The benchmarks are bottom-up cost estimates of all major inputs to typical PV and energy storage system configurations and installation practices. Bottom-up costs are based on national averages and do not necessarily represent typical costs in all local markets.
The total cost over the service life of the system is amortized to give a levelized cost per year. In the PV System Cost Model (PVSCM), the owner's overnight capital expense (cash cost) for an installed PV system is divided into eight categories, which are the same for the utility-scale, commercial, and residential PV market segments:
Our operations and maintenance (O&M) analysis breaks costs into various categories and provides total annualized O&M costs. The MSP results for PV systems (in units of 2022 real USD/kWdc/yr) are $28.78 (residential), $39.83 (community solar), and $16.12 (utility-scale).
These benchmarks help measure progress toward goals for reducing solar electricity costs and guide SETO research and development programs. Read more to find out how these cost benchmarks are modeled and download the data and cost modeling program below.
This work has been developed and published by Lumen Energy Strategy, LLC in Oakland, California under commission by the California Public Utilities Commission.
You can find the California Public Utilities Commission Energy Storage Procurement Study at The study was prepared by Lumen Energy Strategy, LLC for the California Public Utilities Commission and was released on May 31, 2023.
California's energy storage ecosystem, built since Assembly Bill 2514 and through 2021, includes a crucial component: the PU's Energy Storage Procurement Framework. This framework motivates the development of both demand and supply in the energy storage marketplace.
Ancillary services in the CPUC Energy Storage Procurement Study provide grid operational flexibility and stabilization for reliable electricity delivery. CAISO ancillary services markets include non-spinning and spinning contingency reserves, and regulation up and down.
Most groups involved with project development usually agree that energy storage projects are not necessarily different than a typical power industry project finance transaction, especially with regards to risk allocation.
Residential customers are typically driven by up front capital costs of the system. For this reason, OEMS have been driven to develop standardized systems easily incorporated into the surrounding PV system. The value of the energy storage system to residential customers is driven by both their physical and economic situation within the grid.
This is understandable as energy storage technologies possess a number of inter-related cost, performance, and operating characteristics that and impart feed-back to impacts to the other project aspects. However, this complexity is the heart of the value potential for energy storage systems.
Luke has been with 8minute Solar Energy for two years where he is the Senior Director for Storage and has three announced PPA's totaling 435 MW and nearly 2 GWh of energy in solar plus storage systems.
Since the majority of solar projects currently under construction include a storage system, lenders in the project finance markets are willing to finance the construction and cashflows of an energy storage project. However, there are certain additional considerations in structuring a project finance transaction for an energy storage project.
Read more about the different solar financing options available. In 2025, solar.com Energy Advisors typically recommend using a solar loan to finance a solar system — if the homeowner can efficiently monetize the 30% federal tax credit. If they can't, then a solar lease or PPA is the best option.
The rapid growth in the energy storage market is similarly driving demand for project financing. The general principles of project finance that apply to the financing of solar and wind projects also apply to energy storage projects.
In 2025, solar.com Energy Advisors typically recommend using a solar loan to finance a solar system — if the homeowner can efficiently monetize the 30% federal tax credit. If they can't, then a solar lease or PPA is the best option. Want to see your solar savings potential?
Get technical specifications, product datasheets, ROI analysis templates, and 2026 energy storage subsidy policy information.
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