Import Sungrow SG50CX from China to Finland — Mall-Rooftop 50 kW TCO & Landed Cost
Buyer-side TCO and landed-cost reference for sourcing a Sungrow SG50CX three-phase 50 kW on-grid PV inverter from China to a Finnish mall rooftop, with HS/duty stack, CE/EN 50549 compliance pointers, 10-year cash-flow, NPV, IRR, payback and LCOE. All figures ILLUSTRATIVE — NOT A QUOTE.
Equipment: Sungrow SG50CX Origin: China (CN) Destination: Finland (FI) Vertical: Solar BoS Incoterm: FOB / CIF reference Currency: EUR
Verdict (computed reference TCO)
YES — at €0.0277/kWh LCOE and 0.8456 yr discounted payback (0.7978 yr simple), a single Sungrow SG50CX 50 kW three-phase on-grid PV inverter + BoS electrical share, imported CN → FI, clears the 10-year hurdle at 6.00% discount with NPV = €42,719.39 and IRR = 1.26. Evidence date 2026-09-21; limitation: inverter + BoS share only — PV modules, mounting and full project CapEx are excluded from these figures.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment / location / horizon / currency | Sungrow SG50CX · CN → FI · 10 yr · EUR |
| Discount rate | 6.00% |
| NPV | 42,719.39 EUR |
| IRR | 1.26 |
| Simple payback | 0.7978 yr |
| Discounted payback | 0.8456 yr |
| LCOE | 0.0277 EUR/kWh |
| PV of costs | 8,994.80 EUR |
| PV of benefits | 51,714.19 EUR |
| Total undiscounted cost | 10,553.37 EUR |
| Total undiscounted benefit | 70,595.91 EUR |
| Evidence date | 2026-09-21 |
| Limitation | Inverter + BoS share only; modules/mounting excluded. HS/TARIC rates marked PENDING — see §6. |
1. Equipment reference
- Equipment family: Sungrow SG50CX — three-phase, grid-tied, transformerless string inverter, 50 kW AC nominal.
- OEM: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. (Hefei, CN). Product page: https://en.sungrowpower.com/Commercial-PV-Inverter/CX-PV-Inverter. Public datasheet PDF: SG50CX datasheet (Sungrow product library). Public technical parameters (manufacturer-published): 50 kW AC nominal output, 3 × 230/400 V, 50 Hz, max DC input voltage 1100 V, MPPT range 200–1000 V, max MPPT current 26 A per string, IP66, ≤ 0.7 % THDi, integrated DC switch, AFCI optional. Always confirm the latest revision against the OEM datasheet before procurement.
- System size on this page: one SG50CX paired with a commercial rooftop PV array (PV module sizing outside this page).
- Origin / destination: CN OEM port of export → FI import point (typically Helsinki / Hamina / Kotka).
- Operating horizon: 10 years (commercial BoS planning horizon; inverters typically replaced mid-life, modelled as a year-8 capitalised replacement reserve).
- Currency: EUR throughout.
2. CapEx — landed cost of one Sungrow SG50CX (inverter + BoS electrical share)
| Line | Component | EUR / unit | Source / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | OEM Ex-Works (FOB factory, CN) — Sungrow SG50CX | 1,800 | OEM datasheet / quote (placeholder) |
| C2 | Sea freight (CN → FI port), one unit on pallet | 220 | Freight forwarder quote (placeholder) |
| C3 | CIF value (C1 + C2) | 2,020 | Arithmetic |
| C4 | Marine insurance (0.3% × CIF) | 6 | Industry default 0.3% |
| C5 | EU import duty (MFN / measure-specific on CN 8504.40.40) | PENDING — lookup | EU TARIC subheading 8504.40.40 |
| C6 | Finnish VAT (ALV) | PENDING — lookup | Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) |
| C7 | Customs broker fee | 120 | Broker schedule (placeholder) |
| C8 | Port handling, ISPM-15 pallet, documentation | 60 | Freight forwarder schedule (placeholder) |
| C9 | Last-mile delivery to mall site (FI) | 90 | Domestic haulier quote (placeholder) |
| C10 | Electrical BoS share for the inverter (DC/AC isolators, SPD, cabling, AC panel, monitoring gateway, mounting) | 1,650 | BoS engineering estimate (placeholder) |
| C11 | DC-side rapid shutdown & Finnish grid-code compliance kit | 250 | Installer estimate (placeholder) |
| C12 | Installation labour (mechanical + electrical) | 650 | FI installer rate range (placeholder) |
| C13 | Commissioning & grid-connection paperwork (DSO) | 180 | FI DSO schedule (placeholder) |
| C14 | Reference CapEx used in the TCO model (C3+C4+C7..C13, excl. C5/C6 which are PENDING) | 5,026.00 | Bound to the computed year-0 cost in the TCO summary table |
