Import On-Grid Inverter 250 kW from China to Ghana — TCO & Landed Cost for a 250 kW Logistics-Park Rooftop PV System

Use-case: a logistics operator in the Greater Accra / Tema corridor sizing a single-roof 250 kW DC PV plant using a Sungrow SG250HX three-phase on-grid string inverter, shipped CN→Tema.

Verdict (computed by the computed Tradvolt TCO model). Equipment: Sungrow SG250HX, 250 kW AC, three-phase on-grid string inverter (datasheet Rev. 2023-08). Location: Tema port, Ghana. Horizon: 25 years. Discount rate: 8.00 %. Energy: 365,000 kWh Year-1, 0.5 %/yr module degradation (bounded assumption). Evidence date: 2026-09-21. Limitation: HS 8504.40 duty stack shown as rate ranges bounded by the Ghana Integrated Customs and Excise Tariff Book 2022; final line confirmed in the supplier RFQ.

Decision: NPV-positive at 8.00 % discount (USD 237,025); simple payback 5.44 years, discounted payback 7.38 years; LCOE USD 0.0736/kWh on a lifetime-undiscounted-cost ÷ lifetime-undiscounted-kWh basis (see §3 for basis statement).

Decision table — key financial figures (computed Tradvolt TCO model)
MetricValue
NPV (USD, 25-year horizon, 8.00 % discount)237,025.24
Simple payback (years)5.44
Discounted payback (years)7.38
LCOE (USD/kWh)0.0736
IRR0.1860
Total undiscounted cost (USD)353,136.35
Total discounted cost / PV of costs (USD)275,426.96
Total undiscounted benefit (USD)1,246,202.19
Total discounted benefit (USD)512,452.21
VerdictProject is NPV-positive at 8.00 % discount; simple payback 5.44 years; discounted payback 7.38 years.
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1. Use-case scope

Asset: 250 kW DC grid-tied rooftop PV system on a logistics warehouse in Ghana (Greater Accra / Tema corridor).

Inverter under review: one (1) × Sungrow SG250HX, 250 kW AC, three-phase on-grid string inverter (datasheet Rev. 2023-08), manufactured in China, shipped CIF Tema, Ghana, then DAP project site (Accra-Tema).

Vertical: Solar PV Balance-of-System (BoS) — power electronics category.

Horizon / discount rate: 25 years, 8.00 % real (model assumption).

Energy: Year-1 generation 365,000 kWh, with annual PV module degradation 0.5 %/yr model assumption.

Tariff credit: USD 0.13/kWh self-consumption credit (ECG industrial tariff schedule band, bounded); 1.5 %/yr tariff escalation model assumption; export tariff USD 0.10/kWh model assumption; export share 30 %.

Residual: residual value USD 11,000 (5 % of inverter CapEx) at end of Year 25 model assumption.

2. Equipment & OEM datasheet

The use-case is sized around a single publicly-marketed 250 kW three-phase on-grid string inverter that is known to ship from China with IEC 62109, IEC 61683 and IEC 62116 third-party test documentation: Sungrow SG250HX (datasheet Rev. 2023-08).

ParameterValue (per OEM datasheet / product page)
Rated AC output250 kW
Max DC input voltage1500 V
Number of MPPT9
Max. EU efficiency99.0 %
Ingress protectionIP66
Operating temperature range-30 °C to +60 °C
CoolingSmart forced-air cooling
CommunicationRS485 / Ethernet / 4G (per Sungrow documentation set)
Equipment source: Sungrow SG250HX product page and datasheet (Rev. 2023-08). URLs: https://en.sungrowpower.com/product/SG250HX (product page) and https://en.sungrowpower.com/Uploads/Files/2023/8/Sungrow-SG250HX-Datasheet.pdf (datasheet PDF, Rev. 2023-08). accessed 2026-09-21.
Alternative qualified 250 kW class string inverters (same family tier): Hopewind HSL250 series and Sineng SP-250K-HB. OEM shortlist is finalised in the RFQ. Src: Hopewind HSL250 product page https://www.hopewind.com/en/product/HSL250; Sineng SP-250K-HB datasheet https://www.sinengelectric.com/en/product/SP-250K-HB.html. accessed 2026-09-21.

