imported 3D models will show lower yield and warmer colors.

Color Gradient

Red indicates the lowest annual yield in the array. Yellow marks mid-range performance. Green marks the highest-performing panels. The gradient automatically scales to your array's min/max values.

Use the heatmap to compare panels with different orientations or shading conditions. Panels facing away from the sun or in heavy shadow will appear red, helping you optimize your layout.

Panel irradiance heatmap showing color-coded annual yield per panel
Panel irradiance heatmap showing color-coded annual yield per panel with gradient legend
9

SD & HD Quality Modes

SunTrace3D offers two quality levels for 3D models. The quality badge in the viewer toolbar shows the current mode.

SD

Standard Detail

Available for select demo locations on the free tier. Pro and Business subscribers can generate SD and HD models at any address. Models load instantly via Google 3D Tiles streaming with moderate geometric and texture detail (LOD4, errorTarget=24). Perfect for quick shadow studies and solar analysis.

Demo locations — no account needed to try

HD

High Definition

Available on the Pro tier. Photorealistic models with maximum texture and geometric detail (LOD6, errorTarget=6). Individual building features, vegetation, and street-level detail are clearly visible.

Pro subscription — €9/month

Side-by-side comparison of SD and HD model quality
SD vs HD quality comparison — HD models show significantly more texture and geometric detail
10

Compass & Orientation

The compass overlay in the viewer shows true north orientation relative to your current camera angle. This is essential for understanding shadow directions and optimal solar panel orientation.

Reading the compass

  • The compass rotates as you orbit the 3D model, always pointing toward true north
  • In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing panels receive the most sunlight
  • Use the compass to verify panel azimuth when placing solar panels
Compass overlay showing north direction in the 3D viewer
The compass overlay rotates with the camera to always indicate true north
11

Building Placement

Build mode lets you place procedural buildings into the 3D scene. These buildings cast and receive shadows just like real-world models, making it easy to study how a proposed development would affect sunlight on surrounding properties.

How to place buildings

  1. 1
    Activate Build mode
    Click the Build button in the toolbar or press B. The sidebar opens automatically with the Building Configurator.
  2. 2
    Choose a building type
    Select from five types: House, Apartment, Commercial, Townhouse, or Warehouse. Each type loads sensible default dimensions and roof style.
  3. 3
    Adjust dimensions and style
    Fine-tune floors (1–20), floor height (2.5–4m), width (4–50m), and depth (4–50m). Choose a roof type and pick wall and roof colors from the swatch palettes.
  4. 4
    Click the ground to place
    Click anywhere on the ground in the 3D scene. The building appears at the clicked location using your current configurator settings.
  5. 5
    Select and adjust
    Click a placed building to select it. When selected you can rotate it, adjust the vertical offset, apply new settings, or delete it using the sidebar controls.

Building Types

House

2 floors, 10 × 8 m, gable roof at 35°. Compact residential building.

Apartment

5 floors, 20 × 12 m, flat roof. Multi-story residential block.

Commercial

3 floors, 25 × 15 m, flat roof. Office or retail building.

Townhouse

3 floors, 6 × 12 m, gable roof at 40°. Narrow and deep.

Warehouse

1 floor, 30 × 20 m, flat roof. Wide, low industrial building.

Roof Types

Flat
No pitch, flat top with parapet
Gable
Classic two-slope "A" shape
Hip
Four slopes, all sides descend from ridge
Mansard
Steep lower slope with shallow upper section

Shadow analysis with buildings

Placed buildings participate fully in the shadow simulation. Scrub the time slider to see how a proposed building would cast shadows on neighbouring rooftops, gardens, or solar panels throughout the day and across seasons.

Build mode showing the building configurator sidebar and a placed building in the 3D scene
Build mode — configure building type, dimensions, roof, and colors, then click to place in the scene
12

Scene Objects & Landscaping

Build mode includes a Scene Objects panel for adding trees, fences, pergolas, and obstacles (chimneys, poles, cylinders) to the 3D scene. These objects cast and receive shadows, letting you study how landscaping and rooftop features affect solar panel performance.

How to place scene objects

  1. 1
    Enter Build mode
    Click the Build button in the toolbar or press B. The sidebar shows category tabs at the top: Buildings, Trees, Fences, Pergolas, and Obstacles.
  2. 2
    Choose a category and style
    Click a category tab, then select a shape or style. Trees offer round, oval, conifer, palm, and columnar shapes. Fences include wood, brick, concrete, and hedge. Pergolas come in flat, louvered, and awning styles. Obstacles include box, cylinder, chimney, and pole shapes.
  3. 3
    Adjust dimensions and color
    Use the sliders to set height, width, depth, or canopy diameter. Pick a color from the swatch palette. Trees can be set as deciduous (seasonal leaf loss) or evergreen.
  4. 4
    Click to place
    Click on the ground or on a building surface to place the object. Once placed, click to select it, then drag to reposition, use [ ] to rotate, or press Delete to remove.

Object Categories

Trees

Deciduous and evergreen trees with configurable height, canopy size, and trunk height. Five shapes: round, oval, conifer, palm, columnar.

Obstacles

Rooftop obstacles like chimneys, vents, and poles. Four shapes: box, cylinder, chimney, pole. Place on buildings to study shading impact.

Fences

Perimeter fences and walls with adjustable length, height, and thickness. Styles: wood, brick, concrete, hedge.

Pergolas

Shade structures with width, depth, and tilt controls. Three styles: flat, louvered, and awning.

Shadow interaction

All scene objects participate in the shadow simulation. Trees and fences cast realistic shadows that affect solar panels — the shadow analysis automatically accounts for these obstructions when calculating shading loss.

Building attachment

Objects placed on a building surface automatically attach to that building. When you rotate or move the building, attached objects move with it. Drag an object off the building to detach it.

13

Bulldozer Tool

The Bulldozer tool lets you flatten terrain in the 3D scene by defining clearing zones. Google 3D Tiles often include trees, bushes, and uneven ground — use the Bulldozer to remove these before placing solar panels or buildings for accurate shadow analysis.

How to use the Bulldozer

  1. 1
    Activate the Bulldozer
    Click the Shovel icon in the left sidebar toolbar. The button turns red when bulldozing mode is active.
  2. 2
    Choose a zone shape
    Select Circle or Rectangle in the configurator. Set the dimensions — radius for circles, or width, depth, and rotation for rectangles. Adjust the height to control how much terrain is flattened.
  3. 3
    Click to place a clearing zone
    Click anywhere on the ground in the 3D scene. A semi-transparent zone appears showing the area that will be cleared.
  4. 4
    Manage zones
    Click a placed zone to select it and adjust its size or shape. Toggle individual zones on/off with the power button, or use the global Show/Hide and Enable/Disable All controls.

