This solar EPC ROI calculator estimates what automation is worth to an EPC or construction team each year: the project hours freed from proposals, permits, procurement tracking, commissioning and handover documentation.
In short: ClearSpot is an AI and drone automation platform for utility-scale solar O&M. Construction Mesh automates routine work for EPC and construction teams, and visual inspection uses drones and AI to find and document defects. This calculator estimates the yearly value of that automation from your own inputs and compares it with a platform subscription, which ranges from $50 to $1,000 per MW per year.
What automation is worth on your portfolio
Set the capacity you deliver per year, pick the product, and adjust the assumptions to your own figures. Every number comes from the inputs on this page. They are estimates, not measured results.
1Product
2Portfolio
All default values are examples. Replace them with your own figures. The currency setting changes the symbol only; no conversion is applied.
3Work that gets automated
| Task | Hours today | Automated % | Hours saved / yr |
|---|
4Cost
Example price. Enter the figures from your quote.
Estimated annual value Construction Mesh · Asset management
Estimates calculated from the assumptions on this page. They are not measured or guaranteed results. Energy value assumes recovered production is sold at the energy price entered.
Check these numbers with our teamHow the numbers are calculated
- Hours saved per task: hours × MWp × 12 × automated % (tasks measured per MWp per month); hours × MWp × inspections per year × automated % (per MWp per inspection); hours × (MWp ÷ average project size) × automated % (per project); hours × MWp × automated % (per MWp built).
- Total hours saved = sum of all tasks. People equivalent = total hours ÷ productive hours per person.
- Staff time value = total hours × loaded staff cost.
- Energy recovered (MWh) = MWp × specific yield × energy recovered %. Energy value = MWh × energy price. Not counted for EPC.
- Annual value = staff time value + energy value. Annual cost = subscription × MWp.
- Net, year 1 = annual value − annual cost − onboarding. Net, each later year = annual value − annual cost.
- Return, year 1 = net year 1 ÷ (annual cost + onboarding). Payback = onboarding ÷ (net later year ÷ 12), in months.
- Net over 3 / 5 years = net later year × 3 (or 5) − onboarding.
How much can you save by automating solar EPC work?
For EPC teams, the return on solar project management software and automation comes from fewer project hours on proposals and yield studies, permits, procurement tracking, commissioning and handover documentation.
| Product | Estimated annual value | Net per year after year 1 | Payback | Value per MWp delivered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Mesh | $195,250 | $170,250 | 1.1 months | $781 |
| Visual inspection | $82,500 | $57,500 | 3.1 months | $330 |
Change any input above and the calculator updates instantly. Replace the example hours, automation shares, yield and prices with your own figures to see what automation is worth on your portfolio.
What ClearSpot automates for EPC and construction teams
Construction Mesh
- Proposal and yield study
- Permits and documentation
- Procurement tracking
- Commissioning reports and handover
Visual inspection
- Commissioning inspection
- Punch-list documentation
- Handover evidence pack
For construction work the calculator counts staff time only; energy recovered is not counted.
How to use the calculator
- Choose the product: Construction Mesh or Visual inspection.
- Set your capacity and the assumptions in card 2. Every default is an example.
- Adjust the hours today and the automated share for each task in card 3, or press “Reset to example values”.
- Enter the subscription and onboarding figures from your quote in card 4.
- Read the annual value, year-1 return, payback and net over 3 and 5 years in the results card. “How the numbers are calculated” shows every formula.
Learn more
- Construction Mesh: what the ClearSpot Agentic Mesh does for EPC and construction teams.
- Solar panel drone inspection: how visual inspection works, step by step.
- ClearSpot pricing: what moves the subscription per MW.
- Case study: 100 MW portfolio in India.
- Why solar operators calculate O&M ROI wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I save by automating solar EPC work?
With the example inputs on this page (250 MWp delivered per year, 5 MWp average project, $100 per MW per year subscription, $15,000 onboarding), the calculator estimates about $195,000 of annual value for Construction Mesh and about $83,000 for visual inspection. These are estimates from example values.
Which EPC tasks save the most time?
In the example values, permits and documentation (60 hours per project) and proposals and yield studies (40 hours per project) are the largest. Commissioning inspection is the largest for visual inspection. Replace the hours with your own.
What does the solar EPC ROI calculator measure?
It estimates the staff hours freed by automating EPC project work, based on the capacity you deliver per year and your average project size, and compares the value with the subscription and onboarding cost.
Why is energy not counted for EPC?
EPC teams hand plants over to owners and operators, so the calculator counts construction savings as staff time only.
Which EPC tasks are included?
Proposal and yield study, permits and documentation, procurement tracking, and commissioning reports and handover for Construction Mesh; commissioning inspection, punch-list documentation and the handover evidence pack for visual inspection.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Every result is an estimate calculated from the assumptions on the page. Default values are examples; replace them with your own figures, or ask our team to check the numbers with you.
What is the subscription price?
ClearSpot is a platform subscription from $50 to $1,000 per MW per year, depending on portfolio scale, site size and depth of automation and monitoring. The calculator uses an example value; enter the figure from your quote.
Is any data stored?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent or stored.
Next step
Want the estimate checked against your own data? Book a ClearSpot demo and we will go through the numbers with you.