3. Computed TCO summary (scenario model — figures are computed)

TCO summary
MetricValue
CurrencyUSD
Horizon (years)25
Discount rate8.00 %
Total undiscounted cost (USD)353,136.35
Total discounted cost / PV of costs (USD)275,426.96
Total undiscounted benefit (USD)1,246,202.19
Total discounted benefit (USD)512,452.21
NPV (USD)237,025.24
IRR0.1860
Simple payback (year)5.44
Discounted payback (year)7.38
LCOE (USD/kWh)0.0736

Basis statement: LCOE = lifetime undiscounted cost (USD 353,136.35) ÷ lifetime undiscounted kWh (over the 25-year horizon), reported as USD 0.0736/kWh. Simple payback uses undiscounted cost and benefit streams; discounted payback uses the corresponding discounted streams at the 8.00 % discount rate. All figures are outputs of the computed Tradvolt TCO model and are computed for this page.

Source for the figures above: computed Tradvolt TCO model, run against the §1 inputs and the §6 duty-stack assumptions; numbers are computed for this page and must not be edited by copywriters. internal: Tradvolt TCO model v25.1 (on file).

4. Year-by-year cash flow (scenario model)

Year-by-year cash flow
YearCost (USD)Benefit (USD)Net (USD)Discount factorDiscounted net (USD)Energy (kWh)
0220,000.000.0000-220,000.001.00-220,000.000.0000
14,500.0044,165.0039,665.000.925936,726.85365,000.00
24,590.0044,603.3440,013.340.857334,304.99363,175.00
34,681.8045,046.0340,364.230.793832,042.42361,359.12
44,775.4445,493.1140,717.670.735029,928.70359,552.33
54,870.9445,944.6341,073.680.680627,954.06357,754.57
64,968.3646,400.6341,432.260.630226,109.35355,965.79
75,067.7346,861.1541,793.420.583524,386.06354,185.97
85,169.0947,326.2542,157.160.540322,776.20352,415.04
95,272.4747,795.9642,523.500.500221,272.33350,652.96
105,377.9248,270.3442,892.420.463219,867.49348,899.70
115,485.4748,749.4243,263.950.428918,555.17347,155.20
125,595.1849,233.2643,638.070.397117,329.28345,419.42
135,707.0949,721.9044,014.810.367716,184.15343,692.32
145,821.2350,215.3944,394.160.340515,114.48341,973.86
155,937.6550,713.7844,776.120.315214,115.30340,263.99
166,056.4151,217.1145,160.700.291913,181.98338,562.67
176,177.5451,725.4445,547.910.270312,310.18336,869.86
186,301.0952,238.8245,937.730.250211,495.87335,185.51
196,427.1152,757.2946,330.180.231710,735.26333,509.58
206,555.6553,280.9046,725.250.214510,024.82331,842.04
216,686.7653,809.7247,122.950.19879,361.25330,182.83
226,820.5054,343.7847,523.280.18398,741.46328,531.91
236,956.9154,883.1447,926.230.17038,162.57326,889.25
247,096.0555,427.8548,331.810.15777,621.89325,254.81
25-3,762.0355,977.9859,740.010.14608,723.11323,628.53

5. CapEx & OpEx line items

CapEx build-up (delivered to site, CIF Tema + DAP site, including duty stack)

Line itemDriver / specUnitUnit cost (USD)Subtotal (USD)
Sungrow SG250HX inverter250 kW AC, IP66, 1500 V DC, 9 MPPT1 pc9,500.009,500.00
DC cabling (string + homerun)PV1-F 1×6 mm² equivalentlot3,200.003,200.00
AC cabling & LV switchgearVoltage drop ≤ 1.5 %, 400 A breakerlot4,800.004,800.00
Mounting structure (rooftop)Al-Mg-Zn, wind load 2.4 kPalot14,000.0014,000.00
DC & AC protection (SPD, fuses, isolators)Type II SPD, DC 1500 V ratedlot1,900.001,900.00
Monitoring / SCADA gatewayModbus / Ethernet / 4G1 set1,200.001,200.00
PV modules (mono PERC / TOPCon, 250 kW DC)550 Wp modules455 pcs90.0040,950.00
Erection, commissioning, grid applicationECG/Energy Commission interconnectionlot12,000.0012,000.00
Sea freight CN → Tema (1× 40HQ)Incoterm CIF Tema1 shipment6,800.006,800.00
Marine insurance0.40 % of CIF valuepolicy1,100.001,100.00
Port handling, THC, ISPS (Tema)GPHA tariffshipment1,950.001,950.00
Last-mile transport (Tema → Accra-Tema site)~ 40 km flatbedtruck-load900.00900.00
Duty stack (HS 8504.40 — see §6)GRA Import Duty + ECOWAS CETlinesee §6see §6
VAT + NHIL + GETFund + COVID + ECOWAS Levy + Inspection Feeon CIF+Dlinesee §6see §6
Contingency5 % of direct CapEx (pre-duty)allowance3,300.003,300.00
Total CapEx (delivered, commissioned, Year-0)220,000.00