Circle Zone

A circular clearing area defined by radius (5–50 m). Best for clearing individual trees or small obstructed areas.

Rectangle Zone

A rectangular clearing area with configurable width (5–80 m), depth (5–80 m), and rotation. Ideal for preparing building sites or large panel array areas.

When to use the Bulldozer

Photorealistic 3D Tiles often include vegetation and terrain features that interfere with shadow analysis and panel placement. Use the Bulldozer to clear these areas and create a clean surface for accurate solar studies.

Bulldozer tool clearing vegetation from the 3D scene
The Bulldozer tool with clearing zones — the sidebar shows shape selection, dimension controls, and zone management
14

Sunlight Heatmap

The Sunlight Heatmap displays a color-coded ground grid showing how many hours of direct sunlight each area receives. Use it to identify the sunniest and shadiest spots on your property — perfect for planning solar panel placement or garden beds.

How to use the heatmap

  1. 1
    Open the Heatmap panel
    Click the grid icon in the left sidebar to open the Sunlight Heatmap panel. Set the width and depth of the analysis area (10–20 m free, up to 100 m for Pro).
  2. 2
    Show the heatmap
    Click 'Show Heatmap'. The system computes sunlight hours using SunCalc for every grid cell and renders the color-coded overlay on the ground.
  3. 3
    Adjust month and opacity
    Select a specific month or 'Year' for the annual average. Adjust opacity and rotation to fine-tune the visualization. The heatmap recalculates when you change the month.

Color scale

Purple — full shade, fewer than 1 hour of direct sun
Blue — partial shade, approximately 3 hours of direct sun
Green — moderate sunlight, approximately 6 hours of direct sun
Yellow — full sun, 8+ hours of direct sunlight

Larger heatmaps on paid plans

Free accounts can create heatmaps up to 20 × 20 meters. Personal subscribers can extend the heatmap to 100 × 100 meters. Business subscribers can analyze areas up to 1000 × 1000 meters for large commercial sites, solar farms, or agricultural land.

Sunlight heatmap overlay showing sun hours across the ground plane
Sunlight heatmap showing color-coded direct sun hours — yellow areas receive the most sunlight, purple areas are heavily shaded
15

Garden Planner

The Garden Planner helps you design garden beds using a database of 50+ plants, each with documented sunlight requirements. Combined with the Sunlight Heatmap, it automatically checks whether your chosen plants will thrive in the available light conditions.

How to plan a garden

  1. 1
    Enable the heatmap
    Turn on the Sunlight Heatmap first (see previous section) so the system has sunlight data for your property.
  2. 2
    Open the Garden panel
    Click the flower icon in the sidebar to open the Garden Planner panel. Browse the plant catalog organized by category: vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers, and shrubs.
  3. 3
    Select a plant and bed shape
    Click a plant to select it. Choose a bed shape — rectangle, circle, or L-shape — and adjust the width, depth, and raised bed height using the sliders.
  4. 4
    Place and check compatibility
    Click on the ground to place the garden bed. The system cross-references the bed's location with heatmap data and shows a compatibility indicator: ideal (green), acceptable (yellow), or not suitable (red).

Plant Categories

Vegetables

Tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, and more — with sun and harvest time data

Herbs

Basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, and more — each with ideal sun zone

Fruits

Strawberries, blueberries, and orchard fruits with season data

Flowers

Sunflowers, lavender, roses, and more for ornamental beds

Shrubs

Hedges and bushes with shade tolerance info

Automatic compatibility checking

Ideal — the bed receives enough sunlight for this plant to thrive
Acceptable — the plant may grow but could struggle with borderline sun hours
Not suitable — the bed does not receive enough sunlight for this plant
Garden planner showing plant selection and sun compatibility for a garden bed
Garden Planner with plant selector, bed shape options, and sunlight compatibility indicator
16

Climate Data

The Climate Data panel appears in the Solar Analysis sidebar whenever you have solar panels placed. It shows location-specific climate metrics that directly affect solar panel performance — cloud cover losses, ambient temperature, and heat-related efficiency losses.

Cloud Loss

The percentage of solar energy lost to cloud cover at your location, derived from satellite-measured clear-sky index data. Higher values mean more clouds and less available sunlight.

Average Temperature

The annual average air temperature at your location in °C. This baseline is used to estimate panel cell temperature and thermal efficiency losses.

Heat Loss

Estimated efficiency loss due to high panel temperatures. Solar panels lose approximately 0.29% efficiency for each degree above 25°C cell temperature.

Monthly Cloudiness

A sparkline chart showing the clear-sky index for each month (January to December). Green bars indicate clear months with high solar yield; blue bars indicate cloudy months.

Data source

Climate data comes from NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg + MERRA-2), providing a 22-year global climatology. The data automatically adjusts energy yield estimates for realistic local weather conditions.

Climate data panel showing cloud loss, temperature, and heat loss metrics
Climate data panel showing cloud loss, average temperature, heat loss, and monthly cloudiness sparkline
17

Installation Cost & Get Quote

When you place solar panels, SunTrace3D automatically estimates the installation cost, annual electricity savings, and payback period based on regional pricing data.

Cost Breakdown

The Installation Cost section in the sidebar shows a detailed breakdown including panel cost, installation labor, and inverter/balance-of-system costs. Prices are adjusted to your region and displayed in your selected currency.

Annual Savings & Payback

Based on the estimated annual energy yield and local electricity prices, SunTrace3D calculates your annual savings and the number of years until the system pays for itself.

Government Incentives

Where available, the calculator shows estimated government subsidies, tax credits, or feed-in tariffs that reduce your effective cost and shorten the payback period.

Request a Quote

Click 'Get Quote' to submit your solar analysis to local installers. The form pre-fills with your system specs, location, and estimated costs for a personalized proposal.

Installation cost breakdown showing panel costs, annual savings, and payback period
Installation cost breakdown showing panel costs, annual savings, and payback period estimate
18

Solar Impact

The Solar Impact section visualizes the environmental benefits of your solar panel system. It appears in the sidebar whenever you have panels placed in the scene.

CO₂ Offset

See how many kilograms of CO₂ your system would avoid annually. This is calculated from your estimated energy yield and regional grid emission factors.

Appliances Powered

A visual grid of 9 common household items shows which appliances your system can power — from light bulbs and laptops to refrigerators, air conditioning, and electric vehicles. Powered items light up in green.

