Floating Solar ROI Calculator
Compare FloatSolar systems on qualifying private ponds vs traditional floating photovoltaic economics
ROI Calculator Form
Enter your desired floating solar system size in kilowatts
Your current electricity rate (US average is $0.12-0.20/kWh)
Methodology and Assumptions
The figures above are generated by a simple client-side calculator. They are planning-level estimates only, not a quote. Actual production, costs, and payback for your site depend on local solar irradiance, shading, electrical infrastructure, utility rate structure, and site-specific permitting requirements. Contact FloatSolar for a project-specific quote.
Inputs you provide
- System Size (kW) — user input, default 10 kW.
- Electricity Rate ($/kWh) — user input, default $0.15/kWh (the calculator's placeholder notes a US average range of roughly $0.12–$0.20/kWh).
Fixed assumptions built into the calculator
| Assumption | Value used |
|---|---|
| Annual system production | 1,400 kWh per kW of installed capacity per year (a conservative, generalized production estimate; not location-specific) |
| FloatSolar equipment cost | $400 per kW (structure kit + panels + inverters, combined estimate) |
| FloatSolar permitting cost (qualifying pond) | $2,000 flat, representing typical local building/electrical permits for a qualifying, non-jurisdictional private pond |
| FloatSolar deployment timeline | 2 months |
| Traditional FPV equipment cost | $400 per kW (same equipment cost basis, for comparison) |
| Traditional FPV permitting cost | $5,000 per kW, representing federal wetlands permitting typically required on jurisdictional waters |
| Traditional FPV deployment timeline | 18 months |
Note: the calculator does not model annual module degradation — it estimates a single year of production and cost to derive a simple payback period, rather than a multi-year degraded output curve. Typical crystalline-silicon modules degrade roughly 0.3%–0.5% per year, which would modestly extend real-world payback and is not reflected in the estimate above.
How payback period is calculated
In words: the payback period is the total system cost (equipment cost plus applicable permitting cost) divided by the estimated annual electricity savings, where annual savings equal annual production multiplied by your entered electricity rate.
annualProduction = systemSize(kW) × 1,400 kWh/kW-year
annualSavings = annualProduction × electricityRate($/kWh)
totalCost = (systemSize × $400/kW) + permittingCost
paybackYears = totalCost ÷ annualSavings
What is and isn't included
Included in the cost estimate
- FloatSolar structure kit
- Solar panels (modeled cost)
- Inverters (modeled cost)
- Applicable local permits (building/electrical, for qualifying ponds) or federal wetlands permitting (traditional jurisdictional-waters comparison)
Not included
- Installation labor
- Electrical wiring, connectors, and balance-of-system components beyond panels/inverters
- Anchoring hardware sized to a specific site
- Interconnection/utility fees
- Ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M)
- Financing costs, taxes, or incentives (e.g., ITC)
- Module degradation over the system's lifetime
Whether your pond qualifies as non-jurisdictional after Sackett v. EPA (2023) depends on its specific hydrology and connection to other waters. Local building, electrical, and zoning permits still typically apply even on qualifying private ponds — this calculator's "permit cost" line represents those local permits, not an absence of all permitting.
Floating Solar ROI FAQ
How is FloatSolar ROI calculated?
FloatSolar ROI is calculated by comparing total system costs (equipment + applicable local permits) against annual energy savings. For qualifying private, non-jurisdictional ponds, avoiding federal wetlands permitting can save $5,000+ per kW compared to traditional floating solar, dramatically improving ROI.
Why does FloatSolar have better ROI than traditional floating solar?
FloatSolar achieves better ROI through three mechanisms: 1) For qualifying non-jurisdictional ponds, avoided federal wetlands permitting can save $5,000+ per kW, 2) 560W-710W panel support means fewer panels are needed for the same output, and 3) faster deployment means you start generating savings in weeks, not years.
What is the typical payback period for floating solar?
Traditional floating solar on jurisdictional waters can have payback periods of 10-15+ years due to high permitting costs and timelines. FloatSolar systems on qualifying private ponds typically achieve payback in 3-7 years depending on system size, electricity rates, and solar irradiance at your location.
* Estimates based on typical conditions in the United States. Actual results may vary based on location, system design, solar irradiance, and local electricity rates. Contact FloatSolar for a customized quote.