The following table provides the calculation basis for the Cost Estimate exported:
| Cost Category | Cost Type | Calculation | Notes |
| PV Panels | PV Panels | Quantity x Power Rating x Cost per Watt | Cost per Watt value is specified by the user |
| Inverters | Inverters | Quantity x Unit Cost per Inverter | Unit Cost per Inverter is specified by the user (alternatively may be specified as cost per Station) |
| Structures | Rack | Quantity x Unit Cost per Rack | Unit Cost per Rack is specified by the user (alternatively may be specified as cost per Watt) |
| Structures | Piles | Quantity x Weight of Pile per Unit Distance x Length of Pile x Cost of Steel per Unit Weight | Weight of Pile per Unit Distance, Length of Pile and Cost of Steel per Unit Weight is specified by the user |
| Electrical BOS | Conduit | Length x Unit Cost per Length | Conduit Sizes and Lengths are determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Length for each conduit size is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | Cable | Length x Unit Cost per Length | Cable Sizes and Lengths are determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Length for each conduit size is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | Ground Wire | Length x Unit Cost per Length | Ground Wire Sizes and Lengths are determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Length for each conduit size is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | String Connectors | Quantity x Unit Cost per Connector | The quantity of Male and Female Connectors is determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Connector is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | String Pre-Parallel Harnesses | Quantity x Unit Cost per Harness | The quantity of harnesses and number of pre-paralleled strings per harness are determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Harness is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | DC Combiner Boxes | Quantity x Unit Cost per Combiner Box | The quantity and number of strings per Combiner Box is determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Combiner Box is listed in the Component Cost Database. Where the number of strings per Combiner Box is not included in the database, the cost is linearly interpolated. |
| Electrical BOS | AC Panelboards (AC Combiner Boxes) | Quantity x Unit Cost per Panelboard | The quantity and size rating of the AC Panelboard is determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Panelboard is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | AC Switchboard (AC Recombiner Box) | Quantity x Unit Cost per Switchboard | The quantity and size rating of the AC Switchboard is determined automatically during design automation. The Unit Cost per Switchboard is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | MV Transformers | Quantity x kVA Rating x 1000 x Cost per Watt | Transformer kVA Rating is sized automatically based on inverter ratings. Transformer Cost per Watt is listed in the Component Cost Database. |
| Electrical BOS | SCADA and Data Monitoring | If MV Interconnection: 30,000USD + 0.004USD/Wdc If HV Interconnection: 120,000USD + 0.003USD/Wdc |
SCADA Cost scales with DC System Cost and has a higher baseline cost if the interconnection is HV versus MV. |
| Engineering | Design & Engineering | AC System Size x Unit Cost per kWac | Unit Cost per kWac for Design and Engineering is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Civil Works (Excluding Access Roads) | DC System Size x Unit Cost per kWdc | Unit Cost per kWdc for Civil Works (Excluding Access Roads) is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Civil Works (Access Roads) | (Length of Access Roads x Road Install Task Duration x Construction Labor Rate) / 60 | Length of Access Roads is determined automatically during design automation. Road Installation Task duration per unit distance and Construction Labor rate per hour are specified by the user. |
| Construction | Mobilization and Staging | (DC System Size x Mobilization Task Duration x Construction Labor Rate) / 60 | Task Duration for Mobilization and Staging and Construction Labor Rate is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Pile Driving Labor | Quantity of Piles x Unit Cost of Installation per Pile | Quantity of Piles is determined automatically during design automation. Unit Cost of Installation per Pile is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Pile Driving Equipment | Quantity of Piles x Unit Cost of Equipment per Pile | Quantity of Piles is determined automatically during design automation. Unit Cost of Installation per Pile is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Rack Assembly Installation | Quantity of Racks x Unit Cost of Assembly per Rack | Quantity of Racks is determined automatically during design automation. Unit Cost of Installation per Rack is specified by the user (and alternatively may be specified in units of cost per Watt). |
| Construction | Module Installation | (DC System Size x Panel Installation Task Duration x Construction Labor Rate) / 60 | Task Duration for Panel Install and Construction Labor Rate is specified by the user. |
| Construction | DC Electrical Installation (incl. DC Wiring, Conduit, Combiner Boxes, etc.) | (DC System Size x DC Electrical Installation Task Duration x Electrical Labor Rate) / 60 | DC Electrical Installation Task Duration and Electrical Labor Rate is specified by the user. |
| Construction | AC Electrical Installation (incl. Inverter, MV Cabling, Transformers, etc.) | (AC System Size x AC Electrical Installation Task Duration x Electrical Labor Rate) / 60 | AC Electrical Installation Task Duration and Electrical Labor Rate is specified by the user. |
| Construction | Trenchwork | (Length of Trenches x Trench Install Task Duration x Construction Labor Rate) / 60 | Length of Trenches are determined automatically during design automation. Trench Install Task Duration and Electrical Labor Rate is specified by the user |
| Construction | Fencing Materials | Fence Length x Fence Material Cost per Length | Fence Length is determined automatically during design automation and Fence Material Cost per Length is listed in the Component Cost Database |
| Construction | Fencing Install | (Fence Length x Fence Install Task Duration x Construction Labor Rate) / 60 | Fence Length is determined automatically during design automation. Fence Install Task Duration and Construction Labor Rate are specified by the user. |
| Construction | Inverter Station Labor | Quantity of Inverter Stations x Inverter Station Labor per Station | Quantity of Inverter Stations are determined automatically during design automation. Inverter Station Labor per Station is specified by the user |
| Construction | Inverter/Transformer Pad | Quantity of Pads x Station Width x Station Length x Pad Depth x Price of Concrete | Station Width and Length is specified by the user for Pre-Fabricated Inverter Stations. Alternatively, Station Width and Length is determined automatically for string inverter designs or build-onsite central inverter station designs. The Pad depth is assumed to be 18 inches. The Price of Concrete is specified by the user. |
| Management | Contractor and Project Management Costs | Total Construction Labor and Equipment Costs x Contractor Management Margin Rate | Contractor Management Margin Rate is specified by the user |
| Management | Shipping and Logistics | Total Equipment Costs x Average Material Shipping Cost | Average Material Shippinig Cost is a percentage specified by the user |
| Development | Site Preparation Costs | Total Built Land Area x Site Preparation Cost per Area | Total Build Land Area is determined automatically during design automation. Site Preparation Cost per Area is specified by the user. |
| Development | Substation, Gen-Tie and Interconnection Upgrade Costs | AC System Size in kW x Interconnection Facilities and Gen-Tie Costs per kWac | IInterconnection Facilities and Gen-Tie Costs per kWac is specified by the user. |
| Development | Other Development Costs | Other Development Costs per kWac x AC System Size in kW + Other Development Costs per kWdc x DC System Size in kW + Other Development Costs per Unit Area x Total Site Land Area + Other Development Costs Fixed | Other Development Costs may be specified as a fixed value or may be specified to scale with system DC Size, System AC Size or Total Land Area of the Site. |
| Development | Sales Tax and Duties | Sales Tax Rate x Total Equipment Costs | Sales Tax Rate is specified by the user. |