🎥 Set-up Advanced Project Costs (OpenSolar 1.0)

This article outlines how to set-up Advanced Project Costs. When you design a project in Studio, you will be able to see the project's cost breakdown on the left-hand sidebar, beneath the heading Cost & Margin.  If you have not set up advanced costs, the dollar amounts of each section will be zero. When you do set up the values for all fields, you will have a  breakdown of your project costs and margin. 

Advanced Project Costs are configured on the Control page, under cost information. You can edit the default template or create as many cost lists as you'd like that are specific to certain geographies, customers, etc. For additional information on creating a new project cost list, see the Help Center article here.  

To include project costs to an existing cost list, click the  button next to your cost list. 

Cost of Goods Sold

Click on the COGS heading to access the 'COGS Build-up', 'Acquisition Cost', and 'Fulfillment' tables. From here you are able to enter in the cost breakdown in dollars ($) for each option, excluding tax. 

Note: Each of the “Per System”, “Per Panel” and “Per Watt” columns will add together to generate the total cost for a certain aspect.

For example: If Labour cost $100 per system (flat fee), and there is a $0.50 per watt for a 5kW system, then the total cost will be $100+$0.50x5kW = $2,600

Extra Costs 

Within Extra Costs you have the option to set-up various costs regarding the panel slope, number of stories of the building and the building's roof type.

First you can add in costs (per system, per panel and/or per watt) associated with the number of stories of a building by filling in the table. (You define how many stories the building is on the Project Page when you create a project).

Next you can define whether you would like an extra cost (per system, per panel and/or per watt) to be associated with a tilt greater than a certain angle.

You also have the option of adding an extra cost based on whether tilt racks are being used (per system, per panel and/or per watt). 

Finally you can price your systems differently based on what roof type is used. (You define what type of roof is being used on the Project Page when you create a project).

You can select the roof types within Presets by clicking on the input box for “Roof Type Adder”.

Then include the cost (per system, per panel and/or per watt) for the corresponding roof type in the roof table.   

Note: Each of the “Per System”, “Per Panel” and “Per Watt” columns will add together to generate the total cost for a certain aspect.

Once you have finished filling in all of the tables with the pricing, then ensure that you press the  button at the bottom of the page.