Renewable Energy Cost Estimation Services
Expert cost estimating, quantity surveying and contract support for utility‑scale solar, wind, microgrid and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania – from 100 kW commercial systems to 100 MW utility‑scale assets.
We help developers, EPC contractors, investors and utilities build robust, defensible project budgets that stand up to internal review, lender due diligence and market volatility. Our team combines first‑principles estimating with current market intelligence to give you clear, decision‑ready numbers at every project stage.
- Cost certainty from concept design through to commissioning and handover.
- Data‑driven estimates that support lenders, boards and EPC tenders with transparent, defensible inputs.
- Independent, clearly documented assumptions, risks and contingencies for complex renewable projects.
Renewable Energy
Australia, NZ, Oceania
Water and Waste Water Infrastructure
QLD, NSW, VIC, WA, SA
Substations and Transmission
NSW, WA, QLD
Electrical and Instrumentations
Australia, NZ, Oceania
What we do
Straight Line Estimating focuses exclusively on the cost side of complex renewable energy projects – from the first desktop study through to detailed design, tendering and delivery. Our team combines first‑principles estimating, market pricing and contract knowledge to help you understand what your project will really cost and how those costs move as the design evolves. We work on utility‑scale solar PV, onshore wind, microgrids and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), supporting projects from 100 kW commercial and industrial systems up to 100 MW+ utility‑scale assets across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.
Whether you are testing the viability of an early‑stage concept, preparing a bankable financial model or pricing an EPC bid, we provide structured, transparent estimates that align with recognised estimate classes and best‑practice guidance. This means you can see how allowances, contingencies and risks have been built up, compare options with confidence and explain your numbers clearly to boards, lenders and project partners.
Typical project types we support include:
- Solar farms (ground‑mount and large rooftop)
Utility‑scale and large commercial solar PV installations, covering site preparation, piling or foundations, mounting structures, DC/AC cabling, inverters, transformers, switchgear, grid‑connection works and ancillary buildings. We understand how site topography, access, geotechnical conditions and network connection requirements can shift your CAPEX and we reflect these drivers explicitly in our estimates. - Onshore wind farms
Full balance‑of‑plant works for wind projects, including turbine foundations, crane pads, internal access roads, trenching and cabling, substations and transmission interfaces. Our estimates consider logistics, crane mobilisation, sequence constraints and local conditions that often drive major cost differences between wind sites. - Stand‑alone and co‑located Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Grid‑scale battery systems delivered as stand‑alone assets or co‑located with solar or wind, covering containers, racks, inverters, transformers, civil works, buildings, fire systems, controls and integration with existing plant. We distinguish clearly between core equipment costs and the often‑underestimated balance‑of‑plant and grid‑connection items that can materially change BESS project economics. - Hybrid and microgrid systems (solar + storage + diesel, etc.)
Remote and embedded networks that combine solar, battery storage, diesel or gas generation and control systems to deliver reliable, least‑cost energy for communities, mines and industrial sites. Our team is experienced in quantifying the additional complexity of hybrid and microgrid projects – from islanding capabilities and redundancy through to staged roll‑outs and re‑use of existing infrastructure.
Who our services are for
We support organisations responsible for developing, financing and delivering complex renewable energy projects, where decisions depend on robust numbers rather than rough estimates. From early feasibility through to financial close and construction, we act as a specialist estimating partner to the teams carrying project risk on their balance sheets.
Renewable energy developers
Developers rely on realistic, bankable CAPEX and OPEX figures to decide which projects to advance, how to structure PPAs and when to approach lenders or equity partners. We help development teams build feasibility‑level budgets, refine cost assumptions for financial models and prepare cost documentation that stands up to scrutiny from investment committees and due‑diligence advisers. Our estimates give you clear visibility of cost drivers, sensitivities and contingencies so you can negotiate confidently with EPCs, offtakers and financiers.
EPC contractors & builders
EPC contractors carry the obligation to deliver projects on time, on budget and to performance requirements, often under fixed‑price or lump‑sum contracts. We support EPC and construction teams with detailed BOQs, labour and material breakdowns, construction allowances and risk‑aware pricing that helps you submit competitive bids without eroding margin. By aligning scope, quantities and assumptions with your engineering and procurement strategy, we reduce the likelihood of surprises, change orders and disputes once the project moves on site.
Investors, funds and lenders
Equity investors, infrastructure funds and lenders depend on independent cost views to test project bankability, IRRs and downside cases before approving capital. We provide third‑party cost reviews, sensitivities and risk assessments that feed directly into financial models, credit papers and investment committee packs. Our work helps financiers understand how CAPEX, grid‑connection costs and construction risk translate into metrics such as DSCR, LCOE and headroom under stress scenarios.
