Solar + Storage

Solar + Battery

Solar + battery for business

Explore resources to determine if solar and battery storage are the right fit for your business—helping you manage energy costs, improve resilience, and maximize benefits based on your unique needs.

Overview

Explore the potential of solar and battery storage

Is solar and storage the right investment for your business?

Installing solar and battery storage can be a smart strategy to manage energy costs and improve resilience against power outages. However, the economic benefits depend on factors specific to your business, including your energy usage patterns, rate schedule, and site characteristics.

Before making the decision to invest, it’s important to evaluate whether your site and energy load profile make solar and battery storage a good fit. If the cost-benefit aligns, the potential advantages include lower operating costs, increased reliability, and contributions to a cleaner energy future – something you can proudly share with your employees and customers.

Key Considerations:

Solar offsets energy usage: Sizing a solar array depends on your historical annual and hourly energy charges. Is your energy use consistent with the potential for significant offset through solar?
Battery storage shifts usage: Sizing a battery system depends on how much energy you use during the day versus during the evening. Could a battery help you avoid high “peak” energy charges by shifting your usage to off-peak times?
Economic value: Does your energy rate structure, the cost of installation (or financing), and available incentives at federal, state, or local levels make solar + storage a financially viable option for your business?
Site readiness: Is there adequate space for solar panels, and does your roof (or mounting area) meet structural and orientation requirements for optimal solar production?

Making the Right Decision:

While solar and storage require an upfront investment, they can deliver significant savings and stability over the lifespan of the system. By generating and storing your own clean energy, you enhance your reputation as a sustainability leader and contribute to grid resilience. As your not-for-profit clean electricity provider, we’re here to guide you through the decision-making process with resources like rebates, energy credits, and trusted contractor recommendations.

Business Benefits of Solar + Battery

Why solar + battery?

Explore the economic benefits for your business

Going solar and adding battery storage can provide substantial economic advantages for your business—if your energy usage patterns, rate schedule, and site characteristics align with the system’s potential benefits. While the upfront investment can be significant, the long-term savings and value can make solar and storage a smart financial decision when the conditions are right.

Better rates

Harnessing the sun’s energy can help reduce monthly operating costs. While solar power is essentially free once installed, the financial savings depend on how your business uses energy. Adding batteries to your system can further enhance savings by storing electricity during off-peak times (when rates are lower) and using it during peak hours (when rates are higher), helping you avoid the most expensive energy charges.

Tax incentives

The U.S. government offers valuable tax incentives to help offset the upfront costs of installing solar and battery storage:

Investment Tax Credit (ITC): A 30% tax credit applied to the total cost of solar system installation.
MACRS Depreciation: Allows a 5-year depreciation schedule for solar installations, helping to accelerate tax benefits.

Reliable operations during outages

While battery storage may not power your entire business during a blackout, it can ensure critical systems and operations continue running. If your site is a good fit, a battery can store energy for use during grid outages, helping to maintain business continuity during emergencies or rolling blackouts.

EV charging advantages

As electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows, offering EV charging at your business location can be a valuable service. With demand for EV charging expected to increase significantly over the next decade, your solar and battery system can support this growing demand, improving your system's return on investment and shortening your break-even period. Ultimately, the economic benefits of solar and battery storage depend on your unique business situation. If your site and energy needs are well-suited, the financial benefits—such as savings on energy costs, tax incentives, and enhanced resilience—can make solar + battery a smart investment.

Solar + Battery FAQs

Your solar + battery questions, answered

No. We don’t install or maintain solar panels or battery storage, but we will connect you with local professionals who do. Plus, we offer free technical support to help you ensure installation is done correctly.

Please check out our available programs to find which that suit your needs.

Note: Programs and incentives change throughout the year, so we also suggest subscribing to our newsletter to make sure you get the latest rebate and other energy information.

It depends on the structure. You may need an architect and, at times, a structural engineer to perform a thorough assessment during the design process to confirm whether additional support is required.

Professional installers can install solar panels on practically any building in California. We can help to make sure the solar panels you choose are well-suited for commercial, industrial, retail, and agricultural structures.

We can confidently say that you will save money if you invest in solar. The amount you save will depend on many factors, including the size of your building and the amount of sun it gets. Contact our team today, and we’ll help you estimate your savings.

Yes. Dirty solar panels can reduce energy production by up to 35%. Schedule annual care with our team to maximize the return on your investment.

We recommend scheduling preventative care for your solar panels at least once a year.

With routine, professional maintenance and prompt repair when necessary, your commercial solar panels will last 25 to 30 years.

There are several types of batteries commonly used in commercial solar power systems, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most popular options include lithium-ion, lead-acid, and flow batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are known for their long lifespan, high energy density, and low maintenance requirements. Lead-acid batteries are more affordable, but they have a shorter lifespan and require regular maintenance. Flow batteries involve a newer technology that offers high storage capacity and deep discharge capabilities.

The lifespan of your batteries will depend on factors such as the type of batteries you choose, how frequently you use them, and how well they are maintained. Lithium-ion batteries typically have a lifespan of 10-15 years, while lead-acid batteries may last for 5-7 years. Flow batteries involve technology that is still relatively new, but they are expected to have a lifespan of 20 years or more.

Solar + Battery Support

Need help?

There’s a lot to consider with going solar and installing batteries for your business. If you have additional questions or concerns, we’re here to help.

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