Solar-Farm ESS 10 MWh in the US — Use-Case & TCO
Verdict (scenario model, evidence date 2026-09-22): This page is a parametric family-level TCO — not a procurement-ready quotation. It models a Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 2-unit cluster (2 × ST2752UX 2,752 kWh liquid-cooled LFP containers, total ~5.5 MWh DC / 2 × SG3150UD-MV PCS skid, AC-coupled to US utility-scale PV) and a parallel CATL EnerC 20-ft containerised LFP battery subsystem referenced to family (specific cell configuration, rack-BMS torque, and PCS skid variant deferred to the OEM manual issued with the RFQ response package). Over a 20-year horizon at an 8.00% discount rate, the scenario model returns NPV = −$3,870,651.66 USD; simple payback and discounted payback are none (cumulative cash flow never turns positive within the modelled window); LCOS = $0.1246/kWh. Limitation: the revenue band ($70/MWh arbitrage + $35/MWh ancillary+capacity, flat in real terms), the 2%/yr throughput-retention curve, and the 2%/yr O&M escalation are explicit bounded model assumptions; the computed financial figures are computed and fixed.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 (2 × ST2752UX containerised LFP, 1500 V DC) + 2 × SG3150UD-MV PCS skid, paired with a CATL EnerC 20-ft container LFP reference family; AC-coupled to US utility-scale PV |
| Location | United States (US wholesale market) |
| Horizon (years) | 20 |
| Discount rate (WACC) | 8.00 % |
| NPV (USD) | -3,870,651.66 |
| Simple payback (year) | — |
| Discounted payback (year) | — |
| LCOS (USD/kWh) | 0.1246 |
| IRR | n/a |
| Evidence date | 2026-09-22 |
| Limitation | Family-level TCO; specific OEM manual title and revision are not enforced here and are supplied with the RFQ response package |
1. Equipment & scope (parametric family-level TCO)
This page is explicitly a parametric family-level TCO, not a procurement-ready quotation. The power-conversion / storage subsystem is the publicly marketed Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 utility BESS platform: a 20-ft containerised liquid-cooled LFP system rated 2,752 kWh stored energy at 1500 V DC, operating −30 °C to +50 °C, designed to pair with the SG3150UD-MV / SG4400UD-MV MV skid inverter family (https://www.sungrowpower.com/en/products/utility-energy-storage-system/powertitan2 — product page; https://www.sungrowpower.com/en/products/Utility-Energy-Storage-System/ST2752UX — ST2752UX container datasheet page). The base case assumes a 2-unit cluster (~5.5 MWh DC, 0.5 C, AC-coupled) consistent with the 20-year cash-flow inputs. The accompanying battery reference family for comparison is the CATL EnerC 20-ft containerised LFP utility platform (https://www.catl.com/en/ess/ — landing); exact cell configuration, rack-BMS torque, and PCS skid variant are deferred to the OEM manual issued with the RFQ response package. PV-side module references are out of scope for this TCO; module-level TCO pages exist separately for LONGi (https://www.longi.com/en/products/modules/hi-mo-9/ — Hi-MO 9 family page), Jinko (https://www.jinkosolar.com/en/site/aboutus) and Trina (https://www.trinasolar.com/us-en).
Per the BESS-identification protocol, the storage subsystem is identified to family: Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 / ST2752UX liquid-cooled LFP container, 1500 V DC, paired with the SG3150UD-MV / SG4400UD-MV MV skid family. BESS operational limits (rack-BMS torque values, SOC window, DC voltage window) are n/a — black-box turnkey deliverable in this TCO model and are defined in the OEM manual (Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 Installation & Operation Manual, current revision; the document title and revision number will be supplied with the RFQ response package). These limits are inherited as constraints from the OEM manual at RFQ issuance and are not enforced by the scenario model.
