Our Tools
Energy is a complex topic. Check out these free, open-source tools and resources to help you get smart.
NEW! Grid Navigator (GridNav)
Analysis Made Simple
GridNav runs on NREL REopt — the same optimization engine used by the U.S. Department of Energy — but delivers it through software anyone can use without engineering expertise. A feasibility study that traditionally costs $10,000–$50,000 and takes weeks can now be completed by one person in minutes.
Financial Modeling
Unlike traditional static reports, GridNav's Financial Ledger recalculates payback period, NPV, IRR, and other key metrics in real time as users adjust assumptions like equipment costs, incentive rates, and utility escalation. A standout feature is grant back-calculation, which lets users determine exactly how much funding they need to hit a target payback — invaluable for municipalities, nonprofits, and schools writing grant applications.
Portfolio-Scale Intelligence
GridNav isn't just a single-project tool — it lets program managers, developers, and consultants evaluate and compare hundreds of sites at once, surfacing the strongest opportunities across a portfolio in seconds. ProtoGen's built-in AI automatically generates consultant-quality narratives for individual analyses and cross-scenario comparisons, eliminating days of manual reporting work.
Microgrid Navigator (MGNav)
Your Project's First Step
A quick and easy way to get started. With just a few basic inputs that are simple enough for non-technical users, MGNav shows you what energy projects are possible for your site.
Advanced Data Analysis
In under a minute, MGNav runs complex calculations to provide you with a detailed project summary including potential solar capacity, battery storage, CapEx, CO2 reduction, and more.
Ease of Scalability
Ready to take your MGNav output results to the next level? GridNav can help you quickly scale your energy project by incorporating GIS mapping features, a dashboard to manage multiple scenarios and projects, and access for multiple stakeholders. Sign up for your 60-day free trial.
Hybrid System Financial Advisory Spreadsheet Tool (HybridFAST)
Simple Inputs, Powerful Analysis
Enter your project basics—system size, location, costs, and financing terms—and HybridFAST instantly generates comprehensive financial models for solar, battery storage, or hybrid systems. No complex formulas to manage, just straightforward inputs that power sophisticated calculations.
Complete Financial Visibility
Get the full financial picture with detailed P&L statements, cash flow projections, depreciation schedules, and loan amortization—all automatically calculated and updated. Track revenue streams including SREC, energy sales, and ancillary services across your project's entire lifecycle.
Flexible Reporting for Every Stakeholder
View your results your way. From executive summaries for investors to granular line-item accounting for auditors, HybridFAST presents project financials in the format each stakeholder needs. Export ready-to-present analyses that meet GAAP standards.
Renewable Energy Mix Tool (RE-Mixer)
Regional Energy Transition Modeling
Map your region's path to clean energy with customizable renewable scenarios. Input your current energy mix, set renewable energy targets, and watch RE-Mixer project year-by-year transitions from fossil fuels to solar, wind, hydro, and other renewable sources—all the way to 2050 and beyond.
Comprehensive Demand Forecasting
Account for the full picture of future energy needs. Model efficiency savings, EV charging growth, marginal reserves, and emerging demand—all at the municipality level. RE-Mixer calculates total energy requirements using real population, household, and employment data.
Multi-Source Portfolio Optimization
Balance your renewable portfolio with precision. Compare capacity factors, installation costs, and generation profiles across solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and emerging technologies. Find the optimal mix that meets your region's energy goals and budget constraints.