PV and BESS profitability calculator
The calculator computes IRR, NPV, LCOE, DSCR and payback for PV and BESS projects using market benchmarks for the selected country. All financing models — cash, leasing, project finance and ESCO — run on the same versioned engine.
Example result: PV 1000 kWp, Poland, market benchmark
What the calculator computes
- Equity IRR
- 16.8 %
- NPV at WACC
- 453,425 EUR
- LCOE
- 76.7 EUR/MWh
- Minimum DSCR
- —
- Payback period
- 5.8 years
- EBITDA year 1
- 90,250 EUR
The calculations are indicative and based on market benchmarks. They do not constitute investment advice or an offer. A precise analysis requires project data.
Parameters
Energy storage
Financing models
The calculations are indicative and based on market benchmarks. They do not constitute investment advice or an offer. A precise analysis requires project data.
Cumulative equity cash flow
The calculations are indicative and based on market benchmarks. They do not constitute investment advice or an offer. A precise analysis requires project data.
The calculations are indicative and based on market benchmarks. They do not constitute investment advice or an offer. A precise analysis requires project data.
Detailed comparison
Equity IRR
- All-cash purchase3.53%
- Operating lease1.64%
- Project finance—
- ESCO / OPEX model—
NPV at WACC
- All-cash purchase-51,659
- Operating lease-52,270
- Project finance—
- ESCO / OPEX model97,372
Equity engaged
- All-cash purchase210,000
- Operating lease21,000
- Project finance—
- ESCO / OPEX model0
Comparison table
| Metric | All-cash purchase | Operating lease | Project finance | ESCO / OPEX model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net outlay | 210,000 | 210,000 | — | 210,000 |
| Equity | 210,000 | 21,000 | — | 0 |
| Debt / financed amount | 0 | 189,000 | — | 0 |
| EBITDA year 1 | 15,157 | 15,157 | — | 10,977 |
| NPV at WACC | -51,659 | -52,270 | — | 97,372 |
| Project IRR | 3.14% | 1.83% | — | — |
| Equity IRR | 3.53% | 1.64% | — | — |
| Payback period | 13.62 | 17.73 | — | 0.00 |
| Discounted payback period | — | — | — | 0.00 |
| Minimum DSCR | — | — | — | — |
| Average DSCR | — | — | — | — |
| Total benefit over the horizon | 293,075 | 50,505 | — | 185,641 |
ESCO performs best on NPV because the investor puts up no capital — but the investor does not acquire the asset either. Neither ownership of the installation nor its residual value at the end of the horizon remains on the investor's side.
- Minimum DSCR is 0.84 — below the threshold accepted by most banks (1.20).
- The ESCO model engages no equity, so IRR is undefined. Comparison with an outright cash purchase does not account for the loss of asset ownership and residual value after the contract term.
The calculations are indicative and based on market benchmarks. They do not constitute investment advice or an offer. A precise analysis requires project data.