RETScreen
The facts below are what the maker publishes about RETScreen, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From RETScreen's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Viewer mode | Free | free access · analysis and learning · saving/printing/exporting restricted |
| Professional mode | C$869 a year | full functionality · save, print and export · advanced features · 12-month renewable subscription |
The facts
Each one read from RETScreen's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Benchmark analysis
- Benchmarking compares a facility with reference cases to identify energy-performance gaps.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Climate data
- RETScreen combines global climate information from NASA satellite data and ground stations with project modelling.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Database coverage
- The platform includes climate, hydrology, cost, product and project databases.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Independent directory data describes RETScreen as an on-premise Windows desktop application.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and training
- Listed support and training options include documentation, videos, live online sessions and in-person training.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- The independent review reports no official in-app marketplace and limited support for live IoT or real-time integrations.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Feasibility analysis
- Feasibility workflows assess energy, costs, emissions, sensitivity and financial risk for proposed projects.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Global use
- A 2016 Government of Canada backgrounder reported more than 465,000 users worldwide and availability in 36 languages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations and data partners
- A university thesis identifies partnerships or data sources involving IESO, NASA, UNEP and the Global Environment Facility.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Languages
- The Government of Canada says RETScreen is used in 36 languages.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Launch history
- The first RETScreen software was released by the Government of Canada in 1998, according to its backgrounder.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Licence
- Public descriptions present the full product as commercial software and do not identify an open-source licence.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: advanced modelling
- G2 reviewers say the product can fall short for advanced calculations, forecasting and highly personalized project planning.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: complexity
- Reviewers report many tabs and dense information that can overwhelm new users, with an interface some consider dated.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: database quality
- An academic evaluation advises checking database weather data against local sources and says reference and equipment databases need improvement.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: optimization
- The same evaluation says RETScreen compares user-defined cases but does not automatically optimize system components or propose improvements.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: pricing
- A G2 reviewer describes the professional licence price as expensive for part-time consultants.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: reliability
- One G2 reviewer reports lagging and shutdowns during use and while changing components.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Performance measurement
- Performance Analysis and measurement-and-verification tools compare actual facility results with predicted outcomes.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Portfolio analysis
- Portfolio Analysis aggregates multiple facilities for organization-wide comparison and management.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker founded
- LinkedIn lists Natural Resources Canada as founded in 1994.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker headquarters
- LinkedIn lists Natural Resources Canada headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker ownership
- Natural Resources Canada, a Government of Canada department, is identified as the seller and developer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Maker size
- LinkedIn lists Natural Resources Canada at 1,001–5,000 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
Alternatives to RETScreen
- 1

EnergyCAP
WebAPImacOSWindows6.9From $4,000 a year - 2

EnergyElephant
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.9From $7.30 a month - 3

Enertiv
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI6.6Free plan - 4
Honeywell Forge
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.4 - 5

Spacewell
AndroidiOSWebAPI6.4 - 6
FTW
Free planWebAPILinuxSelf-hosted6.3Free plan
