Harnessing incoming solar energy could mitigate the environmental impact of urban development while ensuring a sustainable energy future. This goal is attainable through both passive and active methods of solar energy utilization, including optimizing daylighting, facilitating direct sunlight access, and generating heat and electricity.In the strategic planning of new urban areas and the expansion of existing ones, it is crucial to integrate solar energy early in the decision-making process. This can be effectively achieved using simulation tools. Recent advancements in simulation technology have empowered planners to make informed choices regarding solar integration in neighborhood design.Consideration of the current use of tools clearly shows that throughout the different planning stages, the Level of Detail of all aspects -data availability, KPIs, and analyses- increases. During the first stage of the Urban Planning Process, there is little known about the planned (solar) neighborhood. Simple tools or even rules of thumb are often used to gain an understanding of how much solar energy could contribute to these goals. In the next stage of the Urban Planning Process, building volumes are known, enabling a deeper analysis of the role of solar energy to the neighborhood. As you progress to the Building Design Process, more details about the buildings and requirements from the building occupants are known. With the help of tools, details on a system level can be studied.A large part of the building stock is already existing, and the planning strategies for solar deployment then relies on efficient mapping of the existing opportunities. To that aim, solar cadasters are tools used to evaluate the potential for solar installations on buildings, catering to various users including homeowners and city planners. They compile data on energy production, technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental benefits using a range of indicators. Key metrics include potential electrical output, installation costs, and CO2 savings. These tools support decision-making for solar projects by providing essential information on the economic and environmental impacts of solar energy, while also considering local constraints such as heritage preservation. Overall, solar cadasters are instrumental in advancing the adoption of solar technology.There are increasing opportunities for using tools. Advanced tools can be of added value to improve living and working conditions in neighborhoods and buildings. It is, for instance, advantageous to be able to perform multiple types of simulations (e.g. daylight provision, irradiation analysis, direct solar access, energy performance) based on one geometric model. For key actors in the planning and building design process, advanced simulations could provide not only a set of design solutions to meet current legislation, but also assess solutions that go beyond what is legislatively mandated. Some advanced tools, however, still require a high proficiency of skills to master.This report highlights opportunities for maximizing the use of tools for solar neighborhood planning by analyzing the current use of tools in the design process, the mapping