Total the cost of running a diesel generator including fuel, servicing and capital.
Diesel generation typically costs 25 to 50 cents per kWh once fuel, servicing and capital are included — far above grid or solar. That gap is what makes hybrid solar-diesel systems attractive at remote sites. Low annual run hours make the capital component dominate, which is why standby sets have a very high cost per kWh despite modest fuel use.
Diesel Generator Cost
Total cost = fuel + servicing + annualised capital; divide by kWh generated for unit cost
Total cost = fuel + servicing + annualised capital; divide by kWh generated for unit cost Diesel generation typically costs 25 to 50 cents per kWh once fuel, servicing and capital are included — far above grid or solar. That gap is what makes hybrid solar-diesel systems attractive at remote sites.
Low annual run hours make the capital component dominate, which is why standby sets have a very high cost per kWh despite modest fuel use.
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Generator output, Run hours per year, Average loading, Fuel price per litre, Servicing cost per running hour, Capital cost. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.