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.
Feldman, David, Vignesh Ramasamy, Ran Fu, Ashwin Ramdas, Jal Desai, and Robert Margolis. 2021. U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System Cost Benchmark: Q1 2020. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-6A20-77324.
Ramasamy, Vignesh, Jarett Zuboy, Michael Woodhouse, Eric O'Shaughnessy, David Feldman, Jal Desai, Andy Walker, Robert Margolis, and Paul Basore. 2023. U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage Cost Benchmarks, With Minimum Sustainable Price Analysis: Q1 2023. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
This translates to a range of $2.06– $12.37/kW/year, and a benchmark value of $3.44/kW/yr. for a 200-kW commercial rooftop system and $1.17–$7.02/kW/year, and a benchmark value of $1.95/kW/yr. for a 100 MW utility-scale single-axis tracking system.
Although corrosion-related studies have emerged across various battery chemistries, they have largely remained fragmented without a cohesive, in-depth understanding.
Consequently, the corrosive degradation of dead metal, regardless of whether the battery is in operation or at rest, persists in undermining the performance through the accumulation of corrosion-derived byproducts and electrolyte depletion.
The crystallographic dependence of corrosion resistance was clearly demonstrated in AZIB systems, 34,35 where the corrosion stability of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) Zn (002) facets is markedly enhanced compared with that of other crystallographic orientations.
Building upon this expanded discussion, we integrate insights from existing corrosion suppression strategies and propose a spectrum of promising design principles—spanning metal electrode fabrication, surface modification, and electrolyte engineering—with the aim of fostering further developments in this important area.
Looking at 100 MW systems, at a 2-hour duration, gravity-based energy storage is estimated to be over $1,100/kWh but drops to approximately $200/kWh at 100 hours. Li-ion LFP offers the lowest installed cost ($/kWh) for battery systems across many of the power capacity and energy duration combinations.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming essential in the shift towards renewable energy, providing solutions for grid stability, energy management, and power quality. However, understanding the costs associated with BESS is critical for anyone considering this technology, whether for a home, business, or utility scale.
For brick-based storage systems, cost and performance information was obtained for a single power output (10 MW) with two different energy outputs (40 and 2,40 MWh) (Terruzzin, 2021). From this information, costs were extrapolated for the various energy and power levels considered in this study by solving two linear equations.
Energy storage and its impact on the grid and transportation sectors have expanded globally in recent years as storage costs continue to fall and new opportunities are defined across a variety of industry sectors and applications.
Get technical specifications, product datasheets, ROI analysis templates, and 2026 energy storage subsidy policy information.
2530 Energy Park Drive, Midrand
Johannesburg 1685, South Africa
+27 11 874 5200
Monday - Saturday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM SAST