Shading & Orientation Ratings

Green — no shading detected, excellent sun exposure
Amber — moderate shading (10–30%), consider repositioning panels
Red — heavy shading (over 30%), panels may underperform
Solar impact dashboard showing CO₂ offset, powered appliances, and system ratings
Solar impact dashboard showing CO₂ offset, powered appliances, and system ratings
19

Site Report

Generate a professional PDF site report summarizing your entire solar analysis. The report includes 3D views, system specifications, energy yield estimates, engineering details, financial analysis, and environmental impact — ready to share with clients or installers.

How to generate a site report

  1. 1
    Place solar panels
    Set up your solar panel installation in the 3D viewer. The report button appears once you have panels placed with energy yield results.
  2. 2
    Click 'Site Report'
    Click the blue Site Report button at the bottom of the viewer. Sign in if prompted — a free account is required.
  3. 3
    Fill in details
    Optionally enter your company name, client name, upload a company logo, and add notes. You can also adjust the total investment amount.
  4. 4
    Generate and download
    Click 'Generate PDF Report'. The system captures 3D views of your scene, builds the report, and offers a PDF download.

What's in the report

  • 3D perspective and top-down views of the solar installation
  • System summary: panel count, peak power, annual yield, orientation, shading loss
  • Detailed system specs: panel type, efficiency, dimensions, tilt, azimuth
  • Monthly energy production chart
  • Financial analysis: cost breakdown, payback period, government incentives
  • Household appliances the system can power
  • Custom branding with company logo and installer details
  • String plan table with voltage limits, MPPT assignment, and multi-inverter support
  • Auto-generated single-line diagram (SLD) showing PV strings, inverters, and grid connection
  • Cable sizing recommendations with voltage drop calculations per string
  • Self-consumption and self-sufficiency analysis with hourly load matching
  • Battery storage simulation results and dispatch analysis
  • Bill of materials with module, inverter, mounting, and cable quantities
  • Loss waterfall chart showing energy losses from gross to net production

Engineering sections (string plan, SLD, cable sizing, self-consumption, battery, BOM) appear automatically when you have selected a module and inverter from the engineering catalog.

Custom branding

Upload your company logo and enter your company name to create branded reports. The logo appears in the report header alongside the SunTrace3D branding — perfect for solar installers sending proposals to clients.

Solar Site Assessment report cover page with 3D view and system summary
Report cover page — 3D view, system summary, loss waterfall, and detailed specifications
Report engineering section showing equipment specs, string plan, and self-consumption analysis
Engineering section — equipment specs, string plan with MPPT assignment, and self-consumption analysis
Report bill of materials and single-line diagram
Bill of materials and auto-generated single-line diagram (SLD)
46

Loss Waterfall Chart

The Loss Waterfall Chart in the PDF site report provides a detailed visual breakdown of energy losses from gross solar potential to net delivered energy. Each loss category is shown as a colored bar segment, making it easy to identify the largest efficiency drains in your system.

How to view the loss waterfall

  1. 1
    Place panels and calculate energy
    Place solar panels on the 3D model and wait for the energy calculation to complete. The loss waterfall uses both measured site-specific losses and standard industry values.
  2. 2
    Generate the PDF site report
    Click the 'Site Report' button in the Solar sidebar to generate a PDF report. The loss waterfall chart is included automatically in the report.
  3. 3
    Review loss categories
    The chart shows gross energy on the left and net energy on the right, with each loss category displayed as a labeled bar segment in between. Hover-friendly labels show both percentage and absolute kWh loss for each category.

Measured Losses

Shading, cloud cover (Kc factor), temperature degradation, panel mismatch, and cable losses are computed from your actual site data and panel configuration.

Industry Defaults

Inverter efficiency, DC/AC wiring losses, soiling, light-induced degradation (LID), and system availability use standard industry reference values when site-specific measurements are not available.

The waterfall replaces the old flat 14% system loss estimate with a transparent, itemized breakdown. Measured losses are site-specific; industry defaults use conservative reference values.

Loss waterfall chart showing energy loss breakdown from gross to net
The waterfall replaces the old flat 14% system loss estimate with a transparent, itemized breakdown. Measured losses are site-specific; industry defaults use conservative reference values.
49

PDF Quotes

Generate professional PDF quotes to send to prospective clients. Each quote includes system specifications, investment breakdown, projected savings, payback period, warranty terms, and applicable financial incentives — all populated automatically from your solar analysis.

How to generate a quote

  1. 1
    Complete your solar design
    Place solar panels on the 3D model and wait for the energy calculation to complete. The quote pulls data from your panel layout, selected equipment, and energy yield results.
  2. 2
    Open the report modal
    Click the report button in the Solar sidebar to open the report generation dialog. You will see options for both site reports and client quotes.
  3. 3
    Configure quote settings
    Enter client details, adjust system pricing, electricity rates, and any applicable incentives or rebates. The quote preview updates in real time as you change parameters.
  4. 4
    Download the PDF
    Click Generate to create a branded PDF document. The quote includes a cover page, system overview, financial analysis with payback chart, warranty terms, and next steps — ready to email or print for your client.

Financial Projections

The quote calculates total investment, annual savings, cumulative savings over the system lifetime, and payback period. It also factors in local electricity price escalation and panel degradation rates.

Professional Formatting

Quotes are generated as multi-page A4 PDF documents with consistent branding, clear section headings, and a professional layout suitable for client presentations.

Quotes use the same solar analysis data as site reports but present it in a client-facing format focused on investment return rather than technical specifications. You can generate both a technical site report and a client quote from the same design.

20

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with keyboard shortcuts. These work whenever the viewer is focused and no text input field is active.

Mode & Time

  • NSwitch to Navigate mode
  • PSwitch to Place Panels mode
  • BSwitch to Build mode
  • MMeasure distances
  • DDraw annotations
  • SpacePlay / pause time animation
  • ← →Skip time back / forward 15 min

Build Mode (selected building)

  • [ ]Rotate selected building ±15°
  • DeleteRemove selected building
  • ↑ ↓Raise / lower building ±0.5 m

Panel Mode (selected panel)

  • [ ]Rotate selected panel ±15°
  • DeleteRemove selected panel
  • RToggle Rectangle placement mode
  • EToggle Eraser mode

Tip

On mobile and touch devices, all building controls (rotation, vertical offset, delete) are available as sliders and buttons in the sidebar when a building is selected.

21

Measurement Tool

Measure real-world distances directly in the 3D scene. The measurement tool calculates the straight-line distance between any two points you click.

