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Software · head to head

AVEVA PI System vs HOMER Energy

AVEVA PI System logo

AVEVA PI System

Software

Industrial data infrastructure for real-time insights

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Software

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only HOMER Energy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AVEVA PI System pricing is not published and comes through an account representative; HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • They diverge on capability: AVEVA PI System covers Real-time data collection, HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AVEVA PI System and HOMER Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where AVEVA PI System and HOMER Energy differ
AttributeAVEVA PI SystemHOMER Energy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsDesktop, Web, Mobile, ApiWindows, Web
Founded19672009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AVEVA PI System

  • Real-time data collection
  • Time-series data storage
  • Asset framework
  • Visualization
  • Analytics
  • Event management
  • Notifications
  • Data integration

Only in HOMER Energy

  • Microgrid optimization
  • Techno-economic analysis
  • Component library
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Energy storage sizing
  • Renewable integration
  • Load profile analysis
  • Financial modeling

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AVEVA PI System

  • Collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipmentnot HOMER Energy
  • Operations dashboards and alerting through PI Visionnot HOMER Energy
  • Edge data collection where connectivity is intermittentnot HOMER Energy
  • Pulling process data into Excel analysis with PI DataLinknot HOMER Energy
  • Utilities, pharma, mining and oil and gas process monitoringnot HOMER Energy

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot AVEVA PI System
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot AVEVA PI System
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot AVEVA PI System
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot AVEVA PI System
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot AVEVA PI System

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AVEVA PI System

  • Pricing is not published and comes through an account representative
  • The vendor is moving to a subscription commercial model, so perpetual licence expectations no longer hold
  • Made up of several separately named components, including PI Server, PI Vision, Edge Data Store and the adapters and connectors needed per data source

HOMER Energy

  • Now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • Split into three separate products, HOMER Pro for off-grid and microgrids, HOMER Grid for bill optimisation and HOMER Front for utility-scale, so the right one depends on project type
  • Pricing is not shown on the product pages

Pricing, plan by plan

AVEVA PI System

On request
  • Data Archive$undefined/license
    • Time-series data storage
    • High-speed data collection
    • Data compression
  • Operations$undefined/license
    • PI Vision dashboards
    • AF analytics
    • Event frames
  • Enterprise$undefined/license
    • PI Integrator
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Advanced analytics

HOMER Energy

Free
  • HOMER GridFree
    • Grid-connected optimization
    • Basic components
    • Limited simulations
  • HOMER Pro$1500/year
    • Advanced optimization
    • All components
    • Unlimited simulations
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Multi-user licenses
    • API access
    • Custom modules

Which should you pick?

Choose AVEVA PI System if

  • You need real-time data collection.
  • You work on Desktop, Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want time-series data storage.
AVEVA PI System review

Choose HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy review

Questions people ask

Is AVEVA PI System or HOMER Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. AVEVA PI System starts at On request and HOMER Energy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AVEVA PI System or HOMER Energy?
HOMER Energy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for AVEVA PI System and Free for HOMER Energy.
Does AVEVA PI System or HOMER Energy run on more platforms?
AVEVA PI System runs on Desktop, Web, Mobile, Api. HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web.
Can I use HOMER Energy for free?
Yes. HOMER Energy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. AVEVA PI System starts at On request.
What is AVEVA PI System best used for?
AVEVA PI System is most often used for collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipment, operations dashboards and alerting through pi vision, edge data collection where connectivity is intermittent, pulling process data into excel analysis with pi datalink. Of those, collecting and historising real-time process data from plant equipment and operations dashboards and alerting through pi vision are not what HOMER Energy is typically brought in for.
What can AVEVA PI System do that HOMER Energy cannot?
AVEVA PI System covers Real-time data collection, Time-series data storage, Asset framework, Visualization. HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis.
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