Renewable Energy, Solar & Wind Manufacturing worked example

Solar Module Cost at 68% module yield: a worked example

This worked example runs the solar module cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 68% module yield instead of the typical 94%. Estimate solar module cost from cell and bill-of-material spend per module, line yield and one-time lamination setup.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Modules Produced: 1,000 modules (held at the documented default)
  • Cell + BOM Cost: 78 $/module (held at the documented default)
  • Module Yield: 68 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 94)
  • Lamination Line Setup: 3,500 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Total = modules x (cell + BOM cost) x module yield% + lamination setup.
  • Total solar module cost works out to 56,540 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Solar module cost per unit works out to 56.54 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable solar module cost works out to 53,040 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed solar module cost adder works out to 3,500 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where module yield sits at 94% and the headline result is 76,820 $, this scenario comes in 26.4% below the baseline at 56,540 $.
  • Use it when quoting a production run, comparing BOM changes, or checking how batch size dilutes fixed lamination setup. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total solar module cost: 56,540 $ (headline result)
  • Solar module cost per unit: 56.54 $ / piece
  • Variable solar module cost: 53,040 $
  • Fixed solar module cost adder: 3,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Solar Module Cost calculator, set module yield to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.