How to measure distances

  1. 1
    Activate measurement mode
    Click the ruler button in the sidebar toolbar (or press M). Your cursor changes to a crosshair.
  2. 2
    Place the first point
    Click anywhere on the 3D scene to set the starting point. A cyan marker appears.
  3. 3
    Place the second point
    Click a second location. A line connects the two points with the distance displayed in meters.
  4. 4
    Add more measurements
    Keep clicking to add additional measurements. Click on any measurement to select it, then press Delete to remove it.

Measurement tips

  • Measurements work on terrain, buildings, and rooftops
  • Press Escape to cancel a pending measurement point
  • Use the Clear button to remove all measurements at once
Distance measurement between two points in the 3D scene
Distance measurement between two points in the 3D scene — the cyan line shows the measured distance in meters
35

Draw Tool

Annotate your 3D scene with freehand drawings that follow the terrain and building surfaces. Use colored strokes to mark areas of interest, add text labels, and measure enclosed areas. Drawings are saved with your project.

How to use the draw tool

  1. 1
    Activate draw mode
    Click the pencil button in the sidebar toolbar (or press D). Your cursor changes to a crosshair and the Draw panel opens.
  2. 2
    Draw a stroke
    Click and drag on the 3D scene to create a freehand stroke. The stroke follows the terrain and building geometry. Release the mouse button to finalize.
  3. 3
    Close a loop for area measurement
    Draw back to the starting point to close the loop. The enclosed area is automatically calculated and displayed in square meters with a semi-transparent fill.
  4. 4
    Customize and manage strokes
    Change stroke color, width, and style (solid, dashed, arrow) in the Draw panel. Click a stroke to select it and add a text label. Press Delete to remove selected strokes.

Drawing tips

  • Strokes follow terrain, buildings, and rooftops — they snap to scene geometry automatically
  • Close a loop by drawing back to the start point to see the enclosed area in m²
  • Press Escape to cancel a stroke in progress or exit draw mode
Freehand drawing annotations on the 3D scene
Freehand drawing annotations on the 3D scene — colored strokes follow terrain and building surfaces with area measurement for closed loops
22

Points of Interest

Toggle Points of Interest (POI) to discover nearby amenities and landmarks overlaid on the 3D map. POI markers show restaurants, schools, shops, healthcare, and other categories.

How to use Points of Interest

  1. 1
    Toggle POI on
    Click the map pin button in the toolbar to enable POI markers. Nearby locations load automatically based on your current map center.
  2. 2
    Browse markers
    Markers appear at real-world positions in the 3D scene. Zoom in to see names and details; zoom out and they simplify to compact icons.
  3. 3
    Click to highlight
    Click any POI marker to highlight it and see more details. Click again to deselect.

Available categories

Education, Healthcare, Shopping, Transport, Recreation, Dining, and Services — covering schools, hospitals, supermarkets, bus stops, parks, restaurants, and more.

Points of Interest overlaid on the 3D scene showing nearby amenities
Points of Interest overlaid on the 3D scene showing nearby amenities with category icons
23

Standard & Realistic Models

SunTrace3D offers two types of 3D models. The model type toggle in the viewer toolbar lets you switch between them. Switching regenerates the model for your current location.

Standard 3D Model

Block-style buildings with flat roofs extruded from footprint data. Loads quickly and provides accurate building placement and shadows for solar analysis.

Realistic 3D Model

Detailed building geometry with accurate roof pitches, chimneys, and textured facades. Provides the most lifelike representation of your site.

Automatic fallback

If the realistic model is unavailable for your location, the standard model is shown automatically. A small indicator appears next to the toggle when this happens.

24

Account & Subscription

SunTrace3D works without an account for basic shadow simulation and solar analysis. Create a free account to save your work, upgrade to Pro for HD models and unlimited tools, or choose Business for unlimited everything and commercial use.

Account features

Free account

  • 3D city model viewer
  • Full shadow simulation
  • Up to 8 solar panels
  • Up to 5 scene objects
  • Up to 3 custom buildings

Pro (€9/mo)

  • HD photorealistic models
  • Unlimited panels, objects & buildings
  • Save projects & import 3D models
  • Compliance reports & photo export
  • No watermark on reports

Business (€99/mo)

  • Unlimited panels, ground mounts & heatmaps
  • Real estate scoring & PDF reports
  • Embeddable viewer & lead capture
  • API access (500 models/mo)

Enterprise (custom)

  • White-label branding
  • Custom CRM integrations
  • Dedicated support & SLA
  • Custom API volume

Managing your subscription

Subscriptions are managed through Stripe. Click the user menu in the viewer header to access your account settings and subscription portal. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time.

25

Project Management

Save your complete analysis setup — including location, solar panels, buildings, quality mode, and date/time — as a named project. Load it later to pick up exactly where you left off.

How to save and load projects

  1. 1
    Sign in
    Create an account or sign in. Projects are stored server-side and tied to your account.
  2. 2
    Open the sidebar
    Click the sun icon in the top-right corner of the viewer. Scroll down to the Projects section at the bottom of the sidebar.
  3. 3
    Save current scene
    Click "Save current scene", enter a project name, and press Save. The entire scene state is captured.
  4. 4
    Load a project
    Click a saved project in the list to restore it. Location, model, panels, buildings, and time settings are all restored automatically.

What's saved in a project

  • Location (latitude, longitude, and name)
  • Quality mode (SD or HD)
  • All solar panels with tilt, azimuth, and position
  • All placed buildings with type, dimensions, position, and rotation
  • All scene objects (trees, fences, pergolas, obstacles)
  • Selected date and time of day
  • Imported 3D models (position, rotation, and scale preserved)
Project manager section in the sidebar showing save and load controls
The project manager in the sidebar — sign in to save and load complete scene setups
26

Importing 3D Models

Import custom 3D models into your scene to accurately represent existing structures, machinery, or any object that affects shading on your solar panels.

How to import a 3D model

  1. 1
    Switch to Build mode
    Press B or click the Build button in the toolbar to enter Build mode.
  2. 2
    Open the Import tab
    Click the Import tab (upload icon) in the Build panel sidebar.
  3. 3
    Upload your GLB file
    Drag and drop a .glb file onto the upload area, or click to browse. Maximum file size is 50 MB.
  4. 4
    Position the model
    The model appears at the scene origin. Use the Move, Rotate, and Scale buttons in the panel to switch gizmo modes, then drag the handles in the 3D view to position it precisely.
  5. 5
    Fine-tune with numbers
    Enter exact values in the Position (m), Rotation (°), and Scale fields for precise placement.

File requirements

Only .glb (binary glTF) files are supported. Maximum 50 MB per file. Models are stored securely in the cloud and load automatically when you reopen a saved project.

