Denver Solar and Wind - PV Power Installers

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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Commercial Solar

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Go Green With Zero Investment

Denver Solar and Wind is proud to offer the chance for your business to go green with photovoltaic solar energy without a financial investment. A power purchase arrangement, or PPA, allows an investment group to own, install, operate, and maintain solar hardware and lease the green energy to the government facility at a rate that is lower than that of traditional utility power. This program shows immediate cost savings and energy produced is typically set at a fixed price hedging against future rate increases. The realized savings can be tremendous and there is even a prorated agreement for future purchase of the hardware allowing the facility to own the hardware for pennies on the dollar.

Thanks to advancements in solar hardware mounting structures a configuration is possible for almost any location. It is even now possible for the hardware to be mounted in a way that does not penetrate the roof of a building. This adds peace of mind knowing that there is no way for a system to add to maintenance costs due to roof leaks. Very attractive mounting structures are also available adding to the marketability of a structure, helping to advertise the green energy your facility is producing.

A successful arrangement relies on sound system design, electrical and structural engineering, and professional installation. Denver Solar and Wind is fully capable of helping your business reap the rewards of saving money while saving the planet. We work in tandem with hardware manufacturers, suppliers, investment groups, and legal departments to make going green a simple process without worry.

Commercial PV Solar

Does my building qualify?

The answer to that question can get complicated so it's best to schedule a meeting with one of our system design consultants. The most important considerations revolve around your buildings southern sun exposure, and the age of the building itself. An investment group must have maximum output from the solar panels, so a large amount of available solar radiation is must. The term of a PPA is generally from 15 to 25 years, so the building must be expected to remain structurally sound for the duration of the contract.

Should I wait for technology advancements or price drops?

Absolutely not. Investment groups that are interested in PPA's are interested in utility rebates and incentives. Currently Xcel Energy is offering a program that has brought these programs to the Denver area, but once that program is exhausted the investment groups will begin operation in other areas, or even states. It is estimated that the Xcel Energy rebate program will not last to 2012, this is very much a first come first serve offer, and once it's gone there is very little chance that it will return in the foreseeable future.

Electricity Rates are Rising

One of the major impacts of a commercial PV solar array is the declining Electricity cost projections comparing a solar purchase, solar lease, and without a solar array over 20 years. cost of your energy bill once you install the system. The chart to the right shows the costs comparing a solar PV purchase, solar lease, and the cost of not installing a solar array over twenty years. The costs are based on an energy bill that averages 15,000kWh per month and would require a solar system around 120kW in size.

Utility rebates, along with state and federal tax credits, are helping to make commercial PV solar arrays affordable for everyone. If you are an Xcel customer, Xcel Energy is currently offering a performance-based incentive over twenty years as a rebate for commercial applications, with no restrictions on how big the size of the array can be.

In addition to these rebates and incentives, every business can take advantage of a five year depreciation on the cost of the solar array. This is due to the federal Modified Acceleration Cost-Recovery System, or MARCS. At the same time that your business will be receiving cash flows from the solar array for the next 20 to 25 years, you will also have a lower tax liability over the first five years of the system because the initial investment of the solar array will be taken out of the gross income.

If your business doesn’t have the ability to purchase the solar system outright, Denver Solar and Wind also offers a terrific solar lease program. Even though you will not be able to take advantage of the tax credits and rebates, you will be able to lock in a rate of energy for the lifetime of the system that is lower than what you currently pay to your utility.

Whether you decide to purchase or lease a solar array system, your Colorado Electricity Rate Inflation Trend business will benefit from cheaper energy costs and having the marketability of being a green company. Your building will reduce operating expenses with a solar system and without any moving parts, will not require much maintenance over the lifetime of the system.

If your business really wants to zero that energy bill, one of the biggest consumer of energy are the lights in your buildings. If you have many lights that are on at least 12 hours a day, it might be wise to consider a package deal of a solar array system along with a purchase or lease of LED lights. LEDs will cut your lighting costs by up to 90% and coupled with a solar array, can be the easiest way to zero your energy bill.

If you think you are ready to make a green investment and do something about your electricity bills, contact us for a free solar site evaluation!

101.43kW PV Solar Array

Picture of our 101.43 kW system in Wheat Ridge, CO

The above photo is an overhead shot of our 101.43 kW solar array system in Wheat Ridge, CO. That's 441 solar panels! It was installed on a multi-owner commercial building and is the largest micro-inverter system to date in the country! The photo also includes the 3D-rendering drawing performed by our system design specialists prior to installation. Below is a 3D animation of the system.

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