Utility-scale & Cross-cutting — Multi-product
The most-cited energy modeling software in academic research
HOMER Pro is trusted by researchers and educators at thousands of universities worldwide. With 1,000+ peer-reviewed publications and a 20+ year track record, HOMER provides the rigorous simulation and optimisation platform your research and teaching demand.
Rigorous research requires rigorous tools
Energy systems research demands software that is transparent, validated, and accepted by the academic community. Whether you're publishing a techno-economic analysis in a peer-reviewed journal, supervising a master's thesis on rural electrification, or teaching an energy engineering course, your tool must produce results that reviewers trust, students can learn, and the field recognises.
Critical pain points
Why rigorous academic modeling needs trusted tools
Publication Credibility
Peer reviewers expect well-established tools. Using an unknown or proprietary platform invites methodological challenges during review. You need a tool with a proven publication record.
Teaching Accessibility
Energy courses need software that students can learn in weeks, not semesters. Complex platforms with steep learning curves consume teaching time that should go to concepts.
Reproducibility
Good research is reproducible. Your modeling tool must have clear, documented methodology and well-understood assumptions that other researchers can replicate.
Budget Constraints
Academic budgets are limited. Enterprise-priced software is out of reach for most departments and certainly for individual researchers.
Built at NREL. Trusted by 250,000+ professionals. Cited in 1,000+ papers.
HOMER Pro was originally developed at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)—one of the world's most respected energy research institutions. Its simulation methodology is well-documented, peer-validated, and understood by reviewers across the field. From IEEE to Applied Energy to Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, HOMER-based analyses are published in the world's top journals. And with academic pricing that makes it accessible to researchers and students, HOMER Pro is the natural choice for energy systems research and education.
Core modeling advantages
Built for confident decisions
Validated Simulation Engine
HOMER's hybrid optimization methodology is transparent, documented, and peer-validated through two decades of academic use. Results are reproducible and defensible in publication.
Research Flexibility
Model any hybrid system configuration: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, diesel, fuel cells, hydrogen, batteries, thermal loads. Combine technologies in ways that push research boundaries.
Classroom Ready
Students can build their first model in a single lab session. HOMER's intuitive interface means class time goes to energy concepts, not software troubleshooting.
Additional Capabilities
- + MATLAB Link: Write custom dispatch algorithms and integrate HOMER with your own research code. Essential for PhD-level work exploring novel control strategies and optimization approaches.
- + Hydrogen module: Model hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell systems—a rapidly growing research area with significant publication potential.
- + Multi-Year module: Model long-term system dynamics for climate adaptation, technology roadmapping, and policy analysis research.
- + All resource modules: Hydro, Biomass, CHP, Advanced Storage, Advanced Load, Advanced Grid—unlock any system configuration your research requires.
Use Case: PhD Research on Hybrid Microgrids for Arctic Communities
The Situation
A doctoral candidate at the University of Alaska is researching optimal hybrid microgrid configurations for remote Arctic communities facing extreme seasonal variation in solar resource, temperature-dependent battery performance, and volatile diesel supply chains. The research aims to publish a comparative analysis across 5 Arctic communities in 3 countries (U.S., Canada, Norway).
What Was Modeled
Using HOMER Pro with Advanced Storage and Multi-Year modules, the researcher modeled each community's hourly load profile, site-specific solar and wind resources, and diesel delivery logistics. HOMER evaluated thousands of system configurations combining solar PV, cold-climate wind turbines, lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries, and diesel generators. MATLAB Link was used to implement a novel predictive dispatch algorithm for seasonal battery pre-charging.
The Outcome
The research showed optimal hybrid configurations reduce lifecycle costs by 25–40% and CO₂ emissions by 45–65% across all 5 Arctic communities. The novel dispatch algorithm improved battery utilisation by 18% in extreme-cold conditions. Results were published in Applied Energy and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews and presented at the IEEE PES General Meeting. The HOMER-based methodology is now being adopted by 3 other Arctic research groups.
Real-World Applications
| Location / Institution | Research Type | Key Result |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska Arctic Research | Multi-community hybrid microgrid comparative studies using HOMER Pro | Published in high-impact journals, adopted by peer research groups |
| Kea Island, Greece (Academic Study) | Islanded microgrid design published using HOMER Pro | Peer-reviewed methodology for AC/DC hybrid microgrid optimization |
| HOMER Bibliography | Maintained list of 1,000+ academic publications | Spans IEEE, Elsevier, Springer, MDPI, and major energy journals |
| Global University Adoption | Used in energy engineering curricula at universities on every continent | From MIT and Stanford to universities in Nigeria, India, and Brazil |
Recommended HOMER Products
HOMER® Pro (Academic License)
The academic standard in energy modeling
Developed at NREL, cited in 1,000+ peer-reviewed papers, used at thousands of universities worldwide. HOMER Pro provides the validated, transparent, and affordable simulation platform that academic research and teaching demand. Academic pricing ensures accessibility for researchers and students.
Key Modules: MATLAB Link, Hydrogen, Multi-Year, all resource modules
Supporting Services
Academic Pricing
Special academic licensing rates for individual researchers, research labs, and university departments. Contact us for institutional volume pricing.
Contact Us →Training
HOMER training sessions designed for academic environments. Available as faculty workshops, student lab sessions, or conference tutorials. Teach your students the industry-standard tool.
Learn More →Ready to power your research with the field's most trusted tool?
HOMER Pro gives researchers the validated, peer-accepted modeling platform their work demands—and gives educators the accessible, intuitive tool their students need. Explore academic pricing or start with a free trial.