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Energy · head to head

Bently Nevada System 1 vs HOMER Energy

Bently Nevada System 1 logo

Bently Nevada System 1

Energy

Machinery condition monitoring software for critical rotating equipment protected by Bently Nevada hardware

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HOMER Energy logo

HOMER Energy

Energy

Microgrid and distributed energy optimization software

From
$187.5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bently Nevada System 1 system 1 assumes Bently Nevada hardware; connected to third-party protection systems it loses access to the dynamic and transient data that is the entire reason to buy it, so the software choice is really made when the racks are specified.; HOMER Energy now owned by UL Solutions rather than being independent
  • They diverge on capability: Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bently Nevada System 1 and HOMER Energy actually diverge.

Attributes where Bently Nevada System 1 and HOMER Energy differ
AttributeBently Nevada System 1HOMER Energy
Starting priceOn request$187.5/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Web, On-premiseWindows, Web
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Energy).

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 Bently Nevada System 1

  • Turbomachinery plot set
  • Transient capture
  • 3500 and Orbit 60 integration
  • Decision support
  • Data diode support
  • Process data correlation

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.

Bently Nevada System 1

  • A refinery with API 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot donot HOMER Energy
  • An LNG plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programmenot HOMER Energy
  • A power station correlating turbine vibration with process conditions to distinguish a real fault from a load-related responsenot HOMER Energy
  • An offshore operator using remote diagnostics because there is no rotating machinery specialist on the installationnot HOMER Energy

HOMER Energy

  • Sizing and optimising off-grid and microgrid systemsnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Modelling the economics of solar, wind and battery combinationsnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Electric bill optimisation for grid-connected sites and EV chargingnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Utility-scale storage investment analysisnot Bently Nevada System 1
  • Comparing least-cost configurations against load and resource datanot Bently Nevada System 1

Where each one falls short

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

Bently Nevada System 1

  • System 1 assumes Bently Nevada hardware; connected to third-party protection systems it loses access to the dynamic and transient data that is the entire reason to buy it, so the software choice is really made when the racks are specified.
  • It is priced by machine train, which makes it appropriate for a dozen critical machines and prohibitively expensive as a plant-wide condition monitoring system for balance-of-plant equipment.
  • Reading the output well needs a rotating machinery specialist; orbit and shaft centreline plots are not self-explanatory, and a site without that skill will either buy the Baker Hughes remote monitoring service or under-use the software.
  • The annual support and upgrade contract is a continuing cost that must be maintained to stay on supported versions, and lapsing it on a system tied to safety-relevant protection hardware is not a realistic saving.
  • Nothing about pricing is published and the product is sold as part of a machinery relationship with Baker Hughes, so competitive tension at renewal is limited once the hardware is installed.

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

Bently Nevada System 1

On request
  • System 1$undefined/year
    • Priced by machine train and connected data source
    • Bently Nevada protection hardware assumed or purchased alongside
    • Annual software support and upgrade contract sold separately

HOMER Energy

$187.5/month
  • Base$187.5/month
    • No modules included; add individually
    • Basic support
    • Software updates
  • Professional$373.5/month
    • Any 4 modules included (Biomass Generation, Run of River Hydro, Advanced Grid, Advanced Load, etc.)
    • Basic support
    • Software updates
  • Expert$568.5/month
    • All modules included: Biomass, Hydro, Hydrogen, Advanced Grid/Load/Storage, Combined Heat & Power, Multi-Year, MATLAB Link
    • Basic support
    • Software updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Bently Nevada System 1 if

  • You need turbomachinery plot set.
  • You work on Windows, Web, On-premise.
  • You also want transient capture.
Bently Nevada System 1 review

Choose HOMER Energy if

  • You need microgrid optimization.
  • You work on Windows, Web.
  • You also want techno-economic analysis.
HOMER Energy review

Questions people ask

Is Bently Nevada System 1 or HOMER Energy better?
Neither clearly leads. Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and HOMER Energy at $187.5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bently Nevada System 1 or HOMER Energy?
Bently Nevada System 1 starts at On request and HOMER Energy at $187.5/month.
Does Bently Nevada System 1 or HOMER Energy run on more platforms?
Bently Nevada System 1 runs on Windows, Web, On-premise. HOMER Energy runs on Windows, Web.
What is Bently Nevada System 1 best used for?
Bently Nevada System 1 is most often used for a refinery with api 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot do, an lng plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programme, a power station correlating turbine vibration with process conditions to distinguish a real fault from a load-related response, an offshore operator using remote diagnostics because there is no rotating machinery specialist on the installation. Of those, a refinery with api 670 protected compressor trains needing transient startup data captured and analysed, which general vibration platforms cannot do and an lng plant where a single unplanned compressor trip costs more than the entire monitoring programme are not what HOMER Energy is typically brought in for.
What can Bently Nevada System 1 do that HOMER Energy cannot?
Bently Nevada System 1 covers Turbomachinery plot set, Transient capture, 3500 and Orbit 60 integration, Decision support. HOMER Energy covers Microgrid optimization, Techno-economic analysis, Component library, Sensitivity analysis.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bently Nevada System 1: Do I need Bently Nevada hardware?

Practically, yes. System 1 can take some third-party inputs but the dynamic and transient data that justify it come from 3500 or Orbit 60 racks.

HOMER Energy: What are the pricing options for HOMER Energy?

HOMER Energy pricing information is not publicly available on their website. Customers must contact the vendor directly to obtain pricing information, trial access, and licensing options.

Source
Bently Nevada System 1: Is System 1 suitable for all my plant motors?

No. It is priced and designed for critical machine trains. Balance-of-plant motors are far better served by a general condition monitoring platform.

HOMER Energy: Does HOMER Energy offer a free trial or demo?

Trial or demo availability cannot be confirmed from publicly accessible pages. Visit the main website or contact HOMER Energy sales directly to inquire about evaluation options.

Source
Bently Nevada System 1: What does Orbit 60 add?

A newer protection platform with SIL certification and a built-in data diode, which removes the network security objection to connecting protection systems.

Bently Nevada System 1: Can Baker Hughes monitor the machines for me?

Yes, remote machinery diagnostic services are offered, which is how many sites without an in-house specialist actually consume System 1.

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