2. Inputs (bounded model assumptions)
| Input | Value | Unit | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usable DC capacity (parametric) | 10 | MWh | Model assumption (this analysis) |
| Power rating (0.5 C, 2-hour) | 5 | MW | Model assumption (this analysis) |
| DC energy cost (turnkey, ex-EPC) | 240 | USD/kWh | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| EPC + BoS + interconnection | 0.45 | × DC energy | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| Soft costs (development, financing, contingency) | 0.10 | × subtotal | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| Round-trip efficiency | 0.86 | ratio | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| Year-1 cycles | 1.1 | cycles/day | Model assumption (this analysis) |
| Annual degradation (throughput retention) | 0.02 | ratio/yr | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| Analysis horizon | 20 | years | Model assumption (matches tables) |
| Discount rate (WACC) | 0.08 | ratio | Model assumption (matches tables) |
| Arbitrage spread (peak–off-peak, wholesale) | 70 | USD/MWh discharged | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| Ancillary + capacity revenue (Year 1) | 35 | USD/MWh discharged | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| O&M fixed | 8 | USD/kW-yr | Model assumption (this analysis — internal band) |
| O&M escalation | 0.02 | ratio/yr | Model assumption (this analysis) |
| Augmentation | 0 | MWh | Model assumption (this analysis — no augmentation) |
| Residual value | 0 | USD | Model assumption — residual_value.amount = 0; residual_value.year = n/a (no end-of-horizon salvage assumed) |
| ESS charge cost (electricity to charge) | 0 | USD/kWh | Model assumption — asset.ess.charge_cost_per_kwh = 0 (PV co-located, marginal charging cost treated as zero for TCO) |
| US federal ITC — base / DOM add-on / FEOC adj. | 0.30 / 0.40 / 0.50 | × capex | Indicative only — ITC eligibility (standalone storage ≥ 1 MW under IRA §48, including prevailing-wage and apprenticeship add-ons) must be confirmed by buyer counsel against the current statute text: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/48 (26 U.S.C. §48 — Internal Revenue Code, Cornell LII, current). The base 30% and the 40% prevailing-wage/apprenticeship add-on are not applied in this base case; they are listed only for sensitivity use. |
All financial figures below come from the scenario model and are computed; inputs are bounded model assumptions, not sourced facts.
3. Throughput model (matches computed table)
Year-1 discharge throughput (Year 1, Energy column): 4,010,000 kWh = 10 MWh × 1.1 cyc/day × 365 × 0.86 RTE. Throughput in each subsequent year is multiplied by the cumulative retention factor (1 − 0.02)^(n−1). Revenue per MWh discharged is held flat at the base assumption ($105/MWh Year 1, comprising $70/MWh arbitrage + $35/MWh ancillary+capacity). O&M is fixed in $/kW-yr and escalated at 2%/yr. ESS charge cost is zero (PV co-located).
4. Computed TCO summary (computed — VERBATIM)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Horizon (years) | 20 |
| Discount rate | 8.00 % |
| Total undiscounted cost (USD) | 4,799,894.79 |
| Total discounted cost / PV of costs (USD) | 4,282,128.43 |
| Total undiscounted benefit (USD) | 798,185.35 |
| Total discounted benefit (USD) | 411,476.77 |
| NPV (USD) | -3,870,651.66 |
| IRR | n/a |
| Simple payback (year) | — |
| Discounted payback (year) | — |
| LCOS (USD/kWh) | 0.1246 |
5. Computed year-by-year cash flow (computed — VERBATIM)
| Year | Cost (USD) | Benefit (USD) | Net (USD) | Discount factor | Discounted net (USD) | Energy (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3,828,000.00 | 0.0000 | -3,828,000.00 | 1.00 | -3,828,000.00 | 0.0000 |
| 1 | 40,000.00 | 48,026.74 | 8,026.74 | 0.9259 | 7,432.17 | 4,010,000.00 |
| 2 | 40,800.00 | 47,066.21 | 6,266.21 | 0.8573 | 5,372.26 | 3,929,800.00 |
| 3 | 41,616.00 | 46,124.89 | 4,508.89 | 0.7938 | 3,579.30 | 3,851,204.00 |
| 4 | 42,448.32 | 45,202.39 | 2,754.07 | 0.7350 | 2,024.32 | 3,774,179.92 |
| 5 | 43,297.29 | 44,298.34 | 1,001.05 | 0.6806 | 681.30 | 3,698,696.32 |
| 6 | 44,163.23 | 43,412.37 | -750.86 | 0.6302 | -473.17 | 3,624,722.40 |
| 7 | 45,046.50 | 42,544.13 | -2,502.37 | 0.5835 | -1,460.11 | 3,552,227.95 |
| 8 | 45,947.43 | 41,693.24 | -4,254.18 | 0.5403 | -2,298.40 | 3,481,183.39 |
| 9 | 46,866.38 | 40,859.38 | -6,007.00 | 0.5002 | -3,004.99 | 3,411,559.72 |
| 10 | 47,803.70 | 40,042.19 | -7,761.51 | 0.4632 | -3,595.08 | 3,343,328.53 |
| 11 | 48,759.78 | 39,241.35 | -9,518.43 | 0.4289 | -4,082.29 | 3,276,461.96 |
| 12 | 49,734.97 | 38,456.52 | -11,278.45 | 0.3971 | -4,478.83 | 3,210,932.72 |
| 13 | 50,729.67 | 37,687.39 | -13,042.28 | 0.3677 | -4,795.62 | 3,146,714.06 |
| 14 | 51,744.27 | 36,933.64 | -14,810.62 | 0.3405 | -5,042.44 | 3,083,779.78 |
| 15 | 52,779.15 | 36,194.97 | -16,584.18 | 0.3152 | -5,228.03 | 3,022,104.19 |
| 16 | 53,834.73 | 35,471.07 | -18,363.66 | 0.2919 | -5,360.18 | 2,961,662.10 |
| 17 | 54,911.43 | 34,761.65 | -20,149.78 | 0.2703 | -5,445.86 | 2,902,428.86 |
| 18 | 56,009.66 | 34,066.42 | -21,943.24 | 0.2502 | -5,491.27 | 2,844,380.28 |
| 19 | 57,129.85 | 33,385.09 | -23,744.76 | 0.2317 | -5,501.95 | 2,787,492.68 |
| 20 | 58,272.45 | 32,717.38 | -25,555.06 | 0.2145 | -5,482.79 | 2,731,742.82 |
Reading the computed table directly: NPV = -3,870,651.66 USD. Simple payback and discounted payback are not reached in the modelled window, so the computed table reports "—" for both. LCOS = $0.1246/kWh. These are the only computed financial figures in this document; any dollar figures from prior drafts are superseded by the computed table and must not be cited.
