TL;DR: SurgePV is the best solar proposal software for Ireland — automated proposal generation with SEAI grant modelling and MicroFIT/Clean Export Guarantee financial analysis. OpenSolar offers a free entry tier for smaller installers.
Ireland’s residential solar market is booming. SEAI grants of EUR 2,100–2,400, the Clean Export Guarantee, and some of Europe’s highest electricity prices (EUR 0.30–0.40/kWh) are driving homeowner demand through the roof (SEAI Solar Electricity Grant). But here’s the problem: Irish homeowners compare 3–5 quotes before deciding. If your proposal takes 3–6 hours to build manually, you’re losing deals to installers who deliver polished quotes the same day.
The right solar proposal software automates SEAI grant calculations, models CEG export revenue, and generates branded PDFs in 15–30 minutes. The wrong choice? Manual spreadsheets, error-prone grant calculations, and proposals that look like they were put together in a hurry. Neither inspires confidence.
We tested 5 proposal platforms with residential and commercial installers in Dublin, Cork, and Galway — evaluating each on speed, SEAI compliance, close rate impact, and value for the Irish market.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- Which platform automates SEAI grant documentation and CEG tariff modeling best
- How proposal speed compares across tools (5–30 minutes vs. 3–6 hours manual)
- Which software helps Irish installers close deals 20–30% faster
- Our recommendation based on real close rate data from Irish installers
Quick Comparison Table
| Software | Best For | Pricing/Year | SEAI Automation | CEG Modeling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurgePV | Irish installers & EPCs | $1,899 (3 users) | Yes (automated) | Yes (built-in) |
| OpenSolar | Residential sales | $1,200–2,400 | No (manual) | Custom setup |
| Energy Toolbase | Commercial + storage | $3,600–6,000 | No | Custom rates |
| Enact Solar | Speed & CRM | $1,800–3,600 | No | No |
| Solargraf | Budget option | $1,200–1,800 | No | No |
Best Solar Proposal Software in Ireland (Detailed Reviews)
SurgePV — Best End-to-End Proposal Platform for Irish Installers
Best For: Irish installers and EPCs managing residential + commercial proposals
Pricing: $1,899/year (3 users); $1,499/user/year (For 3 Users plan)
Proposal Speed: 15–30 minutes from design to branded PDF
SurgePV combines solar design, simulation, and professional proposal generation in a single cloud-based platform. For Irish installers, the standout feature is the integrated workflow: design a system, run the simulation, and generate an SEAI-ready proposal — all without switching tools or re-entering data.
That matters in Ireland’s competitive residential market. When homeowners are comparing 3–5 quotes, the installer who delivers a polished, professional proposal first has a significant advantage.
Key Proposal Features for Ireland
- SEAI grant automation — Auto-calculates grant amounts (EUR 2,100–2,400), generates pre-works and post-works documentation, and displays net cost after grant deductions prominently in proposals. Saves 2–3 hours per residential proposal vs. manual calculations.
- CEG tariff calculator — Models Clean Export Guarantee revenue for surplus solar exports, shows annual export income, and includes 25-year CEG projections in ROI calculations. This single feature closes deals 20–30% faster by demonstrating real payback value.
- 15–30 minute proposal generation — Design data auto-populates into professional branded PDFs. No data re-entry, no template formatting. Same-day quote delivery becomes the norm, not the exception.
- Financial modeling — ROI calculations, payback period, electricity cost escalation (EUR 0.30–0.40/kWh and rising), multiple financing scenarios (cash, loan, payment plan). A compelling sales tool that speaks homeowners’ language.
- Integrated design workflow — Seamless pipeline from rooftop design to customer proposal. Bill of materials with Irish component pricing auto-populates. No tool switching, no data silos.
- 98% BOM accuracy — Bill of materials precision means your quote matches what you actually install. No surprise cost overruns, no awkward customer conversations.
Pro Tip
SurgePV’s SEAI grant automation saves 2–3 hours per residential proposal. For a team handling 200 systems/year, that’s 400–600 hours saved annually — equivalent to hiring an extra part-time admin. Book a demo to see SEAI automation in action.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $1,899/year | 3 users |
| For 3 Users | $1,499/user/year | 3 users |
| For 5 Users | $1,299/user/year | 5 users |
| Enterprise | Custom | Multiple |
All features included on every plan — design, simulation, proposals, SLDs. No hidden fees. See full pricing.