Utilities, network operators & government
Utilities, network businesses and government agencies plan and procure generation, storage and grid‑connection projects that must meet regulatory, budgetary and reliability obligations. For these clients we develop and review cost estimates that support business cases, regulatory submissions and long‑term planning, with clear documentation of scope, unit rates and uncertainty ranges. This level of transparency helps internal stakeholders, regulators and auditors see exactly how figures have been built up and how cost risks will be managed over the life of the project.
Our renewable energy estimating services
We provide end‑to‑end estimating support across the full lifecycle of renewable energy projects, from early desktop studies through to detailed design, tendering and delivery. Our services are designed to give project owners, EPCs and financiers clear CAPEX and OPEX visibility, aligned with recognised estimate classes and best‑practice cost‑estimating guidance.
Cost planning & feasibility
At the earliest stages, we help you understand whether a project is worth pursuing and under what conditions it becomes viable. We develop concept and feasibility‑level CAPEX and OPEX ranges, broken down by major cost categories such as generation plant, balance of plant, grid connection and development costs.
Our cost plans are structured so they can be dropped directly into financial models, including inputs for LCOE, LCOS and cash‑flow projections over the asset life. We test scenarios such as different technologies, sizing, staging, delivery strategies and grid‑connection configurations so you can compare options on a like‑for‑like basis before committing significant development spend.
Detailed cost estimating & quantity take‑off
When your project moves into design and tendering, we produce detailed, first‑principles cost estimates to support robust pricing and budget control. Using drawings, specifications and site information, we complete comprehensive quantity take‑offs and build up rates for labour, materials, equipment and subcontracted work rather than relying solely on generic unit‑rate databases.
Our estimates include Bills of Quantities (BOQs), preliminaries, indirect costs, overheads and contingencies for projects ranging from 100 kW commercial systems to 100 MW+ utility‑scale assets. This level of detail allows you to see exactly how each component of the project has been priced and how site‑specific factors such as access, geotechnical conditions and schedule constraints have been reflected in the numbers.
Procurement & tender support
Strong estimates are only part of a successful procurement process; clear documentation and alignment between scope, pricing and contract terms are equally important. We help project owners and EPCs shape tender strategies, prepare RFQ/RFP documentation and compile tender packages that clearly describe the technical scope, interfaces and commercial requirements.
During the tender phase, we support bid evaluation by normalising prices, testing assumptions and identifying exclusions or mismatches in scope that could lead to later variations. This ensures that short‑listed bids are genuinely comparable and that preferred contractors understand the cost, risk and performance expectations embedded in the contract.
Contract & cost management
Once contracts are awarded, disciplined cost management is critical to avoiding overruns and disputes. We assist with setting up realistic control budgets based on the agreed estimate, tracking actuals against budget and updating forecasts as design changes, variations and market movements occur.
Our support can include variation and claim assessment, independent review of contractor change orders, periodic cost reporting and advice on risk and contingency utilisation. This gives project sponsors and financiers early visibility of emerging cost pressures and a clear evidence trail for commercial negotiations or contract administration.
Independent estimate reviews
For organisations that already have internal estimates or contractor pricing, we provide an independent second opinion focused on reasonableness, completeness and risk. We benchmark key cost elements against our database and public guidance, check that scope and quantities are consistent with design information and highlight areas where allowances, contingencies or unit rates appear optimistic or out of line with market conditions.
These reviews are particularly valuable for boards, investors and lenders who must rely on third‑party numbers but still need confidence that the underlying assumptions are realistic and defensible.
Technologies we work with
We understand the technical and commercial nuances of different renewable technologies and their balance‑of‑plant requirements, so our estimates reflect the reality of what it takes to build and connect them to the grid. Across solar, wind, storage and hybrid microgrids, we break costs down into the civil, structural, electrical and grid‑connection elements that drive project outcomes and financing decisions.
Utility‑scale solar PV
Ground‑mounted and large‑scale rooftop PV systems for commercial, industrial and utility clients, covering the full scope from site preparation to interconnection. Our estimates include earthworks, piling or foundations, mounting structures, modules, inverters, DC and AC cabling, transformers, switchgear, SCADA and all grid‑connection costs at the point of interconnection. We also factor in soft costs such as access, temporary works and network upgrade contributions, which can materially affect the all‑in cost of utility‑scale solar projects.
Onshore wind
Onshore wind farms including turbine balance‑of‑plant, civil works and electrical infrastructure. We cover foundations, crane pads and hardstandings, access roads, drainage, trenching and internal cable networks, as well as substations and transmission interfaces needed to connect to the wider grid. Our approach recognises how site layout, terrain, haul routes and interconnection distance can significantly influence cost per megawatt for wind projects.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Stand‑alone and co‑located BESS installations, ranging from grid‑support assets to hybrid solar‑plus‑storage solutions. We estimate containerised and building‑based systems including battery racks, inverters, transformers, switchgear, HVAC, fire systems, foundations, cable connections and site civil works. Our estimates separate core equipment from balance‑of‑plant and integration costs, giving you clear visibility of what drives total installed cost and how different configurations compare.
