What is PV-Pro?
PV-Pro is photovoltaic planning and proposal software for Mac. Vigorek’s product page describes an end-to-end workflow: create a building as the planning basis, place modules, evaluate shading and yield, calculate economics, and produce a customer-facing PDF from the same project. The official PV-Pro product page explicitly lists photogrammetry, economics, incentives and proposal revisions among the workflow elements.
The core distinction from a single yield calculator is the connection between geometry, electrical planning and sales output. Instead of maintaining a roof model, simulation file, cost calculation and proposal template in separate tools, the same project is intended to carry the inputs through every stage. That is most relevant to teams that prepare individual systems regularly and want to avoid retyping or reformatting values for every offer.
This guide is an editorial review of publicly available product information, not an independent hands-on test of the beta version. Features, pricing, supported countries and system requirements can change during development. A serious buying decision should therefore include a representative project with the company’s own components, prices and proposal format.
From building to proposal: the workflow
The concept is most useful as a sequence rather than as a single feature. Each stage builds on the previous one and is intended to carry changes through to economics and the customer document.
Create the building basis
According to the website, a project can start from existing drone imagery, official building and aerial data, an address, a drawn outline, or an existing USD, USDZ or OBJ file. For photogrammetry, an image folder is selected directly in the project.
Calibrate and inspect the 3D model
The reconstructed model is scaled with a confirmed reference such as a known building height. Roof surfaces and relevant obstructions must be checked before layout. A visually convincing mesh is not automatically a reviewed planning model.
Plan modules, strings and electrical design
Modules are placed on the confirmed roof surfaces and grouped into strings or MPP trackers. The product page says that modules, inverters, batteries and heat pumps can be maintained with datasheet values in the component library.
Evaluate geometry-based shading
Neighboring buildings, trees, chimneys, dormers and other structures can contribute to the 3D scene. According to the website, PV-Pro assigns an individual shading value to each module and can distinguish causes such as vegetation from built obstructions.
Calculate yield and economics
The same layout can produce annual and monthly values, performance ratio, self-consumption and autonomy assumptions, payback and net benefit. The website references PVGIS for irradiation and yield; Swiss projects additionally use sources such as Sonnendach and Pronovo for roof and incentive data.
Issue the proposal as a revision
The result is exported as a PDF with components, yield, economics, line items, net and gross totals. Revision, status and date are intended to remain traceable; if the plan changes, the previous proposal is marked outdated according to the website.
Which features does PV-Pro cover?
The publicly described feature set makes PV-Pro more than a basic roof-layout tool. It is still important to read those claims correctly: the software connects planning and calculation steps, creating a structured decision basis, but it cannot provide a blanket guarantee about construction or future yield.
For professional teams, the transitions between these steps are especially relevant. A 3D model is not only a visual aid but the shared geometry for roof surfaces, obstructions and shading. Component and cost assumptions are maintained centrally, and the proposal is generated from the project rather than rebuilt from a separate template.
| Area | Feature | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Photogrammetry | Drone imagery inside the project | Existing images are processed into a 3D model on the Mac. This removes a separate reconstruction and import step, but it still depends on overlap, visible geometry and a reliable scale reference. |
| Shading | Not every shadow has the same cause | The product page describes module-level analysis and views for annual, seasonal and individual time points. That can expose local differences hidden by one blanket percentage for an entire system. |
| Yield | Combine location and components | PVGIS data, roof orientation, module parameters and system assumptions feed the yield estimate. The European Commission describes PVGIS as an open system for solar irradiation and PV performance; the result is still a forecast. |
| Economics | Payback from project assumptions | PV-Pro states that payback, net benefit and lifetime profit are calculated from the project assumptions. The operating team must still document electricity prices, feed-in revenue, incentives, costs and load profiles. |
| Components | Datasheet values, not just names | Modules, inverters, batteries and heat pumps are maintained with technical parameters. Custom equipment and cost assumptions can be added so calculations better reflect the system actually being offered. |
| Proposal | The PDF as the last planning step | According to the website, the customer document includes yield, economics, line items, VAT and a revision trail. Contribution margin remains internal while the customer receives a readable document. |
Where PV-Pro sits next to single-purpose tools
A claim about the “best PV software” would not be meaningful without defined projects, hardware and source data. A better question is which manual transfer step disappears. In a separated workflow, a 3D model is exported, imported into simulation software, rebuilt in a cost calculation and finally placed into a proposal template. PV-Pro positions itself at exactly that intersection according to its website.
