Pricing & Project Scope

Solar Design Pricing

Every solar project is a little different. Pricing is based on the actual scope of work rather than forcing every residential, battery, off-grid, or commercial project into the same flat-rate box.

Upfront pricing: project scope is reviewed and the design fee is confirmed before work begins. Major changes after delivery are billed separately at the published hourly rate below.
RESIDENTIAL

Standard Residential PV

Permit-plan packages for straightforward roof-mount and ground-mount residential systems.

  • Site plan and array layout
  • Electrical single-line / three-line as required
  • Equipment and conductor schedules
  • Code notes and supporting documentation
STORAGE & BACKUP

PV + Battery / ESS

Systems involving energy storage, backup loads, PCS, hybrid inverters, generators, or more complex electrical architecture.

  • AC- or DC-coupled storage
  • Whole-home / partial-home backup
  • PCS and service coordination
  • Generator integration where applicable
SPECIALTY RESIDENTIAL

Off-Grid & Complex Systems

Stand-alone systems and projects that require more involved power-system design or unusual equipment combinations.

  • Battery-bank architecture
  • Hybrid inverter systems
  • Generator and load integration
  • Non-standard electrical configurations
CUSTOM SCOPE

Commercial PV

Commercial and larger electrical projects are priced according to system size, voltage, interconnection, and drawing complexity.

  • 480V systems
  • String inverters and combiners
  • Carports and large ground mounts
  • Feeder, voltage-drop and interconnection design
DESIGN RATE

$180 / Hour

All Gemini Solar Design work is billed at $180 per hour. Final cost is based on the design time required for the agreed project.

  • Applies across residential, ESS, off-grid, and commercial work
  • Project requirements are reviewed before design begins
  • Major added work or redesign is billed at the same hourly rate
PE

Electrical & Structural PE Stamps Available in All 50 States

When stamped engineering is required, Gemini Solar Design can secure and coordinate licensed PE review, calculations, electrical stamps, and structural stamps nationwide. Engineering and stamp fees are quoted separately based on project requirements.

Interconnection & Additional Services

Full permit sets are only part of the work. Gemini Solar Design can also handle utility, AHJ, and project-specific documentation when you need targeted design support instead of a complete new plan set.

Utility Interconnection Documents

Interconnection drawings, electrical details, equipment information, and supporting documentation required for utility review.

AHJ & Utility Revisions

Corrections and design updates in response to plan-review comments, utility requirements, or project-specific permitting issues.

Electrical Design Support

Single-lines, three-lines, conductor sizing, overcurrent protection, voltage-drop work, equipment schedules, and other electrical design tasks.

Miscellaneous Project Support

Equipment changes, drawing updates, technical details, calculations, specification packages, and other solar-design work that falls outside a standard permit package.

Need something that does not fit neatly into a standard package? Send the project details. Additional and standalone design services are generally billed at the published $180/hour design rate.

What Determines the Quote?

The biggest pricing variable is not simply system wattage. It is the amount of design coordination required to produce an accurate, permit-ready package.

System Complexity PV only versus batteries, generators, backup loads, service upgrades, PCS, multiple inverters, or unusual configurations.
Project Scale Array size, number of structures, number of services, commercial distribution, and the number of drawing sheets required.
AHJ / Utility Requirements Local permitting requirements, utility interconnection standards, special calculations, and project-specific documentation.
Information Provided Complete site, equipment, service, and layout information reduces back-and-forth and helps the project move faster.

What a Design Quote Covers

The goal is a complete technical drawing package — not a teaser price that grows through a pile of routine drafting add-ons.

Typical Design Scope

✓Project-specific site plan and equipment layout
✓Electrical diagrams and interconnection details
✓Conductor, overcurrent protection, and equipment schedules as applicable
✓Code notes, placards, calculations, and supporting equipment documentation as required by scope
✓AHJ permitting revisions related to the original approved design scope

Items That May Be Quoted Separately

+Electrical or structural PE engineering / stamps — available through Gemini in all 50 states and quoted separately
+Major equipment or system redesign after the original design is completed
+Field verification, site visits, or services outside normal remote design scope
+Unusual utility studies, extensive calculations, or specialty commercial requirements
+Additional work created by a substantial change in project scope

Complete Information = Faster Turnaround

A complete intake lets the design work begin immediately instead of spending the first part of the project chasing missing service, equipment, layout, or site information.

Residential Projects When a complete and detailed residential intake is received, many straightforward residential designs can be completed in 24 hours or less, subject to project scope and current workload.
Complex / Commercial Projects Turnaround is quoted with the project because larger systems, storage, generators, commercial distribution, and specialty requirements vary substantially.

Clear Scope Before Work Begins

Quote First

The project scope and available information are reviewed before design begins so you know what work is being quoted.

Scope Changes

If the project changes substantially after design begins, the added work can be identified and quoted rather than hidden inside vague pricing.

Nationwide PE Coordination

Electrical and structural PE stamps can be secured in all 50 states. Required engineering, calculations, and stamp fees are identified and quoted before proceeding.

Get a Project-Specific Quote

Send the basics if you want to discuss the project first, or use the full Design Request Form if you already have the site, service, equipment, and system information ready.

START A PROJECT FULL DESIGN REQUEST FORM VIEW SAMPLE PLAN SETS