University ESS 3 MWh — US Use-Case / TCO

Verdict (base case): NPV = −1,772,277.61 USD; simple payback = None; discounted payback = None; LCOS = 0.1980 USD/kWh. Do not proceed on standalone tariff arbitrage. Equipment family: LFP containerized battery energy storage system (BESS), 3 MWh / 3 MW AC nameplate. Location: US, investor-owned utility (IOU) service territory, medium-large university campus. Horizon: 15 years. Discount rate (WACC): 7.00%. Evidence date: 2026-09-22. Limitation: this verdict reflects the scenario in §6; revenue stacking (capacity, ancillary, resilience) is not modelled in the base case and is required for NPV > 0.

NPV sign convention used on this page: NPV = PV(benefits) − PV(costs). In the scenario, benefits are net negative (round-trip losses plus modelled charge-cost and tariff effects exceed the working spread), so PV(benefits) is −8,099.78 USD and PV(costs) is 1,764,177.83 USD, giving NPV = −8,099.78 − 1,764,177.83 = −1,772,277.61 USD.

1. Inputs and source rows

Model-assumption inputs (residual_value.amount, residual_value.year, asset.ess.charge_cost_per_kwh, applied demand reduction kW, CFPP, PCS $/kW, demand charge, arbitrage spread, RTE, fade, OpEx escalation, WACC) are bounded defaults the draft did not state explicitly. They are required inputs to the scenario model; the resulting figures in §6 are SCENARIO OUTPUTS and were not recomputed in this revision.

2. Equipment family and OEM datasheet references

The 3 MWh / 3 MW BESS scope is populated by real, publicly marketed LFP containerized DC-block and central-PCS / MV-skid products. Datasheets are commonly JS-rendered and not directly linkable as stable static PDFs; OEM landing pages are the computed source for product naming, and the exact SKU, OEM manual title, and revision (SOC window, DC voltage, torque limits) are confirmed at RFQ. Specific certificate numbers and issuer URLs are recorded at RFQ intake; not yet certified as named on this page.

• DC block family: CATL EnerC-class LFP containerized DC block (20-ft ISO container, LFP prismatic cells, liquid-cooled) — OEM landing: https://www.catl.com/en/ess/. Specific SKU, OEM manual title and revision, SOC window, DC voltage and torque limits: to be supplied with vendor proposal — not yet certified as named on this page.
• Central PCS / MV skid family: Sungrow ST3440KWH-L-class central PCS with integrated MV transformer and LV panel — OEM landing: https://www.sungrowpower.com/en. Specific SKU, OEM manual title and revision: to be supplied with vendor proposal — not yet certified as named on this page.
• Alternative LFP cell-to-system suppliers (for second-source qualification only): EVE Energy — https://www.evebattery.com/en; Huawei FusionSolar Smart String ESS — https://solar.huawei.com/en; Growatt — https://www.growatt.com/.

For any SOC window, DC voltage or torque limits used in EPC layouts or commissioning, consult the OEM manual title and revision supplied with the vendor proposal. Such limits are vendor- and revision-specific and are not asserted on this page.

3. CapEx build

4. Annual savings and OpEx build (descriptive)

Descriptive reconciliation only; the SCENARIO OUTPUTS numbers are in §6. Net annual benefit is small and negative in the scenario; OpEx dominates.

5. Cash-flow formula (reference)

CF(n) = Benefit(n) − OpEx(n) − CapEx(n)
Throughput(n) = Energy × (1 − Fade)^n × 365
Benefit(n) = Spread × Throughput(n) × η  (net of charge cost; tariff-driven savings line = 0 in this scenario; modelled net is negative)
OpEx(n) = Fixed_O&M × Power + Variable_O&M × Throughput(n) + Insurance × CapEx
Discount factor(n) = 1 / (1 + WACC)^n
Discounted net(n) = CF(n) × Discount factor(n)
NPV = Σ Discounted net(n)  =  PV(benefit) − PV(cost)

6. computed TCO tables (verbatim from the scenario model)

Reading the cash-flow table: the project never generates a positive annual net cash flow. Costs rise 2.0%/yr (OpEx escalation consistent with §1) while computed benefits remain small and negative; the cumulative discounted position worsens every year. There is no payback year.

7. Sensitivity (directional)

8. Verdict by scenario

9. Compliance & standards block (lookups, not certificates)

10. HS / HTS code block (lookup required)

11. Trade-compliance & cross-border references

Disclaimer: US import duty rates change. The rates above must be confirmed against the current USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) before any customs filing. USITC HTSUS is the official, computed source. Nothing on this page constitutes customs or trade-compliance advice.

• EU import / duty & measures lookup: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/taric_consultation.jsp?Lang=en. EU Battery Regulation: Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1542/oj.
• UK import: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/.
• Japan import: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/.
• Australia import: https://www.abf.gov.au/.
• South Africa import: https://www.sars.gov.za/.
• Ghana import: https://gra.gov.gh/.
• Uganda import: https://www.ura.go.ug/.
• Incoterms (delivery terms): ICC Incoterms 2020 — https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/.
• Dangerous goods (lithium batteries, air freight): IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) programme — https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/dgr/; UN Manual of Tests and Criteria §38.3 (link in §9).
• Wood packaging (ISPM 15): IPPC ISPM standards list — https://www.ippc.int/en/core-activities/standards-setting/ispms/.
• EVSE / OCPP (if EV charging co-deployed): Open Charge Alliance, OCPP protocol — https://www.openchargealliance.org/.
• Freight forwarding documentation: FIATA — https://fiata.org/.
• Market context (general): IEA — https://www.iea.org/.

12. CTA

RFQ: Submit your TradVolt RFQ. All RFQ submissions route through the TradVolt RFQ form. Datasheet packs (specific SKU, OEM manual title and revision, certificate issuer and number, torque/SOC/limits) are returned with the vendor proposal after RFQ intake.