3. OpEx — annual operating cost over 10 years
| Line | Component | EUR / yr (steady state) | Source / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 | Preventive maintenance (annual visual + thermal scan, firmware updates) | 180 | OEM service guide (placeholder) |
| O2 | Cloud monitoring subscription (Sungrow iSolarCloud, per inverter) | 60 | OEM portal fee (placeholder) |
| O3 | Spare parts reserve (fans, contactors, DC fuses, SPD cartridges) | 90 | ~5% of inverter FOB |
| O4 | Inverter replacement reserve (mid-life swap at year 8) | 600 (year-8 capitalised) | Capitalised at yr 8 in the computed cash-flow table |
| O5 | Insurance (all-risk, PV BoS share) | 70 | ~0.4% of BoS value |
| O6 | DSO fixed charges (share) | 50 | FI DSO tariff sheet (placeholder) |
| O7 | Steady-state annual OpEx (sum O1+O2+O3+O5+O6) | 450 | Matches the computed year-1 cost line (EUR 450) |
4. TCO summary (computed reference model)
Computed from the inputs stated in §2–§3 and the bounded assumptions in §4.1. Currency, units and figures must not be altered.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | EUR |
| Horizon (years) | 10 |
| Discount rate | 6.00 % |
| Total undiscounted cost (EUR) | 10,553.37 |
| Total discounted cost / PV of costs (EUR) | 8,994.80 |
| Total undiscounted benefit (EUR) | 70,595.91 |
| Total discounted benefit (EUR) | 51,714.19 |
| NPV (EUR) | 42,719.39 |
| IRR | 1.26 |
| Simple payback (year) | 0.7978 |
| Discounted payback (year) | 0.8456 |
| LCOE (EUR/kWh) | 0.0277 |
5. Year-by-year cash flow (computed reference model)
Same units and rounding as the scenario model. Year-8 cost includes the capitalised inverter replacement reserve (O4); all other years carry the steady-state OpEx (O7).
| Year | Cost (EUR) | Benefit (EUR) | Net (EUR) | Discount factor | Discounted net (EUR) | Energy (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5,026.00 | 0.0000 | -5,026.00 | 1.00 | -5,026.00 | 0.0000 |
| 1 | 450.00 | 6,750.00 | 6,300.00 | 0.9434 | 5,943.40 | 45,000.00 |
| 2 | 459.00 | 6,816.99 | 6,357.99 | 0.8900 | 5,658.59 | 44,775.00 |
| 3 | 468.18 | 6,884.65 | 6,416.47 | 0.8396 | 5,387.39 | 44,551.12 |
| 4 | 477.54 | 6,952.98 | 6,475.44 | 0.7921 | 5,129.15 | 44,328.37 |
| 5 | 487.09 | 7,021.99 | 6,534.90 | 0.7473 | 4,883.25 | 44,106.73 |
| 6 | 496.84 | 7,091.68 | 6,594.85 | 0.7050 | 4,649.11 | 43,886.19 |
| 7 | 506.77 | 7,162.07 | 6,655.30 | 0.6651 | 4,426.15 | 43,666.76 |
| 8 | 1,116.91 | 7,233.15 | 6,116.24 | 0.6274 | 3,837.41 | 43,448.43 |
| 9 | 527.25 | 7,304.94 | 6,777.70 | 0.5919 | 4,011.71 | 43,231.19 |
| 10 | 537.79 | 7,377.44 | 6,839.65 | 0.5584 | 3,819.23 | 43,015.03 |
5.1 Method and key derivations
- Cost side. Year 0 = €5,026 (CapEx C14). Years 1–10 carry the steady-state OpEx O7 = €450/yr, escalated 2.00% per year from year 2 onward. Year 8 includes the capitalised inverter replacement reserve O4 = €600, giving €450 + €600 + escalation = €1,116.91 in that year.
- Benefit side. Year 1 gross saving = 45,000 kWh × (70% × €0.18 + 30% × €0.08) = €6,750. Generation degrades 0.50% per year; tariff escalates 1.50% per year on the retail mix, producing the year-by-year benefit column.
- Discount. Annual factor (1 + 6.00%)−t. LCOE = PV(costs) / PV(generation kWh).
- NPV / IRR. PV(benefits) − PV(costs) = €51,714.19 − €8,994.80 = €42,719.39. IRR of the annual net cash-flow series = 1.26. Simple and discounted payback are derived from the undiscounted and discounted net columns respectively.
5.2 Bounded model assumptions (explicit defaults)
Inputs the draft did not state, presented as explicit bounded defaults (model assumptions, not sourced facts).
- residual_value.amount: EUR 0 (full depreciation over the 10-year horizon; bounded assumption).
- residual_value.year: end of horizon, year 10.
- capex[3].amount: DROPPED-ITEM (no third-tier CapEx line retained; the line items above already cover all cost components used by the scenario model).
- capex[4].amount: DROPPED-ITEM (no fourth-tier CapEx line retained).
- asset.pv.degradation_pct_per_year: 0.50% (industry default for c-Si modules; bounded assumption, not a project-specific measurement).
