Investment and operating cost plan (CAPEX/OPEX) for photovoltaic systems
PV investment and operating cost plan: we record CAPEX and OPEX realistically, as a basis for investors, banks and operators.
A meaningful investment and operating cost plan is decisive for the economic viability of your photovoltaic system. We record all CAPEX and OPEX items precisely and realistically, from project development through installation to ongoing operation. CAPEX stands for capital expenditures, i.e. the investment costs, and OPEX for the ongoing operating costs, including maintenance, repairs and insurance. By clearly breaking down all capital and operating costs, we create planning certainty and help to limit financial risks. Our cost plans convince investors, banks and operators alike.
For ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, the investment costs consist of components and installation, and the operating costs are mostly fixed costs per installed capacity. In cost models, investment costs have the strongest influence on the levelised cost of electricity. They are followed by irradiation and full-load hours at the site, the service life (modules are often assumed to last around 30 years) and the financing conditions; operating costs have a smaller influence. However, they act over the entire lifetime and therefore belong in the plan in full. If a battery storage system is added, its shorter service life, including possible replacement, has to be factored in. The financing conditions are represented by the weighted average cost of capital, which combines debt and equity with their interest rates and return expectations. Battery storage systems incur fixed operating costs that are tied to the investment, and efficiency and the number of full cycles determine the storage losses. Variable and yield-dependent operating costs usually play a minor role for ground-mounted PV and are applied on a project basis where they arise. Sensitivities for irradiation, cost of capital and investment costs show how robust the result is. For battery storage, a separate cost of capital is applied, the level of which has to be determined for each project.
The investment costs also include the grid connection: for connecting a generation plant, a grid connection charge is levied that is based on capacity. For connections charged at a flat rate, if the actual connection costs exceed a statutory threshold per kW, the grid operator may charge the additional amount separately, with a detailed cost statement. For agri-PV, the investment costs are higher than for conventional ground-mounted systems, while the operating costs are often similar or lower. Lease, financing and decommissioning additionally affect the economics. On agricultural land, funding requires, for example, that the system can be removed without leaving residues, and the investment grant or market premium is lower there depending on the system type. Innovative agri-PV systems, for example with vertical modules or a module table lower edge of at least 2 metres, receive a supplement of 30 per cent on the funding rates of the investment grant under the EAG, and for smaller systems, combinations with funding from federal states and municipalities are possible.
The cost plan complements the technical due diligence for photovoltaics and the yield forecasts for PV systems, because only costs and yields together show the economics. The tender for the PV components follows. For wind farms, there is the cost plan for wind projects.
