Amperecloud vs. Meteocontrol - which PV monitoring software should I chose?



With the VCOM (Virtual Control Room) from Metecontrol and Platform from Amperecloud, PV systems and system portfolios of all sizes can be monitored. Which solution is better for your specific portfolio depends on a variety of factors. The following comparison, including a detailed feature list of VCOM and Platform, is intended to help users make a decision.

1. Detailed comparison of all functions of VCOM and Platform

2. Download interactive PV monitoring comparison

3. Differences between VCOM and Platform

4. This is how well the support performs

5. Meteocontrol price list

Amperecloud and Meteocontrol at a glance

Both Amperecloud and Meteocontrol are headquartered in Germany. However, Meteocontrol belongs to the Chinese Shunfeng International Clean Energy (Source). Amperecloud is independent, but has been able to raise several million euros in investment capital from well-known investors in recent years.

The innovative Berlin-based company Amperecloud has focused on software and hardware development for growing solar companies. More than 400 customers especially appreciate the highly automated PV monitoring solution and the reactive support. Amperecloud additionally offers data loggers, direct marketing and operations.

Meteocontrol is an established company from Augsburg, Germany, specializing in the development of software for PV monitoring. The companies product portfolio includes a PV monitoring solution as well as data loggers and technical consulting services.

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More than 40 functions

All major solutions included

Ongoing updates

Completely free of charge

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Amperecloud Platform vs. Meteocontrol VCOM: monitoring software comparison.

The following overview provides information about more than 40 different features of VCOM and Platform, which can be divided into 7 categories. All information is taken from the respective website, product data sheets and company information (as of October 2023).
Headquarters
Berlin, Germany
Augsburg, Germany
Headquarters of the parent company
Germany
China
Google Reviews
Direct live demo access*
Test now
no information
Guided demo

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Free pilot project

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no information
*After a short online registration, you will immediately receive an automated e-mail from the provider with access data to a test environment in the respective portal.
Data
Basic master data
Individual master data fields
no information
Detailed digital twin incl. all components
Flexible calculation levels within the digital twin
no information
Monitoring & Analysis
Hardware independent
Portfolio management
Control room view
Customizable dashboards
Customizable data visualization intervals
Target/actual comparison
Weather satellite data
Formula system for calculating individual KPIs
Performance Ratio
Customizable monitoring views
Diagrams comparable across plants
Automatic error detection
Error message via mail
Fully customizable alarm system
Webcam integration
Analysis tool for live testing of formulas and alarms
Control room, monitoring, dashboards and digital twin at Amperecloud.
Maintenance & ticket system
Ticket system
Automatic ticket creation (e.g. for recurring tasks)
On site Service Templates
On Site Service Planning
Order & operation log
Custom ticket templates
Customizable ticket label
no information
Ticket history
Ticket system at Platform including individual labels (top) and VCOM (bottom) in comparison.
Reporting
Basic reporting
Predefined reports
Customizable reports
Programmable reports
no information
Reports in corporate design
Project Management
Superadmin and different user rights
Number of user seats
Unlimited
Unlimited
External access (e.g. for investors or customers)
Data export
Historical data import
Open interfaces (e.g. to ERP systems)
Full read & write access
no information
Other services
Direct marketing (supplier)
Redispatch 2.0
Remote controllability
Telecontrol connection
Sources: Meteocontrol product page; Meteocontrol support FAQ; VCOM & VCOM CMMS data sheet, available here; data from Meteocontrol; data from Amperecloud. Data retrieved: 10/25/2023, 1:31 pm.

Meteocontrol VCOM vs Amperecloud Platform.

The following overview provides information about more than 40 different features of VCOM and Platform, which can be divided into a total of 7 categories. All information is taken from the respective website and product data sheets (as of September 2023).
General information
Headquarters
Berlin
Augsburg
Headquarters of the parent company
Germany
China
Direct live demo access*
Test now
no info
*After a short online registration, you will immediately receive an automated e-mail from the provider with access data to a test environment in the respective portal.
Data
Basic master data
Individual master data fields
no info
Detailed digital twin with all components
Flexible calculation levels within the digital twin
no info
Monitoring & Analysis
Hardware independent
Portfolio management
Customizable dashboards
Customizable data visualization intervals
Target/actual comparison
Weather satellite data
Formula system for calculating individual KPIs
Performance ratio
Customizable monitoring views
Diagrams comparable across plants
Automatic error detection
Error message via mail
Fully customizable alarm system
Webcam integration
Analysis tool for live testing of formulas and alarms
Maintenance & ticket system
Ticket system
Automatic ticket creation (e.g. for recurring tasks)
Onsite service templates
Onsite service planning
Order & operation log
Custom ticket templates
Individual ticket labels
no info
Ticket history
Reporting
Basic reporting
Predefined reports
Customizable reports
Programmable reports
no info
Reports in corporate design
Project Management
Superadmin and different user rights
Number of users
Unlimited
Unlimited
External access (e.g. for investors or customers)
Data export
Historical data import
Open interfaces (e.g. to ERP systems)
no info
Other services
Direct marketing (supplier)
Redispatch 2.0
Remote controllability
Telecontrol connection

Sources: Meteocontrol product page; Meteocontrol support FAQ; VCOM & VCOM CMMS data sheet, available here; data from Meteocontrol; data from Amperecloud. Data retrieved: 10/25/2023, 1:31 pm.

Download the interactive table now!

More than 40 functions

All major solutions included

Ongoing updates

Completely free of charge

Download now

Platform vs. VCOM: two enormously powerful solutions

Looking at the comparison, it becomes clear that both providers offer extensive PV monitoring functions. The reliable and individual alarm systems allow a quick detection of errors without the well-known alarm fatigue. In the area of data visualization, the platforms can each present all components, data points and KPIs in an appealing and clear manner.

Dashboards or reports can also be sent automatically to external stakeholders. Alternatively investors and customers can be granted their own access to certain parts of the software. This saves manual and, above all, communicative effort. Both PV monitoring solutions also offer a direct transfer of tickets into assignments and subsequent agreements with technicians.

Differences in reports and user guidance

Differences between the solutions are more apparent at a qualitative level. For example, Amperecloud reports can be fully programmed to meet particularly complex investor reporting requirements. Meteocontrol can also generate yield reports, for example (see screenshot below).

The respective interfaces also differ visually and in terms of user guidance. Amperecloud is based on modern, innovative tools from well-known software giants such as Apple and is completely web-based. All important functions are directly visible and can be used with a single click. This saves a considerable amount of time in daily work with Platform.

The Meteocontrol user interface is also web-based. All essential functions can be called up immediately via the top menu bar.

Programmed earnings report created in customer design (left, Amperecloud Platform). Earnings report created in VCOM (right).
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Support as an important criteria

At Amperecloud, customers are assigned a fixed contact person who ensures the proper functioning of the software in regular appointments and responds to specific customer requests. In addition, the company offers a migration service that handles the smooth relocation of even large portfolios. In the company's Google reviews (source), support is also highlighted by numerous customers as reliable and service-oriented.

Meteocontrol also offers a wide range of services. These include, for example, training, remote maintenance by employees or a service hotline (source).

Does Meteocontrol have a price list?

Currently there is no publicly available price list for Meteocontrol VCOM. This information must be requested directly from the company's support.

Conclusion: Test provider directly

Both Meteocontrol and Amperecloud offer comprehensive PV monitoring software. Differences between the two providers lie particularly in the user interface. In any case, we recommend a practical test of the provider, e.g. via a demo access or a pilot project, before purchasing.

Growing solar companies trust in Amperecloud.

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