- asset.pv.tariff_escalation_pct: 1.50% per year on the self-consumption retail mix; export tariff held flat (bounded assumption).
6. Compliance & certifications (verify against OEM documentation)
- CE marking. Required for placement on the EU market under the applicable Union harmonisation legislation. Verify Declaration of Conformity, harmonised standards cited and notified-body involvement on the OEM datasheet.
- Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU — electrical safety: EUR-Lex 32014L0035.
- EMC Directive 2014/30/EU — electromagnetic compatibility: EUR-Lex 32014L0030.
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU — restriction of hazardous substances in electrical equipment: EUR-Lex 32011L0065.
- Grid-connection compliance. Finnish implementation of EN 50549-1/-2 (requirements for generating plants to be connected in parallel with distribution networks) plus the Finnish DSO requirements administered via Fingrid's VJV2018 (Valtakunnallinen tuotanto- ja kulutusjärjestelmän teknisten vaatimusten soveltamisohje). Reference: Fingrid — Generating plants grid technical requirements. Final acceptance is granted by the local DSO at commissioning.
- Other common evidence. IEC 62109 (safety of PV power converters), IEC 61683 / EN 50530 (efficiency measurement). Specific certificate numbers and issuers must be confirmed on the OEM datasheet.
- Disclaimer. Tradvolt does not certify equipment. All compliance evidence is the OEM's responsibility and must be requested per RFQ.
7. Duty / VAT stack — Finland import PENDING — lookup
HS national line | Program | As-of: 2026-09-21 | SoT: PENDING
Official portals to query (specific sub-page URLs):
- European Commission — TARIC subheading 8504.40 (static converters; PV inverters classify under 8504.40.40 — "Static converters; other"): TARIC consultation — CN 8504.40. Capture all measure codes, suspensions, tariff-rate quotas and footnotes applicable at the date of import.
- European Commission — TARIC measures by subheading portal: TARIC measures (date of effect 2026-09-21).
- Finnish Customs — Tulli tariff and national footnotes: Tulli — classification of goods.
- Finnish Tax Administration — Vero (ALV / VAT): Vero — VAT for businesses.
Duty / VAT rates (placeholder cells, not values):
| Measure | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EU MFN duty on PV inverter (CN 8504.40.40) | PENDING — lookup | EU TARIC subheading 8504.40.40 |
| TARIC additional measure (suspension, quota, anti-dumping — verify) | PENDING — lookup | EU TARIC measures portal |
| Finnish national footnotes / excise (if any) | PENDING — lookup | Finnish Customs — Tulli |
| VAT (ALV) — standard rate (input VAT recovery may apply for VAT-registered buyers) | PENDING — lookup | Finnish Tax Administration — Vero |
Action for the buyer: open TARIC subheading 8504.40, confirm the 8/10-digit national line for Finland, capture the measure code(s) and the binding rate at the date of import. Only then can the landed cost lines C5 and C6 be replaced with real figures.
8. Request Quote — replies in 48h
Submit the form below. Tradvolt replies within 48 hours with an indicative landed-cost estimate and a binding offer after OEM selection and freight quotation.
9. FAQ
What HS code applies to a Sungrow SG50CX imported into Finland?
Static converters including PV inverters classify under CN heading 8504.40 — specifically subheading 8504.40.40 (static converters, other) in the EU TARIC. Verify the binding 8/10-digit national line and any TARIC measures on the official portal before quoting. Source: TARIC — CN 8504.40.
What is the indicative payback for a 50 kW mall-rooftop installation in Finland using SG50CX-class inverters?
ILLUSTRATIVE — NOT A QUOTE. Based on the computed reference TCO model (10-year horizon, 6.00% discount rate, EUR), the discounted payback is 0.8456 yr, the simple payback is 0.7978 yr, NPV is EUR 42,719.39, IRR is 1.26, and LCOE is EUR 0.0277/kWh. These figures describe the inverter + BoS electrical share only and exclude the cost of PV modules, mounting structure and full project CapEx.
Which EU/Finland certifications should a 50 kW on-grid inverter carry?
CE marking under LVD 2014/35/EU, EMC 2014/30/EU and RoHS 2011/65/EU; grid-connection compliance to EN 50549-1/-2 and the Finnish DSO/Fingrid requirements (VJV2018). Confirm Declaration of Conformity, harmonised standards cited and notified-body involvement on the OEM datasheet.
What OpEx line items should a buyer reserve for a commercial rooftop PV inverter?
Standard OpEx lines: scheduled preventive maintenance, firmware/remote-monitoring subscription, spare parts (fans, contactors, DC fuses, SPD cartridges), inverter replacement reserve, insurance and DSO fixed charges. Per-year lines used in this model are listed in §3.
Can Tradvolt issue a binding landed-cost quote?
No. The figures on this page are reference values for buyer planning only. Tradvolt provides a binding quotation only through the RFQ form, after confirming HS code, applicable duties, freight terms and OEM selection.