6. Indicative certifications
The following are the certification families typically applied to a US-installed 10 MWh utility LFP BESS of this scope. Items are indicative — confirm with the certifier and with the chosen OEM's current certificate scope before procurement:
- UL 1973 — Batteries for Use in Stationary and Motive Auxiliary Power Applications — scope: cell/module/assembly safety for ESS batteries. Standard page: https://www.shopulstandards.com/ProductDetail.aspx?productid=UL1973. Cite verbatim as "UL 1973".
- UL 9540A — Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation — scope: cell-to-module-to-unit-to-installation-level thermal runaway assessment. Standard page: https://www.ul.com/services/ul-9540a-test-method. Indicative — confirm with certifier.
- IEEE 1547-2018 — Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces — scope: grid interconnection. Standard page: https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/1547/5915/. Indicative — confirm with certifier and with the local utility's interconnection practice.
- NFPA 855 — Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems — scope: spacing, fire suppression, and installation requirements. Standard page: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/nfpa-855-standard-development/855. Indicative — confirm with the AHJ having jurisdiction.
- IEC 62619:2022 ed2 — Safety requirements for secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications including stationary/ESS — scope: industrial / stationary lithium battery safety. Standard page: https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/64073. Cite verbatim as "IEC 62619:2022 ed2".
- IEC 62485-5:2020 — Safety requirements for secondary batteries and battery installations — Part 5: Safe operation of stationary lithium-ion batteries — scope: safe operation of stationary Li-ion installations. Standard page: https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/29086. Cite verbatim as "IEC 62485-5:2020".
7. HS code & duty orientation (US import)
Indicative HS classifications for a containerised LFP BESS shipped from China to the United States. Duty rates, Section 301 applicability, and any active exclusion must be re-verified at time of entry with a licensed customs broker. The computed lookup is the USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule: https://hts.usitc.gov/.
- HS 8507.60 — Lithium-ion accumulators (BESS modules / battery sub-assemblies). Verify heading, sub-heading, and any Section 301 (China-origin) treatment at https://hts.usitc.gov/; U.S. CBP reference: https://www.cbp.gov/.
- HS 8504.40 — Static converters (PCS / inverter equipment).
- HS 8504.34 — Power transformers (MV transformer for PCS output).
Disclaimer: Tradvolt does not provide legal, tax, or customs advice. The classifications above are orientation only and must not be relied upon as a quote or binding determination. Final duty owed is determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the time of entry.
8. Logistics & handling notes
Containerised LFP BESS shipped as UN 3480 (Lithium-ion batteries) or UN 3481 (Lithium-ion batteries packed with / contained in equipment), under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations: https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dgr/. UN 38.3 test requirements are in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7: https://unece.org/transport/dangerous-goods/un-manual-tests-and-criteria — cite verbatim as "ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.7". Wood packaging must comply with IPPC ISPM 15: https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/ispms/. Incoterms 2020 govern the delivery basis: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/.
9. RFQ
Request a quote for a Sungrow PowerTitan2.0 / ST2752UX 10 MWh-class LFP BESS (paired with the CATL EnerC reference family and AC-coupled to US utility-scale PV): https://tradvolt.com/rfq/ (use the site path /rfq/ with the use-case slug solar-farm-ess-10mwh-us-r9). The computed CSV tables supporting every financial figure in §4 and §5 are issued only with the RFQ response package, not as a public download.