Hybrid & microgrids
Integrated solar, wind, storage and conventional generation solutions for remote communities, industrial sites and private networks. We account for generation mix, control systems, islanding capability, backup generators, distribution networks and load‑specific requirements to build realistic cost models for hybrid and microgrid projects. These projects often involve staged deployment and reuse of existing assets, which we reflect explicitly so you can see the cost impact of different technical and phasing strategies.
How we deliver your estimate
Our process is designed to be transparent, collaborative and repeatable, so you can see exactly how each estimate has been built up and have confidence in the results. At every stage we document the information used, the assumptions made and the risks considered, forming a clear Basis of Estimate that can be shared with internal teams, lenders and project partners.
Discovery & document review
We start by building a clear understanding of your project scope, constraints and objectives. This typically involves reviewing your drawings, site layouts, single‑line diagrams (SLDs), specifications, geotechnical and survey data, energy yield studies (such as PVSyst or wind resource assessments) and any existing estimates or tender information.
At this stage we clarify roles, interfaces and delivery strategy, confirm which items are in or out of scope and agree the required level of detail and accuracy for the estimate. The outcome is a shared understanding of “what is being priced” and the information that will form the foundation of the estimate.
Quantity take‑off & pricing
Once the scope and basis are agreed, we prepare detailed quantity take‑offs for all relevant civil, structural, electrical and balance‑of‑plant elements. Using design information and site data, we measure and schedule the work items that will later appear in the Bill of Quantities and cost breakdowns.
We then apply current market rates, supplier and subcontractor quotes, historical project data and benchmark information to build up unit rates and composite prices. This first‑principles approach ensures that the estimate reflects both project‑specific conditions and up‑to‑date market pricing, rather than generic allowances.
Review, value engineering & risk
With the base estimate prepared, we work with you to test alternative options and understand the cost implications of different technical and delivery choices. This can include comparing technologies or equipment, optimising layouts, adjusting staging or phasing, and exploring different contracting and procurement strategies.
In parallel, we identify key cost drivers and document risks, uncertainties and opportunities, translating them into contingencies and risk allowances rather than a single, opaque percentage. The result is an estimate that not only provides a most‑likely cost but also explains how and why costs could move under different conditions.
Final estimate & reporting
We then compile a structured estimate package tailored to your audience and decision point. This typically includes a detailed cost breakdown, Bill of Quantities (where appropriate), summary by major work category, allowances and contingencies, and a written Basis of Estimate explaining data sources, assumptions, inclusions and exclusions.
You receive outputs that can be used directly in internal approvals, board or investment papers, lender due diligence and EPC or subcontractor negotiations, without needing to re‑work the numbers or rebuild the logic behind them.
Ongoing support
Projects evolve, and so do their costs. We remain available after the initial estimate to support you through tenders, negotiations, design changes and contract administration. This can include updating estimates as designs are refined, reviewing contractor change proposals, incorporating new market data or re‑running scenarios as project assumptions shift.
By keeping the estimate live and connected to your decision‑making process, we help you manage cost risk proactively rather than reacting after budgets have already been exceeded.
Outcomes & benefits
- Cost certainty for complex projects
We help reduce the risk of cost overruns and budget shocks by grounding your budgets in detailed, transparent estimates rather than optimistic allowances, which is critical as large energy and transition projects routinely run 15–20% over budget. - Stronger bids and proposals
Our estimates support bids and investment proposals that are competitive without being under‑priced, helping you protect margins while still winning work and securing approvals. - Greater confidence for investors, boards and lenders
Independent, well‑documented cost estimates give decision‑makers confidence that project economics, IRRs and risk assessments are based on realistic assumptions rather than untested numbers. - Faster, better decisions on project options
By structuring costs so that different technologies, sizes and configurations can be compared side‑by‑side, we enable quicker, more robust choices between project scenarios. - Reduced disputes and variations
Clear scope definition, inclusions, exclusions and a formal Basis of Estimate reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings, claims and contractual disputes as projects move into delivery.
Ready to discuss your renewable energy project?
Share your drawings, layouts and key project details and we will let you know the most effective way we can support your project – whether that is an early‑stage budget, a detailed tender estimate or an independent review of existing numbers. Our team will review your information, clarify any questions and come back to you with a clear proposal outlining scope, timelines and fees for the estimating support you need.
Need an Estimating Partner or short-term assistance with your project?
We create solutions, not problems!