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NuWatt designs, installs, and manages solar, battery, heat pump, and EV charger systems across 9 states. One company, one warranty, one point of contact.
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Detailed cost breakdown by system size and state. Equipment, labor, permits, and interconnection costs. Before and after incentives pricing.
$1.80-2.55/W
Small Business
$1.40-1.90/W
Mid-Size
$1.10-1.50/W
Large-Scale
Project-specific
Eligible Incentives
Commercial solar runs $1.10-$2.55 per watt installed in 2026 before project-specific incentives: small systems (25-100kW) $1.80-2.55/W, mid-size systems (100-500kW) $1.40-1.90/W, and large rooftop systems (500kW-2MW) $1.10-1.50/W. Actual pricing depends on the state, roof or mount type, equipment, interconnection, and system size. The July 4, 2026 Section 48E begin-construction window has closed; projects starting now generally must be placed in service by December 31, 2027. Bonus adders require separate eligibility documentation.
Commercial solar is $1.10–$2.55 per watt installed in 2026 before project-specific incentives: small business systems at $1.80–$2.55/W, mid-size at $1.40–$1.90/W, and large-scale at $1.10–$1.50/W.
| System Size | Capacity | $/W Installed | Typical Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business | 25-100 kW | $1.80–$2.55 | 4-7 yrs |
| Mid-Size Commercial | 100-500 kW | $1.40–$1.90 | 3-6 yrs |
| Large-Scale Commercial | 500-2000 kW | $1.10–$1.50 | 3-5 yrs |
| State | Installed $/W Range |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $1.20–$2.55/W |
| New Hampshire | $1.15–$2.45/W |
| Maine | $1.15–$2.40/W |
| Vermont | $1.15–$2.45/W |
| Rhode Island | $1.15–$2.50/W |
| Connecticut | $1.20–$2.55/W |
| Pennsylvania | $1.10–$2.35/W |
| New Jersey | $1.15–$2.40/W |
| Texas | $1.10–$2.20/W |
The Section 48E begin-construction window closed July 4, 2026: projects that began construction on or before that date locked in the full timing pathway (placed in service through roughly 2030). Commercial solar projects starting now still qualify for the 30% credit, but generally must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
Based on NuWatt commercial project pricing data, reviewed quarterly. Installed $/W before project-specific incentives. Machine-readable: /api/commercial-cost-index.
$1.8-$2.55/W
$1.4-$1.9/W
$1.1-$1.5/W
Commercial rooftop solar runs roughly $22–$50 per square foot of solar panelin 2026. Because the industry prices solar by the watt, cost per square foot is a derived figure — here is the math, not a guess.
Based on a 415 W Q CELLS panel measuring 41.1 × 74 in (21.1 sq ft), a commercial array produces about 19.6 watts per square footof panel. Multiplying that by NuWatt's installed pricing of $1.10–$2.55/W gives the cost per square foot of panel area.
This is per square foot of panel, not roof. Actual roof area needs more space for fire setbacks, walkways, and equipment, so usable roof coverage is typically 60–75% of the total. Panel spec sourced from the NuWatt equipment catalog.
| System Size | $/W Installed | Cost per Sq Ft of Panel |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business (25-100 kW) | $1.80–$2.55/W | $35–$50/sq ft |
| Mid-Size Commercial (100-500 kW) | $1.40–$1.90/W | $28–$37/sq ft |
| Large-Scale Commercial (500-2000 kW) | $1.10–$1.50/W | $22–$29/sq ft |
Solar Panels & Inverters
Tier 1 panels, string or microinverters, racking
$78,750
45%
Installation Labor
Prevailing wage electricians and roofers
$35,000
20%
Balance of System
Wiring, conduit, disconnects, monitoring
$26,250
15%
Permits & Engineering
Structural analysis, electrical design, permits
$17,500
10%
Interconnection
Utility interconnection, meter upgrade
$8,750
5%
Overhead & Margin
Project management, insurance, warranty reserves
$8,750
5%
Example breakdown for a 100kW system at $1.75/W ($175,000 total)
| State | Small (25-100kW) | Mid (100-500kW) | Large (500kW-2MW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $2.1-2.55/W | $1.6-1.9/W | $1.2-1.5/W |
| New Hampshire | $2-2.45/W | $1.55-1.85/W | $1.15-1.45/W |
| Maine | $1.95-2.4/W | $1.5-1.8/W | $1.15-1.45/W |
| Vermont | $2-2.45/W | $1.55-1.85/W | $1.15-1.45/W |
| Rhode Island | $2.05-2.5/W | $1.55-1.85/W | $1.15-1.45/W |
| Connecticut | $2.1-2.55/W | $1.6-1.9/W | $1.2-1.5/W |
| Pennsylvania | $1.9-2.35/W | $1.45-1.8/W | $1.1-1.4/W |
| New Jersey | $1.95-2.4/W | $1.5-1.85/W | $1.15-1.45/W |
| Texas | $1.8-2.2/W | $1.4-1.7/W | $1.1-1.35/W |
Start with conservative eligibility assumptions, then select only the tax-credit requirements your project can document.
100 kW
System Cost
$165K
Modeled Federal ITC
-$10K
Modeled After-Tax Cost
$63K
Modeled Payback
1.6 yrs
Annual Savings
$39,210/yr
MACRS Tax Value
$55,848
CO2 Offset
1225 tons
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Commercial solar costs $1.10-2.55/W installed in 2026 depending on system size. Small business (25-100kW): $1.80-2.55/W. Mid-size (100-500kW): $1.40-1.90/W. Large-scale (500kW-2MW): $1.10-1.50/W.
Site-specific pricing with exact incentive calculations. No obligation, no pressure.