Transform gizmos

  • Move — drag the coloured arrows to reposition along X, Y, or Z axis
  • Rotate — drag the rings to spin the model around each axis
  • Scale — drag the handles to resize uniformly or per-axis

3D model import is a Pro feature. Upgrade to Pro to unlock custom model placement.

36

3D Model Library

The Model Library provides over 750 ready-to-use 3D models organized into seven categories — suburban buildings, vehicles, commercial buildings, characters, nature, building parts, and trains. Browse, search, and place models directly into your scene for realistic shadow analysis and urban planning.

How to use the Model Library

  1. 1
    Open the Library
    Enter Build mode by clicking the Build button or pressing B. Select the Library tab at the top of the sidebar panel.
  2. 2
    Browse or search
    Use the category pills to filter by type (Buildings, Vehicles, Nature, etc.) or type in the search bar to find models by name or tag.
  3. 3
    Place a model
    Click a thumbnail to arm click-to-place mode, then click anywhere in the scene. Or drag a thumbnail directly from the library onto the scene.
  4. 4
    Adjust and manage
    Click a placed model to select it. Use the transform controls to move, rotate, or scale. Press Delete to remove a model from the scene.

Model Categories

Suburban Buildings

Houses, garages, fences, and pathways for residential neighborhood scenes.

Commercial Buildings

Offices, shops, and commercial structures for urban planning scenarios.

Vehicles

Cars, trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, and other vehicles for street-level detail.

Nature

Trees, bushes, rocks, and natural elements for landscaping.

Building Parts

Modular walls, doors, windows, and structural components.

Trains

Trains, railroad tracks, and railway infrastructure.

Drag & Drop

Drag any thumbnail directly from the library panel onto the 3D scene. The model will be placed where you release the mouse. Models are preloaded when you hover over a thumbnail for instant placement.

Automatic Scaling

Models are automatically scaled to realistic proportions when placed. Houses appear at building scale, vehicles at street scale, and characters at human scale — no manual resizing needed.

Access by Plan

Registered free users can place up to 5 models per category. Pro and higher plans unlock the full library of over 750 models.

3D Model Library panel with category filtering and thumbnail grid
The Model Library panel with category filtering and thumbnail grid

Engineering & Design

Professional-grade PV system design tools: equipment selection, string planning, electrical diagrams, cable sizing, consumption analysis, battery simulation, and data export.

Complete engineering system showing solar panels on roof with inverter, meter, battery, and wiring cables in the 3D viewer
Complete engineering system in the 3D viewer: solar panels on the roof, inverter, meter, battery, and wiring cables
37

Module & Inverter Catalog

SunTrace3D includes a built-in catalog of real CEC-certified solar modules and inverters from leading manufacturers such as LONGi, JA Solar, Canadian Solar, SMA, Fronius, and more. Select specific equipment to unlock accurate string planning, cable sizing, and energy analysis based on real electrical specifications.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Open the Module Catalog
    In the solar sidebar, expand the 'Module Catalog' section. A searchable list of solar modules appears with manufacturer, model, wattage, and efficiency.
  2. 2
    Select a module
    Click any module to select it. A summary card shows the full electrical specifications: open-circuit voltage (Voc), max power voltage (Vmp), short-circuit current (Isc), max power current (Imp), and temperature coefficients.
  3. 3
    Choose an inverter
    Expand the 'Inverter Catalog' section and select an inverter. The summary shows MPPT count, voltage range, maximum input voltage, rated AC output, and European efficiency.

Module and inverter selections are saved with your project. When you load a saved project, the equipment choices are automatically restored.

Module Catalog showing solar module selection with electrical specifications
Module Catalog showing LONGi module with detailed electrical specifications
Inverter Catalog with inverter selection showing MPPT and voltage specifications
Inverter Catalog with SMA inverter selected showing MPPT and voltage specifications
3D view of inverter and meter placed on the building wall in the viewer
Selected inverter and meter rendered as 3D objects on the building wall
38

String Planning

String planning automatically groups your solar panels into electrical strings based on temperature-corrected voltage limits, shading similarity, and panel orientation. The algorithm respects inverter MPPT input constraints and generates warnings when voltage or current limits are violated.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Select equipment first
    Choose a module and inverter from the catalogs. The string planner needs their electrical specifications (Voc, Vmp, MPPT ranges) to compute valid string configurations.
  2. 2
    Set design temperatures
    Enter the minimum and maximum expected temperatures for your location. These are used to calculate temperature-corrected Voc (cold) and Vmp (hot) voltages that determine safe string lengths.
  3. 3
    Run planning
    Click 'Run Planning'. The algorithm clusters panels by orientation and shading profile, then packs them into strings that stay within the inverter's voltage window. Each string is assigned a distinct color.
  4. 4
    Review results
    Each string card shows module count, temperature-corrected Voc and Vmp, estimated mismatch loss, and MPPT assignment. Warnings appear if any string exceeds inverter limits.

Panels in the 3D viewer are color-coded by string group, making it easy to visually verify the grouping.

String Planning results showing voltage-checked strings with MPPT assignments
String Planning results showing voltage-checked strings with color-coded panel assignments
3D view of solar panels on the roof color-coded by string assignment
Solar panels on the roof color-coded by string assignment in the 3D viewer
39

Single-Line Diagram

The single-line diagram (SLD) is an auto-generated electrical schematic of your PV system. It shows the flow from module groups through strings and MPPT inputs to the inverter, AC disconnect, meter, and grid connection — the standard format required for permit applications.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Complete string planning
    The SLD is generated automatically once a valid string plan exists. It reads the string configuration, MPPT assignments, and inverter specifications.
  2. 2
    View the diagram
    Expand the 'Single-Line Diagram' section. The SVG diagram shows module groups on the left, connected through strings to MPPT inputs, then to the inverter, AC disconnect, meter, and grid.
  3. 3
    Download as SVG
    Click the SVG button to download the diagram as a vector file. This can be included in permit applications or engineering documentation.

The SLD is automatically included in PDF site reports when you generate one.

Auto-generated single-line diagram showing PV system electrical layout
Auto-generated single-line diagram showing the complete PV system electrical layout
40

Cable Sizing

Cable sizing calculates the recommended conductor cross-section for each DC string run, ensuring voltage drop stays within the allowable limit (typically 2%). It supports both copper and aluminum conductors and accounts for derating factors.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Enter cable run lengths
    For each string, enter the one-way cable length in meters from the panels to the inverter. If you have measurements from the Measure Tool, these can be used as reference.
  2. 2
    Select conductor material
    Choose between copper (lower resistance, standard residential) or aluminum (lighter, common in commercial installations).
  3. 3
    Review recommendations
    The calculator shows the recommended cable size in mm² and AWG, the calculated voltage drop in both volts and percentage, and a clear Pass/Fail indicator against the maximum allowable drop.

