Solar and Storage Payback Calculator

Estimate simple payback for onsite solar and/or storage using production, blended rates, and optional demand savings.

Educational only. Real project economics depend on tariffs, interconnection, incentives, financing, performance, O&M, and contract terms.

Processed in-browser. Nothing is stored.

Inputs

$
$
$

Optional

$
$

Storage or peak shaving

Results

Enter inputs and click Calculate

How to use this tool

  1. 1Enter total installed cost and any incentive/rebate amount.
  2. 2Enter expected annual production (kWh/year).
  3. 3Enter blended electricity rate ($/kWh).
  4. 4Optionally enter annual O&M cost and demand savings.
  5. 5Enable scenario mode to compare low/base/high cases.
  6. 6Calculate payback and export results.

What the results mean

This is a simple payback estimate (not NPV/IRR).

Use this to prioritize sites and decide where to run deeper feasibility.

If payback is borderline, the project may still be worth it for resilience, compliance, or hedging—document that separately.

Common pitfalls

  • Using unrealistic production assumptions
  • Using an all-in $/kWh that includes demand charges without documentation
  • Ignoring O&M and monitoring ownership
  • Assuming demand savings without interval data

Change log

v1.0 (2026-01): Latest release