Generic Solar System (GSS) costs
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.. include:: ../includes/snip_csp_installation_notes.rst

Direct Capital costs
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A direct capital cost represents an expense for a specific piece of equipment or installation service that applies in year zero of the cash flow.

.. note:: Because SAM uses only the total installed cost value in cash flow calculations, how you distribute costs among the different direct capital cost categories does not affect the final results.

**Site Improvements, $/m****\ :sup:`2`\**
  A cost per square meter of solar field area to account for expenses related to site preparation and other equipment not included in the solar field cost category.

**Solar Field, $/m****\ :sup:`2`\**
  A cost per square meter of solar field area to account for expenses related to installation of the solar field, including labor and equipment.

**Storage, $/kWht**
  Cost per thermal megawatt-hour of storage capacity to account for expenses related to installation of the thermal storage system, including equipment and labor.

**Fossil Backup, $/kWe**
  Cost per electric megawatt of power block gross capacity to account for the installation of a fossil backup system, including equipment and labor.

**Power Plant, $/kWe**
  Cost per electric megawatt of power block gross capacity to account for the installation of the power block, including equipment and labor.

**Balance of Plant, $/kWe**
  Cost per electric megawatt of power block gross capacity to account for additional costs.

**Contingency, %**
  A percentage of the sum of the site improvements, solar field, HTF system, storage, fossil backup, and power plant costs to account for expected uncertainties in direct cost estimates.

**Total Direct Cost, $**
  The sum of improvements, solar field, HTF system, storage, fossil backup, power plant costs, and contingency costs.

.. include:: ../includes/snip_csp_indirect_om_costs.rst