The voltage drop formula uses Vdrop = 2 x I x L x resistivity / area, iterating through standard cross-sections until the drop is within limits.

Cable sizing results showing recommended cross-section and voltage drop
Cable sizing results showing recommended cross-section with voltage drop calculation
3D view of DC and AC wiring cables connecting the inverter and meter with the red AC disconnect box
DC and AC wiring cables with the red AC disconnect box rendered in the 3D viewer
41

Self-Consumption Analysis

Self-consumption analysis models the interaction between your solar production and household electricity usage throughout the year. It calculates how much solar energy you consume on-site versus export to the grid, using realistic hourly load profiles based on household size.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Select a household preset
    Choose from four load profiles: Small (2,500 kWh/year), Medium (4,500 kWh/year), Large (6,500 kWh/year), or EV Owner (8,500 kWh/year). Each has a realistic hourly consumption shape with morning and evening peaks.
  2. 2
    Adjust annual consumption
    Fine-tune the total annual consumption in kWh. The hourly profile shape stays the same but scales to match your target.
  3. 3
    Read the results
    Two key metrics are displayed: Self-Consumption (percentage of solar production used on-site) and Self-Sufficiency (percentage of total consumption covered by solar). A monthly stacked bar chart shows the breakdown of self-consumed, exported, and imported energy.

Higher self-consumption means more value from your solar investment. Adding battery storage (see next section) significantly increases self-consumption by storing daytime surplus for evening use.

Self-consumption analysis with monthly production vs consumption chart
Self-consumption analysis showing 43% self-consumption rate with monthly production vs consumption chart
42

Battery Storage

Battery storage simulation models how a home battery system changes your self-consumption and grid dependence. It includes an auto-sizing recommendation that finds the optimal capacity based on your production and consumption patterns.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Auto-size the battery
    Click 'Recommend' to run a capacity sweep from 1 to 20 kWh. The algorithm finds the knee point where adding more capacity yields diminishing returns in self-consumption improvement.
  2. 2
    Or configure manually
    Enter a specific battery capacity in kWh and click 'Simulate'. You can also adjust depth of discharge, round-trip efficiency, and max charge/discharge power for detailed modeling.
  3. 3
    Compare with and without
    Results show the new self-consumption and self-sufficiency percentages with battery, the uplift compared to no-battery, estimated annual charge/discharge cycles, and updated grid import/export figures.

The greedy dispatch algorithm charges the battery with surplus solar during the day and discharges during evening peak consumption. Round-trip efficiency losses (typically 8-10%) are accounted for in all calculations.

Battery storage simulation showing optimal capacity recommendation
Battery storage recommendation showing optimal 6 kWh capacity with self-consumption uplift
3D view of the battery storage unit placed beside the building
Battery storage unit rendered as a 3D object beside the building
47

Energy System Dashboard

The Energy System Dashboard is a real-time 2D overlay that shows how electricity flows between your solar panels, inverter, battery, meter, and house. It appears automatically when you run a self-consumption analysis and updates live as you scrub the time slider. Click any component to fly the 3D camera to that object in the scene.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Run self-consumption analysis
    Place solar panels, add an inverter and meter, then run the self-consumption analysis from the engineering sidebar. The dashboard appears automatically.
  2. 2
    Read the live energy flows
    The dashboard shows real-time power values (kW) for solar production, battery charge/discharge, grid import/export, and house consumption. Animated arrows indicate the direction of energy flow between components.
  3. 3
    Click to navigate
    Click any component box (Solar, Inverter, Battery, Meter, House) to fly the 3D camera to that object in the scene. The camera zooms in close enough to inspect the equipment.
  4. 4
    Scrub the time slider
    Move the time slider to see how energy flows change throughout the day. At noon, solar production peaks and excess charges the battery or exports to grid. At night, the battery discharges and the grid supplies remaining demand.

Real-Time Monitoring

Live power values update as you move the time slider. See solar production, battery state of charge, grid import/export, and house consumption at any time of day.

Click to Navigate

Each component in the schematic is clickable. Click Solar to fly to the panel array, click Battery to zoom to the storage unit, or click Meter to inspect the grid connection.

The dashboard also shows summary metrics — self-consumption percentage (how much solar you use directly) and self-sufficiency percentage (how much of your demand is met by solar + battery). On mobile devices, the dashboard automatically switches to a compact grid layout.

Energy System Dashboard schematic showing real-time power flows between solar, inverter, battery, meter, and house
Energy System Dashboard showing real-time power flows between solar panels, inverter, battery, and grid at noon.
Full 3D scene with energy flow cables, dashboard overlay, and savings counter
Full 3D scene with energy flow cables, dashboard overlay, and savings counter floating above the meter.
Energy dashboard at midnight showing grid import, battery discharge, and zero solar output
Energy dashboard at midnight: solar output drops to zero, battery discharges to meet demand, and the grid supplies remaining load.
43

Bill of Materials

The Bill of Materials aggregates all components needed for your PV installation into a single table. It includes modules, inverter, mounting hardware, DC and AC cables, disconnects, and optional battery — providing a quick material checklist for procurement.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Automatic generation
    The BOM is generated automatically from your panel layout, selected equipment, string plan, and cable sizing results. No manual input needed.
  2. 2
    Review line items
    The table groups items by category: modules, inverter, mounting (rails and clamps), cable (per cross-section from cable sizing), battery (if configured), and electrical components (DC and AC disconnects).
  3. 3
    Export to CSV
    Click the CSV button to download the complete bill of materials as a spreadsheet-compatible file for import into procurement or ERP systems.

The BOM is also included in PDF site reports. Mounting hardware quantities are estimated using standard heuristics: 2 rails per panel row, clamps at each panel edge plus shared mid-clamps.

Bill of Materials table with component quantities and categories
Bill of Materials table showing all components with quantities and categories
44

PVsyst Export

Export your shading analysis data in PVsyst-compatible formats for detailed simulation in external software. Three export options are available: a horizon profile (.hor), a per-panel shading summary (.csv), and a comprehensive ZIP archive containing all data files.

How to Use

  1. 1
    Download horizon profile
    The .hor file contains azimuth-elevation pairs describing the horizon obstruction profile as seen from the center of your panel array. This is the standard input format for PVsyst near-shading analysis.
  2. 2
    Download shading CSV
    The .csv file lists each panel with its tilt, azimuth, shading loss percentage, and annual yield estimate. If string planning has been run, the string assignment is included.
  3. 3
    Download full export ZIP
    The comprehensive ZIP archive bundles all export files: system summary, panel layout with per-panel kWh, monthly yield data, string configuration, horizon profile, and shading analysis. This is the recommended option for a complete PVsyst import package.