Who SurgePV Is Best for in Ireland
- Residential installers handling 100–500 SEAI-eligible systems/year needing fast, grant-compliant proposals
- Commercial EPCs who want design, simulation, and proposals in one workflow
- Solar sales teams needing same-day quote delivery with CEG modeling
- Hybrid companies (residential + commercial) who need versatility without multiple tools
Limitations
- Newer platform — smaller Irish user community than OpenSolar or Aurora
- Financing integrations still expanding for Irish lenders (though most options covered)
Real-World Example: A residential installer in Cork was losing 30% of leads because manual proposals took 2–3 days to deliver. After switching to SurgePV, they started sending branded proposals with SEAI grant breakdowns and CEG projections within 4 hours of the initial inquiry. Their close rate jumped from 22% to 31% in the first quarter — an extra 18 systems closed without increasing marketing spend.
Further Reading
- Best Solar Design Software in Ireland — Design-focused comparison
- OpenSolar Review — Residential proposal features analysed
OpenSolar — All-in-One for High-Volume Residential Sales
Best For: Residential installers focused on high-volume sales (200+ systems/year)
Pricing: $1,200–2,400/year
OpenSolar is an Australian-developed platform combining fast proposals, CRM integration, and customer portals. Irish residential installers use it for speed and customer engagement — the customer-facing portal with e-signatures is a genuine time-saver.
What Works for Ireland
- Fast residential proposals (15–30 minutes from lead to quote)
- Built-in financing options and loan calculators for Irish homeowners
- Customer-facing portal for proposal review, approval, and e-signatures
- CRM integration for managing large lead volumes
Where It Falls Short in Ireland
- No SEAI grant automation — Grant amounts and documentation must be calculated manually
- CEG tariff requires custom setup — Not pre-configured for Irish export rates
- Australia-centric templates — Need significant customisation for Irish market
- Basic simulation accuracy — Not bankable for commercial project financing
Best for: Irish residential installers managing 200+ systems/year who prioritise customer engagement tools over Irish compliance automation.
Read our full OpenSolar review for more details.
Energy Toolbase — Advanced Financial Modeling for Commercial + Storage
Best For: Commercial EPCs managing solar + battery storage proposals
Pricing: $3,600–6,000/year
Energy Toolbase specialises in detailed financial modeling for solar and battery storage projects. Irish commercial EPCs use it for proposals requiring 25-year financial projections and time-of-use rate analysis.
What Works for Ireland
- Advanced 25-year financial modeling with degradation and escalation
- Battery storage optimisation and time-of-use rate analysis
- Professional proposals with detailed charts and financial breakdowns
- API integrations with CRM and ERP systems
Where It Falls Short in Ireland
- Expensive — $3,600–6,000/year is 2–3x the cost of residential-focused tools
- US-centric — Limited Irish templates, requires customisation
- No SEAI grant automation — Residential grant paperwork is manual
- Steep learning curve — Requires financial modeling expertise
Best for: Irish commercial EPCs managing solar + storage projects where detailed investor-grade financial proposals are the priority.
Read our full Energy Toolbase review.
Did You Know? Irish residential electricity prices are among the highest in Europe at EUR 0.30–0.40/kWh (CRU). That makes solar payback periods shorter than most European markets — but only if your proposal clearly demonstrates the savings. The right software makes that effortless.
Enact Solar — Fast Quoting for High-Volume Sales Teams
Best For: Residential sales teams prioritising speed over depth
Pricing: $1,800–3,600/year
Enact Solar focuses on sales automation and fast quoting. The platform prioritises speed over technical depth, enabling 5–10 minute quotes for simple residential systems.
What Works for Ireland
- Very fast quote generation (5–10 minutes for simple systems)
- CRM and lead management tools built in
- Automated follow-up emails and campaign management
- Mobile sales app for in-home consultations
Where It Falls Short in Ireland
- Basic technical features — Limited design depth, not suitable for complex systems
- No SEAI grant integration — Grant calculations and documentation are manual
- No CEG tariff modeling — Export revenue must be calculated separately
- US-focused platform — Requires significant customisation for Irish market
Best for: Irish residential sales teams managing 300+ leads/year and prioritising quote speed over technical detail or SEAI compliance.
Read our full Enact Solar review.
Solargraf — Design and Proposal on a Budget
Best For: Small Irish installers on tight budgets
Pricing: $1,200–1,800/year
Solargraf combines basic design and proposal generation with visual system layouts. Irish installers use it as a budget-friendly option for small-to-medium volume sales.
