There is no responsible single price for building one megawatt of utility-scale solar across Europe. A flat number hides the difference between a level, accessible site with client-supplied machinery and a remote project requiring ground improvement, long cable routes and full contractor mobilisation. The useful question is not “what is the universal price?”, but “which scope and site conditions does the price include?”
Start with the scope boundary
A price per MW can describe module and structure installation only, a broader BoP package, or a complete EPC delivery. Before comparing offers, separate engineering, procurement, civil works, piling, mounting, DC and AC cabling, substations, fencing, CCTV, testing, commissioning and as-built documentation. Two bids with the same €/MW headline may carry very different responsibilities.
Define who supplies modules, structures, inverters, transformers, machinery, fuel, accommodation, security and temporary utilities. A clear responsibility matrix is the quickest way to expose exclusions and prevent variations during construction.
Ground and terrain change productivity
Geotechnical information is a commercial input, not a formality. Dense or rocky layers can reduce piling output and require pre-drilling or another foundation solution. Soft ground, slopes, drainage constraints and restricted working corridors affect access, machine selection and crew productivity. Pull-out and lateral load tests should validate the proposed pile and installation method before mass production.
Topography also controls grading, row geometry and cable lengths. A layout that looks efficient on a drawing may create slower installation or more civil work on the actual site.
Logistics, grid and local rules
Mobilisation depends on country, distance, project size, work sequence and access. Smaller fragmented sites usually carry more mobilisation cost per MW than one continuous project. Grid connection scope can also dominate the budget when new lines, MV works or additional studies are required.
Permits, environmental measures, stormwater control, working-hour limits, local labour requirements and documentation standards vary by market. These items need to be identified before the offer is treated as firm.
What a useful estimate should contain
A bankable early estimate should state the DC and AC capacity basis, exact work packages, client-supplied resources, productivity assumptions, programme, exclusions and the mechanism for dealing with unknown ground conditions. It should also distinguish fixed costs from scalable costs: mobilisation does not grow in the same way as module installation.
Nemesis Solar prepares project-specific calculations rather than publishing an artificial Europe-wide range. With a layout, capacity, country, schedule, geotechnical information and scope list, we can produce a meaningful commercial basis and identify the largest sensitivities.
/ FAQ
Can the price be estimated before the final design?
Yes. A budget estimate is possible when capacity, country, preliminary layout, intended scope and known site conditions are supplied, but assumptions and exclusions must be explicit.
Does client-supplied machinery reduce the price?
It can. Available machinery, fuel, accommodation or temporary infrastructure should be separated from the contractor scope and reflected in the calculation.