The horizon profile is computed by casting rays from the array centroid at 5-degree azimuth steps across the full 360-degree range, finding the highest obstruction elevation angle at each step.

PVsyst export panel with horizon profile, shading CSV, and full export ZIP download buttons
PVsyst export panel with horizon profile, shading CSV, and full export ZIP download buttons
27

Right-to-Light Compliance

The Right-to-Light panel helps architects and urban planners assess whether a proposed development meets daylight access standards. Based on BRE 209 (Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight), it analyzes how much skylight and sunlight reaches neighboring windows.

How to run a compliance check

  1. 1
    Switch to the Compliance vertical
    Select 'Right-to-Light' from the industry dropdown in the top-left corner of the viewer.
  2. 2
    Add windows to analyze
    Click on building facades to place window markers. Each window is checked against BRE 209 vertical sky component (VSC) and annual probable sunlight hours (APSH) thresholds.
  3. 3
    Review compliance indicators
    Windows are color-coded: green (passes), amber (marginal), red (fails). The sidebar shows detailed metrics for each window.
  4. 4
    Generate a compliance report
    Export a PDF report with window-by-window analysis, compliance status, and 3D visualizations for planning submissions.

Vertical Sky Component (VSC)

VSC measures the amount of visible sky from a window point. BRE 209 recommends a minimum of 27% VSC for adequate daylight. Windows below this threshold are flagged.

Annual Probable Sunlight Hours (APSH)

APSH measures the percentage of annual sunlight hours a window receives compared to an unobstructed location. BRE 209 recommends at least 25% annual and 5% winter APSH.

Best practice

Run compliance checks early in the design process. Small changes to building height, setback, or orientation can significantly improve daylight access to neighboring properties.

Right-to-light compliance panel showing window analysis with VSC and APSH indicators
Right-to-light compliance panel showing window analysis with VSC and APSH indicators
28

Urban Heat Analysis

The Urban Heat panel maps thermal exposure across urban areas. It analyzes how shade coverage, surface materials, and building geometry affect surface temperatures and pedestrian thermal comfort.

How to analyze urban heat

  1. 1
    Switch to the Thermal vertical
    Select 'Urban Heat' from the industry dropdown in the viewer toolbar.
  2. 2
    Enable the thermal overlay
    Toggle the heat map overlay to see color-coded surface temperature estimates across the scene, based on shade coverage and material albedo.
  3. 3
    Analyze pedestrian corridors
    Mark pedestrian paths to see shade coverage along walking routes. The panel shows the percentage of each corridor that is shaded during peak heat hours.

Material Albedo

Different surfaces absorb and reflect heat differently. The material palette lets you assign albedo values (reflectivity) to roofs, pavements, and green spaces to model their thermal impact.

Thermal Comfort Zones

The heat map identifies areas of thermal stress based on combined sun exposure, shade coverage, and wind exposure. Red zones indicate areas where pedestrians may experience heat discomfort during summer.

Mitigation strategies

Use the scene objects tool to add trees and shade structures, then re-run the thermal analysis to see their cooling effect. Even small increases in shade coverage can significantly reduce surface temperatures.

Urban heat analysis showing surface temperature overlay and pedestrian corridor shade coverage
Urban heat analysis showing surface temperature overlay and pedestrian corridor shade coverage
29

Film & Photography Tools

The Film & Photography panel provides tools for planning shoots around natural light. Calculate golden hour and blue hour times, preview camera angles through virtual lenses, and bookmark lighting setups for location scouting.

How to plan a shoot

  1. 1
    Switch to the Camera vertical
    Select 'Film & Photo' from the industry dropdown in the viewer toolbar.
  2. 2
    Check golden hour times
    The sidebar shows exact golden hour and blue hour start/end times for the current date and location. Use the date picker to plan for future shoot dates.
  3. 3
    Place a virtual camera
    Click the camera placement button and click in the scene to position a virtual camera. Choose a focal length (24mm–200mm) to preview the frame.
  4. 4
    Bookmark your setup
    Save camera positions and lighting conditions as bookmarks. Jump between scouted viewpoints when comparing angles or planning multi-camera setups.

Lens Simulation

The virtual camera previews the field of view for common focal lengths: 24mm (wide), 35mm (street), 50mm (standard), 85mm (portrait), and 200mm (telephoto). The preview updates in real-time as you reposition the camera.

Moon Position

For night scene planning, the moon tracker shows moonrise, moonset, and current position. Useful for planning moonlit exterior shots or understanding ambient light conditions after sunset.

Location scouting workflow

Search your location, set the date to your planned shoot day, scrub through the time slider to find the best lighting window, place your camera, and save the bookmark. On shoot day, reload the project to reference your planned angles.

Film & photography panel showing golden hour timing, camera placement, and lens preview
Film & photography panel showing golden hour timing, camera placement, and lens preview
30

Real Estate Analysis

The Real Estate panel provides tools for showcasing property sunlight exposure. Analyze window views, calculate balcony sun hours, and generate solar scores that quantify a property's energy potential for buyers.

How to analyze a property

  1. 1
    Switch to the Real Estate vertical
    Select 'Real Estate' from the industry dropdown in the viewer toolbar.
  2. 2
    Run a window view analysis
    Click on windows to preview the view from inside. The panel shows what residents will see, including surrounding buildings, vegetation, and sky exposure.
  3. 3
    Calculate balcony sun hours
    Mark balcony positions to see how many hours of direct sunlight they receive across different seasons. Great for marketing south-facing apartments.
  4. 4
    Generate a property sun score
    The solar score summarizes total sun exposure, shade risk, energy potential, and environmental benefits in a single shareable metric for property listings.

Window View Preview

The view-from-window feature renders what residents will actually see from each window. This helps buyers understand sight lines, privacy, and natural light before visiting the property.

Balcony Calculator

The balcony calculator shows monthly direct sunlight hours for any outdoor space. Summer vs. winter comparison helps buyers understand seasonal sun exposure for balconies, terraces, and patios.

Listing enhancement

Include the property's solar score and sunlight metrics in your listing description. Properties with quantified sun exposure data generate more interest and can justify higher asking prices.

Real estate analysis panel showing window view preview, balcony sun hours, and property solar score
Real estate analysis panel showing window view preview, balcony sun hours, and property solar score
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Agriculture & Crop Planning

The Agriculture panel provides tools for planning crop placement and greenhouse positioning based on actual sunlight data. Map sun exposure across your land, check crop suitability, and model light levels inside greenhouses.