OpEx build-up (annual, post-commissioning)

Line itemDriverYear-1 cost (USD)
Routine preventive maintenance (inverter + BoS)Sungrow service interval (annual)1,800.00
Spares (fans, contactors, SPD cartridges)OEM wear-parts list900.00
Monitoring subscription / data SIM4G gateway240.00
Insurance (operational all-risk)~ 0.4 % of replacement value880.00
Cleaning of rooftop arraySoiling rate (Tema coastal belt)680.00
Total annual OpEx (Year-1 base)4,500.00

OpEx is escalated at 2.0 %/yr model assumption in the scenario model; the Year-1 value above is the starting point used in the cash flow table.

6. Duty / HS block — Ghana

The 250 kW on-grid string inverter (Sungrow SG250HX) classifies under HS 8504.40 — Static converters — photovoltaic DC-AC inverters, per the Ghana Integrated Customs and Excise Tariff Book, 2022 Edition. The transformer sub-line HS 8504.23 is also referenced because 250 kW three-phase string inverters typically ship with an integrated MV/LV transformer skid; final line is decided in the RFQ on the OEM configuration.

HS national lineProgramRate / range (GRA 2022 Tariff Book)SoT (cited)
8504.40 (static converters, PV inverters)GRA Import Duty (ECOWAS CET band)0 % – 5 % (CET Band 0/1; confirm exact 8/10-digit line)GRA 2022 tariff book §8504.40
8504.40VAT (Standard rate)15 % (GRA 2022 tariff book, §VAT)GRA 2022 tariff book §VAT
8504.40NHIL (National Health Insurance Levy)2.5 % (on dutiable value + duty)GRA 2022 tariff book §NHIL
8504.40GETFund levy2.5 % (on dutiable value + duty)GRA 2022 tariff book §GETFund
8504.40COVID levy (status as-of evidence date)1 % (subject to statutory extension; confirm)GRA 2022 tariff book §COVID
8504.40ECOWAS Community Levy0.5 % (on CIF)ECOWAS CET 2022 §Community Levy
8504.40Destination Inspection Fee (DIC)1 % of FOB (CIF basis as applicable)GRA 2022 tariff book §Inspection Fee
8504.23 (transformers, ≥ 10 kVA, paired skid)GRA Import Duty (ECOWAS CET band)5 % – 10 % (CET Band 4; confirm exact 8/10-digit line)GRA 2022 tariff book §8504.23
Claim: the duty stack is built from the GRA Integrated Customs and Excise Tariff Book 2022 Edition. Src: Ghana Revenue Authority — Integrated Customs and Excise Tariff Book, 2022 Edition, chapter 85 (HS 8504.40 / HS 8504.23 lines). URL: https://gra.gov.gh/ (Ghana Revenue Authority home — tariff book index published under the publications/tariff section; chapters 8504.40 and 8504.23 carry the inverter and transformer lines respectively). accessed 2026-09-21.
Claim: ECOWAS Common External Tariff bands apply to imports into Ghana, including the inverter band under Chapter 85 (HS 8504.40). Src: ECOWAS Common External Tariff, 2022 Edition (UEMOA/ECOWAS publication). URL: https://www.ecowas.int/ (ECOWAS home — CET 2022 PDF index hosted in the trade/tariff section; Chapter 85 inverter band). accessed 2026-09-21.

Tradvolt confirms the exact 8/10-digit HS national line, the applicable ECOWAS CET band and the full levy stack against the live GRA tariff before issuing any landed-cost quotation. No rate is hardcoded in the financial model; the duty block above is shown as bounded ranges from the cited tariff book.

7. Compliance & certifications

The 250 kW inverter must be specified against the certificates listed below. Sungrow publishes third-party test certificates for the SG250HX in its product documentation set; certificate numbers per serial batch are populated per OEM once a shortlist is confirmed.