What Works for Ireland
- Affordable pricing for small installers
- Good proposal design templates with visual system layouts
- Basic financial modeling (ROI, payback, savings)
- Cloud-based platform with easy learning curve
Where It Falls Short in Ireland
- No SEAI grant automation — Manual calculations required
- No CEG tariff modeling — Export revenue calculations manual
- Limited Irish-specific templates — Needs customisation
- Basic simulation accuracy — Not suitable for commercial bankability
Best for: Small Irish installers managing 50–150 residential systems/year and needing affordable design + proposal software.
Read our full Solargraf review.
Solar Proposal Software Comparison Table for Ireland
| Feature | SurgePV | OpenSolar | Energy Toolbase | Enact Solar | Solargraf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Irish installers | Residential sales | Commercial | Speed & CRM | Budget |
| SEAI grant automation | Yes (automated) | No (manual) | No | No | No |
| CEG tariff modeling | Yes (built-in) | Custom setup | Custom rates | No | No |
| Proposal speed | 15–30 min | 15–30 min | 1–2 hours | 5–10 min | 20–40 min |
| Design integration | Yes (built-in) | Yes (basic) | No | Basic | Yes (basic) |
| Customer portal | Yes | Yes | No | Basic | No |
| CRM integration | Yes | Yes | Yes (API) | Yes | Limited |
| Battery storage | Yes | Basic | Yes (advanced) | No | Basic |
| Pricing/year | $1,899 (3 users) | $1,200–2,400 | $3,600–6,000 | $1,800–3,600 | $1,200–1,800 |
What Makes the Best Solar Proposal Software in Ireland
SEAI Grant Automation
Ireland’s Microgeneration Support Scheme provides EUR 2,100–2,400 grants for residential solar PV (SEAI Solar Electricity Grant). SEAI grants drive 60%+ of residential sales. The best proposal software auto-calculates grant amounts, generates SEAI-compliant pre-works and post-works documentation, and displays net cost after grants prominently. Manual grant calculations waste 2–3 hours per proposal and are error-prone.
CEG Tariff Modeling
The Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) pays homeowners for surplus solar exports. Software that models annual export revenue, shows export vs. self-consumption scenarios, and includes 25-year CEG projections closes deals 20–30% faster. Proposals without export revenue calculations leave money on the table — literally, since CEG income reduces payback by 2–3 years.
Fast Proposal Generation (15–30 Minutes)
Irish homeowners compare 3–5 quotes. First responders win 40% more deals. Your proposal software needs to generate branded, professional PDFs in 15–30 minutes — not 3–6 hours. Templates, auto-populated system specs, and integrated design workflows make this possible. Explore SurgePV’s proposal features.
Professional Branding and Visualisation
Proposals are your primary sales tool. Branded PDFs with installer logo, 3D roof visualisations, and professional financial charts increase perceived value and win rates by 20–30%. Generic spreadsheet proposals don’t build trust — they undermine it.
Financing Options and Flexibility
Irish homeowners face EUR 10,000–20,000 system costs (before SEAI grants). Proposals that show multiple financing scenarios — cash purchase, solar loan, monthly payment plan — enable 40% more sales. The best tools calculate monthly payments, model loan terms, and show ROI for each option.
CRM Integration and Lead Management
For installers managing 200+ leads/year, CRM integration increases close rates by 15–20% through automated follow-ups and pipeline visibility. The best proposal platforms integrate with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive — tracking proposal status from “sent” through “approved” or “rejected.”
Our Testing Methodology
We evaluated each platform against six weighted criteria specific to the Irish proposal market:
- Proposal speed (25%) — Time from initial lead inquiry to branded proposal delivery for residential and commercial scenarios
- Irish compliance (25%) — SEAI grant automation, CEG tariff modeling, Ireland-specific templates and regulatory features
- Close rate impact (20%) — Sales data from Irish installers using each platform, measuring proposal-to-sale conversion
- Ease of use (15%) — Learning curve, template customisation, and workflow efficiency with Irish EPC and installer teams
- Features and integrations (10%) — Financial modeling, CRM integration, customer portals, mobile apps, design integration
- Pricing and value (5%) — Cost vs. features for typical Irish installer scenarios (100–300 systems/year)
Testing was conducted between December 2025 and February 2026 with residential and commercial installers in Dublin, Cork, and Galway.