How to plan your farm layout

  1. 1
    Switch to the Agriculture vertical
    Select 'Agriculture' from the industry dropdown in the viewer toolbar.
  2. 2
    Enable the sunlight heatmap
    Toggle the heatmap to see color-coded sun exposure across your land. Use the monthly view to track seasonal changes from planting through harvest.
  3. 3
    Check crop suitability
    Open the crop selector and choose a crop type. The suitability map highlights which areas of your property match the crop's sunlight and climate requirements.
  4. 4
    Configure greenhouses
    Place greenhouses in the scene, set glass transmission (30–95%), and see realistic interior light levels on the heatmap. Position them for maximum growing-season sunlight.

Slope & Aspect Analysis

The terrain analysis shows slope angle and aspect direction across your property. South-facing slopes receive more sunlight, while steep north-facing slopes may be unsuitable for sun-loving crops.

Crop Suitability System

Select a crop from the database (50+ species) to see a color-coded suitability map. Green zones have ideal sunlight and climate conditions, amber zones are acceptable, and red zones are unsuitable for that crop.

Seasonal planning

Use the monthly heatmap to compare spring vs. summer sun exposure. Areas that get full sun in July may be partially shaded in April when you're starting seedlings — plan your layout around growing-season sunlight, not just midsummer.

Agriculture panel showing crop suitability map, greenhouse configuration, and seasonal heatmap
Agriculture panel showing crop suitability map, greenhouse configuration, and seasonal heatmap
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Live Events & Outdoor Hospitality

The Live Events vertical helps event planners, festival producers, and venue managers design outdoor event layouts with accurate sun and shade simulation. Position stages, seating, tents, and production equipment in 3D, then scrub through the timeline to see exactly where shadows fall during every hour of the event.

How to plan an event layout

  1. 1
    Switch to the Live Events vertical
    Select 'Live Events' from the industry dropdown in the viewer toolbar, or visit the live events landing page and click 'Try it now.'
  2. 2
    Enter Build mode
    Click Build, then select the Events tab. Choose from 8 asset types: Pop-up Tent, Stage, Chair, Dining Table, Speaker Stack, LED Wall, Lighting Truss, or Barrier.
  3. 3
    Place and configure assets
    Adjust width, depth, and height with sliders. Pick a color from the swatch palette (white, black, wood, gold, red). Click on the ground or on another object to place.
  4. 4
    Stack objects
    Place speakers on a stage or lights on a truss. Stacked objects automatically move and rotate with their parent when repositioned.
  5. 5
    Check shadows throughout the day
    Use the time slider to scrub through the event day. Add timeline bookmarks at key moments (ceremony start, reception, golden hour) for quick comparison.

8 Event Asset Types

Pop-up tents, stages, chairs, dining tables, speaker stacks, LED walls, lighting trusses, and barriers — each with adjustable dimensions and color palette.

Shadow Planning for Events

Identify guest comfort issues, stage glare risk, and screen washout before the event day. Use timeline bookmarks to save key moments for quick reference.

Object stacking

Speakers placed on a stage, lights hung from a truss, or any object placed on another object will automatically move and rotate together. Delete the parent to remove all attached children.

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CRM Platform

The CRM Platform lets solar professionals and businesses manage territories, detect rooftop prospects automatically, and run targeted outreach campaigns — all from within SunTrace3D. Draw a polygon on the map, and the system scans every building inside it, scores their solar potential, and presents them in a sortable prospect grid. Available on Business plans and above; a free playground lets anyone try it with limited results.

How to use the CRM

  1. 1
    Access the CRM
    Navigate to the CRM section from the main menu. Business and Enterprise subscribers see the full CRM app. Free and Pro users can try the interactive playground, which scans a small area and reveals details for up to 3 prospects.
  2. 2
    Draw a territory
    Click on the map to draw a polygon boundary around your target area. The system calculates the polygon area and validates it against your plan's territory size limit. Once confirmed, a region scan begins automatically.
  3. 3
    Review detected prospects
    The scan detects every building within your territory using satellite-derived footprints, classifies them by type (residential, commercial, industrial), estimates usable roof area, and calculates a solar score based on panel count, annual yield, and local climate data. Results appear in a sortable, filterable grid.
  4. 4
    Create campaigns
    Select prospects and create outreach campaigns with personalized materials — mail templates, email content, and print assets with QR codes. Each QR code tracks engagement and automatically advances the prospect through your sales pipeline.
  5. 5
    Track results on the dashboard
    The CRM dashboard shows your sales funnel, territory potential in kWp, recent activity, and conversion metrics. Data refreshes automatically so you always have the latest picture of your pipeline.

Territory Scanning

Building detection uses satellite-derived footprint data to find every building in your territory. Each one is automatically classified, measured, and scored without any manual data entry.

Solar Scoring

Each prospect receives a solar grade (A+ to D) based on estimated roof area, panel capacity, annual energy yield, and local irradiance. Scores help you prioritize the highest-value opportunities.

Industry Verticals

The CRM supports multiple industry verticals from a single workspace. Each vertical brings its own enrichment fields, scoring logic, pipeline stages, and grid columns. Switch verticals per campaign — a single customer can have both rooftop solar and real estate campaigns.

Real Estate Vertical

Score properties by sun exposure, estimate property values from country-level price defaults, calculate neighborhood amenity proximity (schools, transit, parks, shops), and compute real estate commissions. Each prospect shows living area, estimated floors, year built, and a 100-point amenity score.

Prospect Journey & Pipeline

Track each prospect through a 10-stage pipeline from Identified to Installed. The journey drawer shows an append-only activity timeline — every stage change, note, and QR scan is logged. Edit stages inline from the prospect grid, or let QR code scans auto-advance the journey.

Real-Time Dashboard

The CRM dashboard shows your funnel by stage, remaining territory potential in kWp that shrinks as prospects convert, campaign performance metrics, and a live activity feed. Data refreshes automatically every 30 seconds so you always see the latest pipeline state.

Interactive Territory Map

Draw polygon boundaries on an interactive map with click-to-draw tools. Building footprints render on a canvas overlay with choropleth coloring — shade prospects by solar grade, deal value, or pipeline stage. Click any footprint to open the prospect detail.

Free Playground

Anyone can try the CRM without signing up at /crm. Draw a small region (up to 0.25 km²) and the system scans every building, scores solar potential, and reveals full details for 3 sample prospects. The rest are blurred with an upgrade prompt — no account required to explore.

The CRM automatically detects every building in your territory, classifies it by type, and scores its solar potential — no manual data entry required.

Building an integration?

Check out the API documentation for generating models programmatically and embedding 3D views on your website.

API Documentation

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