That does not mean every specialist tool becomes unnecessary. Companies may still need dedicated software for grid studies, structural engineering, battery modelling, large-scale projects or document management. The useful test is whether the company’s own review and approval process remains auditable, or whether a required interface is missing.
| Task | Typical separate workflow | PV-Pro according to the website |
|---|---|---|
| Building model | Maintain source data and modelling separately | Use imagery, geodata or a file directly in the project |
| Shading | Rebuild geometry in simulation software | Evaluate the same 3D geometry at module level |
| Components and prices | Maintain lists or templates in several places | Use a library with datasheet values and cost assumptions |
| Economics | Transfer results into a separate calculation | Calculate from planning assumptions in the project |
| Customer proposal | Assemble several outputs manually | Export a PDF with revisions, line items and totals |
Who is PV-Pro for?
Based on its public positioning, PV-Pro is aimed primarily at solar installers, energy consultants and planners who work on a Mac and want one system from the first roof model to the customer proposal. It is most interesting for teams that regularly price individual systems with different roof shapes, shading conditions and components.
The photogrammetry import is not an end in itself. It is useful when a current, detailed image set exists and small objects affect the layout or shading. For a simple roof with an already reviewed model, a new reconstruction may add no information. The website therefore names several input paths rather than making a drone mandatory.
Reasons to run a real project through it
- One project from geometry, layout and simulation to the customer PDF.
- A local Mac application rather than a browser-only workspace; the website says project data remains in a local database.
- Module-level shading views with visible causes such as trees and roof structures.
- A component and pricing library that can be maintained centrally for recurring proposals.
- A clear beta position with access by request and direct feedback to the development team.
Questions to answer before adoption
- Does the team work on macOS 15 or later, and is the hardware suitable for image reconstruction?
- Are local storage and the stated offline capability sufficient, or is cloud collaboration with roles and approvals required?
- Are the company’s modules, inverters, batteries, prices, taxes and incentive assumptions correctly configured?
- Which independent checks remain necessary for structure, grid connection, fire safety, work safety and installation?
- Can one real reference project with imagery, known dimensions and the desired proposal format be run through the beta?
Beta, pricing and seats
At the time of writing, PV-Pro is in beta according to the website. Access is free during the beta and released in waves. Active testers are promised a 50 percent discount on the first year after launch if they contribute concrete feedback during development.
For the planned regular price structure, the product page lists EUR 125 or CHF 119 per workstation and month. Annual pricing is EUR 1,250 or CHF 1,190 per workstation; that is twelve months for the price of ten. A tiered model is planned for additional seats.
| Model | Website price | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Beta access | Free | Not generally bookable; access is requested and set up individually. |
| 1 workstation, monthly | EUR 125 / CHF 119 | The website states that the subscription can be cancelled at the end of the period. |
| 1 workstation, annual | EUR 1,250 / CHF 1,190 | Two months are included compared with twelve monthly payments. |
| Multiple workstations | Tiered | The rate decreases from the second workstation and at later tiers. |
| Active beta tester | 50% in year one | A launch discount promise, not the ongoing beta price. |
Data sources, transparency and references
The product functions and pricing in this guide were checked against PV-Pro’s public website on 27 August 2026. The article labels the claims as a manufacturer briefing: native Mac operation, local storage, the stated offline capability, beta access and the listed price structure come from the product page and were not independently verified in a laboratory test.
The physical and regulatory reference points can be checked separately. Apple documents PhotogrammetrySession as an API that creates a 3D model from a set of images and exposes hardware support. PVGIS from the European Commission provides information on solar radiation and PV system performance. For Swiss incentives, Pronovo is the relevant primary source; software values do not replace the current application process or guideline.
The final decision should be based on the company’s own review path: document the image set and scale, approve roof surfaces and obstructions, verify component parameters, disclose yield and economic assumptions, and compare the generated proposal with the actual scope of work. That is how a promising software concept becomes a dependable operating process.
Frequently asked questions about PV-Pro
What exactly is PV-Pro?
Does PV-Pro run on Windows?
Do I need a drone for PV-Pro?
Is a drone-derived model automatically survey-grade?
Which data does PV-Pro use for yield and incentives?
Where are project and customer data stored?
How much does PV-Pro cost?
As of 27 August 2026. Product, pricing and incentive details can change; check the linked primary sources before relying on them.