Commercial Solar Electric

Commercial Solar Power (PV)

With the Oregon solar feed in tariff, Energy Trust incentives, Federal cash grant, and Oregon state tax credit (may be available as a pass through), there has never been a better time to invest in a solar electric system in Oregon. In most cases the net system cost of a commercial solar electric system after incentives is $0.00.

Why Solar Electric for Your Business?

• With solar electric you will lock in your electric rates for 25-40 years. Utility company rates have been steadily increasing by about 6% a year for the past 30 years.
• Solar is a smart financial investment. With a return on investment rate over 17%, solar is far better and far safer than the stock market, long-term CDs, money market, and bond market investments
• According to the National Appraisal Institute, a solar system can Increase the value of your business by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills, while your property taxes remain unchanged.
• Make a positive impact on the environment and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

Photovoltaic Solar Electric Power

Photovoltaics (PV) system convert sunlight directly into energy and are quiet, safe, and reliable. PV systems are usually mounted on the roof of and are covered by weather resistant glass to protect against wind and hail damage. Buildings with PV systems remain connected to a utility grid or to another alternative energy source for times when the facility requires more energy than the system can produce (i.e. at night). Most PV systems come with up to a 25 year manufacturers warranty and will last more than forty years with proper care. Each system varies in size and can be made according to the specifications of the customer. The user can monitor the energy produced by these systems by a graphical interface either online or inside the building. PV systems typically range in cost from $15,000 to 60,000 installed. These costs vary depending on the type of system, how and where the system is mounted, the amount of utility power that needs to be offset, and other variables. Solar systems cut the average electric bill between 20% and 100%. When the system produces an excess of power it is possible to sell this power back to the utility company for the same rate that company charges. This is called net metering and is available in most states. The average payback period for a PV system is 15 years.

How Solar Works

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert sunlight into DC (direct current) power. The DC current from the solar panels goes through an inverter, where it is converted into AC (alternating current) power. AC power travels from the inverter to the electrical panel to power your building. With your business connected to the utility grid, all electricity flows automatically. When your system is producing more energy than you are using, it is fed back into the grid. The energy that you feed back to the grid is then credited to your utility account at a rate or 1 to1.