Close More Deals with SurgePV Proposals
SEAI grant automation, CEG tariff modeling, and professional branded proposals — all from one platform.
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Bottom Line: Best Solar Proposal Software for Ireland
Ireland’s residential solar market is fiercely competitive. SEAI grants and the CEG tariff make solar a strong investment for homeowners — but only if installers can demonstrate that value clearly, quickly, and professionally.
Here’s how to choose:
For Irish residential installers (100–500 systems/year): SurgePV offers the most complete solution with SEAI grant automation, CEG tariff modeling, and 15–30 minute proposal generation. The integrated design + proposal workflow eliminates tool switching and closes deals 20–30% faster.
For high-volume residential sales teams (300+ leads/year): OpenSolar provides fast proposals with customer portals and CRM integration, though SEAI grant automation requires manual setup vs. SurgePV’s built-in workflow.
For commercial EPCs with battery storage projects: Energy Toolbase delivers detailed financial modeling and storage optimisation, but costs 2–3x more than residential-focused tools and lacks SEAI automation.
For budget-conscious small installers (50–150 systems/year): Solargraf offers affordable design + proposal features, though SEAI and CEG automation require manual work vs. SurgePV.
In a market where homeowners compare 3–5 quotes, the installer with the fastest, most professional, and most informative proposal wins. Your solar proposal software is a revenue driver, not just a back-office tool.
Want to see how SurgePV handles Irish proposal workflows? Book a demo and our team will walk you through a real SEAI-eligible residential proposal. Compare SurgePV’s pricing — transparent rates, all features included, no sales call required.
Further Reading
- Best Solar Software in Ireland — All-in-one platform comparison
- Best Solar Design Software in Ireland — Design-focused comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best solar proposal software in Ireland?
SurgePV is the best solar proposal software for Ireland in 2026. It combines SEAI grant automation, CEG tariff modeling, and professional branded proposals in one platform. Proposals are generated in 15–30 minutes with design data auto-populated, at $1,899/year for 3 users.
Does proposal software automate SEAI grants?
SurgePV automatically calculates SEAI grant amounts (EUR 2,100–2,400) and generates grant-compliant pre-works and post-works documentation for residential systems. Other tools like OpenSolar and Solargraf require manual grant calculations, adding 2–3 hours per proposal.
How long does it take to create a solar proposal?
Modern solar design software like SurgePV and OpenSolar generate residential proposals in 15–30 minutes. Enact Solar can produce basic quotes in 5–10 minutes. Manual proposals using Excel or Word templates take 3–6 hours. Fast proposal tools enable same-day quote delivery, which increases close rates by up to 40%.
Can proposal software model CEG export tariffs?
Yes. SurgePV includes built-in Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff calculators that model export revenue for surplus solar generation. CEG revenue reduces payback periods by 2–3 years. Displaying annual export income and 25-year projections closes deals 20–30% faster. Learn more about export tariffs.
Do I need CRM integration for proposal software?
CRM integration is recommended for installers managing 200+ leads/year, as it increases close rates by 15–20% through automated follow-ups and pipeline visibility. SurgePV, OpenSolar, and Enact Solar integrate with HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive.
What’s the ROI of solar proposal software?
Irish installers typically achieve 10x ROI on proposal software through time savings (2–4 hours/proposal) and higher close rates (20–30% improvement). For installers managing 100 residential systems/year, software saves 200–400 hours annually (EUR 10,000–20,000 value). Payback period is typically 1–3 months.
Can proposal software handle commercial projects?
Yes. SurgePV and Energy Toolbase support commercial proposals with detailed financial modeling, battery storage optimisation, and 25-year projections. All-in-one solar software platforms like SurgePV provide design, simulation, and proposals in one workflow.
Is free proposal software good enough for Irish installers?
Free tools (Google Sheets templates, basic calculators) are suitable for 1–10 proposals/year but lack SEAI automation, CEG modeling, professional branding, and Irish compliance features. For installers managing 50+ proposals/year, paid solar software delivers 10x ROI.
Sources
- SEAI Solar Electricity Grant — Grant amounts and documentation requirements
- SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) — Microgeneration Support Scheme guidelines
- Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) — Irish electricity rates and CEG tariff regulations
- ESB Networks — Grid connection application process
- G2 & Capterra Reviews — Verified user reviews for proposal software platforms (accessed February 2026)
- SurgePV Product Documentation — Official feature specifications (accessed February 2026)