| Upfront Material Cost |
$0.2-0.3/W (higher due to ETFE and flexible tech) |
$0.09-0.11/W (standard glass/aluminum) |
Advanced materials in flexible increase base price by 20-50% |
| Installation Cost |
$0.50-1.00/W (simple adhesive/screw methods) |
$1.00-2.00/W (brackets, labor-intensive) |
Flexible saves 40-60% on labor; no permits needed for some portable uses |
| Total System Cost (e.g., 1kW) |
$1,000-1,300 (includes basic wiring) |
$2,000-2,500 (includes mounting hardware) |
Economies of scale for bulk orders; Sunpal offers wholesale discounts |
| Maintenance Over 25 Years |
$100-300 (minimal cleaning) |
$500-1,000 (potential glass replacement) |
Flexible's durability reduces long-term repairs |
| Shipping/Transport |
Lower due to lightweight (e.g., $50-100 for 1kW) |
Higher due to bulk/fragility (e.g., $100-200 for 1kW) |
Rollable design cuts shipping costs by 30% |
| Incentives/Financing |
Eligible for solar tax credits; Sunpal financing partnerships |
Similar eligibility |
ROI boosted by rebates (e.g., 26% US ITC); customizable for grant-qualified projects |
| Overall Lifetime Value |
Higher for versatile/marine uses; breakeven faster in mobile scenarios |
Better for large fixed installs |
Flexible excels in niche markets with 10-20% better adaptability ROI |
