Plan solar cashflow for construction site assets confidently. Include incentives, loans, degradation, and operating costs. See payback, NPV, and IRR before approving budgets final.
Enter project and financial assumptions, then calculate yearly cashflows.
| Input | Example Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| System Size | 100 kW | Typical mid-sized facility roof array. |
| Total Installed Cost | $120,000 | Includes design, panels, inverters, labor. |
| Year 1 Production | 1,500 kWh/kW | Varies by site irradiance and layout. |
| Self-Consumption | 80% | Higher where daytime loads are steady. |
| Utility Rate | $0.18/kWh | Enter your blended energy charge rate. |
| Loan Portion | 60% | Debt share of initial project cost. |
Solar cashflow analysis turns engineering inputs into numbers for capital approval. This calculator estimates annual production, splits self-use and exports, and escalates energy prices. The output is a year-by-year benefit stream for comparing roofs, carports, and ground arrays. Equity need is calculated after rebates and debt proceeds, helping align procurement with funding.
Value is created mostly through avoided utility purchases, so self-consumption is the strongest driver. Exported energy is valued separately and may be compensated at a lower tariff, reducing returns when loads are mismatched. Degradation reduces output each year, while escalation increases savings and export revenue over time. Run sensitivity checks on these inputs to bound risk.
O&M costs are modeled from a Year 1 baseline and escalated annually. Including periodic replacements prevents optimistic payback results, especially where inverters or switchgear require mid-life refresh. For construction facilities, consider cleaning frequency, monitoring, and access costs, because dust and temporary site conditions can affect performance and service needs.
Debt can improve cashflow resilience but adds loan payments. The calculator uses a level-payment amortization and can optionally apply an interest tax shield in taxable benefit. The tax approach is simplified for planning: tax is applied only when annual taxable benefit is positive. Confirm incentives and compliance rules with your finance team before commitments.
Example inputs: 100 kW system, $120,000 installed cost, 25-year analysis, 1,500 kWh/kW Year 1, 0.6% degradation, 80% self-consumption, $0.18/kWh utility with 3% escalation, $0.08/kWh export with 2% escalation, $1,800 O&M Year 1 with 2.5% escalation, 60% loan at 7.5% for 10 years, $9,000 replacement in Year 12, and $4,000 salvage at Year 25. Use these values to verify outputs and exports.
Self-consumption is the share of solar production used onsite to offset utility purchases. Higher self-consumption usually increases savings because avoided utility rates are often higher than export compensation.
Rates can change due to fuel costs, regulation, and inflation. Escalation helps reflect long-term pricing trends so projected cashflows remain realistic across the full analysis period.
The calculator uses a level-payment annuity schedule. Each payment includes interest on the remaining balance plus principal repayment until the loan term ends.
NPV discounts future cashflows at a chosen rate to show today’s value. IRR is the rate that makes NPV equal to zero, representing an implied return for conventional cashflows.
Degradation reduces annual production slightly each year. Over long periods, even small degradation rates reduce total energy and savings, affecting payback and discounted metrics.
Major equipment may require mid-life replacement to maintain performance. Salvage value reflects remaining asset value at the end of the analysis period, improving end-year cashflow realism.
Use it for planning and comparison. Final reporting should follow your accounting policy, incentives, and tax rules, and should be reviewed by qualified finance and compliance professionals.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.