COMMUNITY SOLAR FOR BUSINESS

It’s no secret that you’ll save money on your electric bill by replacing your electricity source with solar energy. But until recently, this was only available if you had a roof suitable for solar panels. But things have changed.

Community solar enables ANY business to take advantage of solar power, even businesses who lease their premises or don’t have suitable buildings for rooftop solar energy systems. You CAN enjoy the freedom of going solar with nothing installed on your roof or property, with no hassle or maintenance – just immediate savings from green power.

Community solar is a large solar array which benefits multiple customers in a geographic area. This allows customers who may not have enough space, or whose property may not be suited for solar, to take advantage of saving money with renewable energy.

With community solar, there are no installation issues and no maintenance responsibilities. Your business receives solar energy from a remotely located commercial grade system that is optimally designed to be up to 30% more efficient than traditional residential rooftop systems. Your business receives clean power for decades.

COMMUNITY SHARED SOLAR INSTALLATION

How it works

The process is simple. First, choose how much solar energy you want for your business. You can offset a part of your energy bill, or all of it. Then, each month you pay your community solar rate for the amount of your subscription. This rate applies only to those using this particular community solar project. Usually businesses receive a credit on their utility bill for electricity generated by their share of the community solar system.  If you use more electricity than your share of community solar, you’ll pay your normal electric rate for the excess. Contract terms and savings vary by state, utility, and project, but there is no large financial outlay needed to take advantage of solar energy, and your company is not responsible for maintenance.

Another potential benefit of these solar farms is to the landowner. Underutilized land, even brownfields, can be leased to a developer for use as a solar energy farm. This land could become an asset to the landowner, providing reliable and consistent income while also bringing clean energy to a business or a community.

Genie has put together creative and beneficial solutions when working with multiple businesses. For example, one company may have a large roof and low power needs, while another business may require more power but be in a location unsuited for solar panels. Together, they can each benefit from the financial advantages of solar power.

A company can address community solar in any of three ways:

  • Build, where a business with suitable property for a solar array can take advantage of the location and create a solar array that can sell the additional output to others, or
  • Lease their land to a solar developer who will pay rent and build a larger farm to own and operate, or
  • Subscribe, where a business buys or leases a portion of a large array and benefits from the energy created by that portion.

Customers in programs Genie Solar Energy is working with typically save around 10-25% off their energy

Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE, GNEPRA) is a global energy solutions company. We supply customers in the US and Europe with electricity, including electricity generated from renewable resources and with natural gas. Through Genie Solar Energy and Prism Solar, we design, construct and install commercial solar energy solutions. We provide commercial and industrial clients with energy brokerage and consultative services through our Diversegy brand.

Case Studies

  • Commercial Solar Case Study Property Management Company
    Wiley Property Management Case Study

    The installation of the solar array on the roof of storage facility is leveraging a limited regulation called “Group Hosting”. Group hosting is a method where a group of businesses or individuals share the installation and use of a larger solar array on a single property.

  • Bake Crafters Commercial Solar Case Study
    Bake Crafters Food Company

    Bake Crafters’ commercial solar array is a remarkable example of sustainability in action. With an output capacity of 800 kW and predictions of offsetting 770 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

  • Integra Commercial Solar Case Study
    Integra Biosciences

    Integra Biosciences’ Commercial Solar project achieves 22% IRR and aligns with the company’s global sustainability goals and commitments. The two installations total 572-kW and generate enough power to offset 844,000 kWh.

  • Commercial Solar Case Study - Kraft Power
    Commercial Solar Case Study – Kraft Power Power

    Kraft Power utilized American made solar panels to install a 57.5 kW system on their roof. The new rooftop solar system, will help Kraft Power offset 100% of the electricity usage every year.

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Testimonials

Convinced to go solar by the New Jersey incentives, PCS Wireless looked at several solar companies to provide the best overall value. Genie Solar was able to design a unique system to offset the largest portion of their electricity usage. Additionally, we combine it with an exclusive financial product which minimized the cash out of pocket and maximized the return on investment. The 494 kW system was constructed in minimal time, with no impact on the businesses operations.
PCS Wireless
A provider of engine-generator systems, Kraft Power was a pioneer of “Total Energy” (Combined Heat and Power). After seeing the financial and green benefits of solar at their headquarters in Massachusetts, Kraft wanted to capitalize on the lucrative state incentives in New Jersey at a distribution center. By installing a 57.5 kW system on the roof they were able to offset 100% of their electricity usage, take advantage of the Investment Tax Credit, accelerated depreciation, and collect revenue from the New Jersey SREC program. Genie Solar made it a smooth process and limited the need for internal resources to manage the project.
Kraft Power
A premier provider of water treatment in the New York and New Jersey area, Tower wanted to go solar to save money and generate clean energy. Upon reviewing the financial benefits available in New Jersey with the SREC program and the federal Investment Tax Credit, they wanted to safe harbor the project in 2019 and construct in 2020. Buying American Made panels was an important component of the project, and by utilizing their white roof, Genie Solar was able to leverage Prism Solar’s bifacial panels to minimize the square footage needed and maximize the electricity generated. Genie Solar helped them achieve all of their goals in an efficient manner with a 44.6 kW system.
Tower Water
Cardoza had both a showroom and a distribution center with exorbitant electricity costs in New Hampshire. As a legacy business, it was important to reduce costs and protect the business from increasing expenses prior to passing it on to the owner’s children. The show room’s roof and location made it a less than ideal location for solar; but the vast roof and direct sunlight on the distribution center could generate enough solar to power both facilities, plus the owner’s house. Leveraging New Hampshire’s group host program, Genie Solar built one 99.7 kW solar array to power all three locations. The owner is now considering converting more equipment to solar and building a second array.
Cardoza Flooring
A destination nursery in rural New Hampshire, HBTSR was a long standing customer of Genie Solar’s sister company, Diversegy. After helping the business reduce electricity expenses for the past number of years, HBTSR turned to Genie Solar to reduce their rising electricity expenses over the long run. “Between the federal and NH state incentives, I was paid $8,000 to install my solar array. On top of getting money back, I am going to realize over $300,000 in savings during the 25 year warranty period of the solar array.”
House By The Side of the Road