
RETScreen is a low-carbon planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting platform developed by Natural Resources Canada. Available in more than 35 languages, RETScreen has been leveraged by more than 750,000 energy professional and over 1,400 universities across the globe.
RETScreen Expert is a comprehensive Clean Energy Management Software platform which enables professionals and decision-makers to identify and assess the viability of potential energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration projects; and to measure and verify the actual and ongoing energy performance of buildings, factories and power plants around the world.
The software is developed by the Government of Canada in collaboration with notable international partners and is used by over 750,000 people in every country and territory of the world. RETScreen is also used as a teaching and research tool by well-over 1,300 universities and colleges worldwide, and is frequently cited in academic literature.
This “Made-in-Canada” software is well suited to assisting Canada’s facility and energy managers to take a data-driven approach to managing the energy in their facilities.
From benchmarking, to consumption tracking, energy audits and more, RETScreen provides a solution for energy professionals to take control of their facility portfolio.
The following features are either new or enhanced with the latest version of RETScreen:
Benchmark Analysis Module
New benchmark data and visualization tools for off-grid power systems and various modes of transportation (including on- and off-road vehicles, aircraft, marine craft and trains).
Feasibility Analysis Module
New archetypes for transportation, central-grid and off-grid power systems incorporating battery storage; archetypes for military and correctional facilities; update of the user-defined feasibility model and the global GHG emission factors database.
Performance Analysis Module
New analytics capabilities to prepare non-routine adjustments (e.g. COVID-19); regression analysis using backcasting and chaining techniques; integration of high-resolution and real-time data (hourly or sub-hourly, interval data with direct connection to databases, like SQL), including data visualization and analytics tools such as weekly and daily times series, load duration curve and heatmap graphs (sample image at top).
Portfolio Analysis Module
New automated portfolio data update feature and new connectors for other data tools with RETScreen Connect; new offsite renewable energy purchase capabilities for portfolio-wide monitoring and tracking; various data analysis, visualization and comparison tool upgrades.
All Modules
Integration and update of eLearning videos; improvements to reporting and custom dashboard tools; and a 37th language added (Mongolian).
If you are interested in trying RETScreen out for yourself, RETScreen Expert is available free of charge (with some functionality limited).
RETScreen requires:
- Microsoft® Windows Vista SP2 | Windows 7 | Windows 8 | Windows 10
- Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6 or higher.
If you are interested in formal RETScreen training have a look at the training path put together by CIET.

In addition, you can find more training and orientation material by visiting the RETScreen eLearning YouTube channel.

Stay up to date by following RETScreen on LinkedIn.