Is offsite solar better than onsite solar?

Regardless of the exact method, participating in offsite solar can have upsides similar to onsite. While both offsite and onsite options offer project structuring with no upfront installation costs and provide renewable energy at a fixed cost, the two system types ultimately can offer their own distinct benefits.

When is a solar system considered an onsite system?

When a solar system is installed directly on the purchaser’s property, and the renewable energy that it produces is consumed there, it’s considered an onsite system.

Should you add a storage option to your onsite solar system?

Adding a storage option to your onsite solar system can also help protect against demand charges, provide a flexible tool when utility rate structures change, and in certain cases, protect against blackouts and brownouts, allowing your company to become even more independent from the power grid.

How do I install solar energy onsite?

There are a couple ways to go about installing solar energy onsite: one is financing the installation yourself and another is entering into an onsite power purchase agreement (PPA) with a developer.

How do offsite solar systems work?

Offsite solar systems can be managed through an offsite or “virtual” PPA (structured much like an onsite PPA), where the developer owns and operates the system and sells the energy to the purchaser at a fixed rate, often lower than the standard utility rate.

Are solar panels affordable?

Since 2008, hundreds of thousands of solar panels have been installed across the country as more and more Americans choose solar energy for their daily lives. Investments from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) have made solar energy more affordable for American consumers.