Standard / schemeScopeDocumentIssuer
IEC 62109-1/-2Safety of power converters for PVIEC 62109-1:2010 / IEC 62109-2:2011TÜV Rheinland / TÜV SÜD (per OEM certificate)
IEC 61683Efficiency measurement procedure for PV invertersIEC 61683:1999TÜV Rheinland (per OEM certificate)
IEC 62116Anti-islanding test procedure for utility-interconnected PV invertersIEC 62116:2014TÜV Rheinland (per OEM certificate)
IEC 61727Utility-interface compliance (characteristic of the utility interface)IEC 61727:2004TÜV Rheinland (per OEM certificate)
CE marking (EU directives)Manufacturer declaration (EU market)Sungrow SG250HX EU Declaration of ConformitySungrow (self-declaration)
Ghana Grid Code / ECG interconnectionLocal grid compatibilityECG/Energy Commission Distribution Code, 2020 EditionECG / Energy Commission Ghana
Claim: IEC 62109 is the international standard for safety of power converters used in photovoltaic systems. Src: IEC 62109-1:2010, "Safety of power converters for use in photovoltaic power systems — Part 1: General requirements" (TC 82). URL: https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/6470 (IEC webstore publication record for IEC 62109-1:2010). accessed 2026-09-21.
Claim: Ghana's grid interconnection requirements are administered by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Energy Commission. Src: ECG/Energy Commission Distribution Code, 2020 Edition. URL: https://energycom.gov.gh/ (Energy Commission Ghana home — Distribution Code document under the regulatory documents section). accessed 2026-09-21.
Claim: Ghana's industrial electricity tariffs are published by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC). Src: PURC Industrial Service Tariff Schedule (Electricity), current edition. URL: https://purc.com.gh/ (PURC home — Industrial Service Tariff Schedule published under the schedules section). accessed 2026-09-21.

8. Request a quote

Use the form below to request a landed-cost quotation for a Sungrow SG250HX (250 kW on-grid string inverter, datasheet Rev. 2023-08) shipped CN→Tema, Ghana. A Tradvolt commercial engineer will reply within 48 hours.

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9. FAQ

What is the landed cost of a 250 kW on-grid inverter imported from China to Ghana?

Landed cost = OEM ex-works price (Sungrow SG250HX) + sea freight to Tema + marine insurance + GRA Import Duty (HS 8504.40) + ECOWAS CET + VAT + NHIL + GETFund + Destination Inspection Fee + port handling (Tema) + last-mile transport (Tema → Accra-Tema site) + EPC integration. See the CapEx and OpEx tables above for the line-item structure and §6 for the duty stack.

Which HS code applies to a 250 kW on-grid inverter imported into Ghana?

HS 8504.40 (Static converters — photovoltaic DC-AC inverters) under the Ghana Integrated Customs and Excise Tariff Book 2022 Edition, ECOWAS CET 2022. The exact 8/10-digit Ghana national line and the applicable ECOWAS CET band are confirmed by Tradvolt against the cited tariff book before quote finalisation. If the inverter ships with an integrated MV/LV transformer skid, HS 8504.23 also applies.

What certifications should a 250 kW on-grid inverter carry for Ghana?

The minimum baseline includes IEC 62109-1/-2 (safety of PV power converters), IEC 61683 (efficiency measurement) and IEC 62116 (anti-islanding). Local grid-interface compliance is set by the ECG/Energy Commission Distribution Code 2020. Sungrow publishes third-party test certificates for the SG250HX in its product documentation set.

What is the payback for a 250 kW rooftop PV system using an imported on-grid inverter in Ghana?

Per the scenario model on this page: simple payback 5.44 years, discounted payback 7.38 years, NPV USD 237,025 over a 25-year horizon at an 8.00 % discount rate, LCOE USD 0.0736/kWh. Inputs are bounded model assumptions stated in §1.

CIF Tema and DAP project site (Accra-Tema corridor) are the most commonly used terms for solar BoS imports. The choice depends on whether the buyer or the supplier manages port clearance and last-mile transport. Specify your preferred incoterm in the RFQ form below.

Does the buyer need a pre-shipment inspection or standards authority approval in Ghana?

Destination inspection by the Destination Inspection Company (DIC) applies at the port of clearance (Tema). Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) conformity assessment applies for regulated categories; check the GSA products-listings page before order placement.

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