History of PlantPredict
PlantPredict has a rich heritage spanning nearly two decades of development by pioneers in the utility-scale solar industry.
Origins at OptiSolar (2007)
PlantPredict traces its origins to the late 2000s when it was initially developed by OptiSolar, a startup focused on large-scale solar power plant development. Originally called the Farm Simulation Tool (FST), it was designed to model the performance of utility-scale solar installations—a nascent but rapidly growing segment of the renewable energy industry.First Solar Era (2010–2021)
In 2010, First Solar acquired OptiSolar and its simulation software. First Solar recognized the strategic value of having an in-house performance modeling tool and invested significantly in its development:- Renamed to PlantPredict — The software was rebranded and positioned as a comprehensive performance modeling platform
- Cloud Architecture — First Solar re-architected the application for cloud deployment, enabling broader access and scalability
- Lifecycle Vision — The platform was designed to support projects from initial design through construction and into operations
- Public Launch (2016) — PlantPredict was made publicly available with a free license, establishing it as an industry-standard tool
- Premium Edition (2020) — First Solar launched PlantPredict Premium with advanced features for sophisticated modeling requirements
Terabase Acquisition (2021–Present)
In 2021, Terabase acquired PlantPredict from First Solar, integrating it into their comprehensive solar development software suite. Terabase brought a similar lifecycle vision, aiming to connect PlantPredict with their existing tools:- Design Pro Integration (2022) — PlantPredict was integrated with Terabase’s Development Platform (Design Pro), creating a seamless workflow from site layout to energy prediction
- Voltage Pro & Terrain Pro (2023) — Additional modules were added for electrical design and terrain analysis
- PlantPredict 3D Beta (2024) — Terabase launched a beta version of PlantPredict with enhanced 3D modeling capabilities
- Version 12 Stable (2025) — In late 2025, Terabase released Version 12, representing a major leap forward in 3D modeling. This release introduced advanced terrain-aware shading analysis, improved 3D scene visualization, and tighter integration with the Terabase platform
Looking Forward
Today, PlantPredict continues to evolve as part of the Terabase ecosystem, with ongoing development focused on:- Enhanced integration with construction monitoring (Construct) and operations SCADA platforms
- Advanced 3D modeling and visualization capabilities
- Improved algorithms for emerging PV technologies
- Expanded API and SDK capabilities for automation and integration