Commercial Solar Payback & LCOE Screening Calculator
Estimate simple payback and an undiscounted screening LCOE from installed cost, annual production, operating cost, electricity value and system life.
Results
Engineering method
Simple payback compares installed cost with annual electricity-value savings minus operating cost. Screening LCOE divides lifecycle cost by modeled lifetime energy. It omits financing, tax, incentives and discounted cash flow unless separately modeled.
Annual net saving = annual kWh × avoided electricity rate − annual O&M; Simple payback = installed cost / annual net saving; Screening LCOE = (installed cost + lifetime O&M) / lifetime energy.
Professional references
These references establish the standards, technical framework or authoritative engineering context used for this page. Vendor commercial terms are not used as engineering evidence.
- NREL PVWatts Calculator — NREL reference tool for screening grid-connected photovoltaic energy production.
- BIPM SI Brochure, 9th edition, updated 2026 — Primary international reference for SI units and unit expression.
- NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — U.S. NIST guidance for SI use and unit conversions.
Commercial independence
PROFENG may display a separately disclosed approved partner after the engineering content. Partner status never changes formulas, conversion factors, procurement criteria, technical references or calculation results. Pending and unapproved programs remain hidden.