Commercial Solar Assessment with SolarScope
Commercial solar assessments require analyzing larger, more complex sites than residential installations. SolarScope streamlines the pre-feasibility phase for commercial projects by providing fast, accurate solar resource analysis for warehouse rooftops, parking structures, commercial buildings, and ground-mount sites.
Installers, developers, and EPCs use SolarScope to screen potential commercial sites rapidly, identify the best candidates for detailed engineering, and prepare compelling proposals for building owners and investors.
Commercial Project Types
SolarScope handles all commercial solar assessment scenarios:
Rooftop Commercial: Warehouses, retail, office buildings, schools, hospitals. Typical system sizes: 50–500 kW. Key constraints: roof age and condition, structural capacity, mechanical equipment setbacks, fire access requirements.
Carport / Parking Structure Solar: Covered parking areas with elevated mounting structures. Typical sizes: 100–1,000 kW. Provides dual value: solar generation and shade for vehicles.
Ground-Mount Commercial: Open land adjacent to facilities. Sizes range from 100 kW to several megawatts. Analysis must account for terrain shading and optimal array spacing.
Multi-Site Screening
One of SolarScope's most valuable commercial use cases is rapid multi-site screening. If a company or REIT has 20 warehouse locations, SolarScope can analyze all 20 in an hour — creating a solar potential ranking across the entire portfolio.
For each site:
1. Create a new SolarScope project with the facility address
2. Set a representative system size based on roof area (estimate 10–15 W/ft² of roof area)
3. Note the annual production, GHI, and capacity factor
4. Export a summary for comparison
Sites with GHI > 5.0 kWh/m²/day, minimal shading constraints, and simple roof geometry should be prioritized for detailed site visits and engineering.
Load Profile Alignment
Commercial solar economics depend heavily on the alignment between solar production and facility electricity load. Use SolarScope's monthly production profile to evaluate:
- Peak offset: Does the facility have high daytime electricity use that can be offset by solar? Manufacturing and HVAC-heavy buildings benefit more from solar than nighttime operations.
- Demand charge reduction: Some utilities charge commercial customers for peak demand (kW). Solar can reduce peak demand charges, which often represent 30–50% of commercial utility bills.
- NEM vs. direct use: Net energy metering compensation rates for commercial export vary widely by utility. Higher self-consumption rates improve economics compared to exporting excess power.
Ask the SolarScope AI assistant to analyze load profile alignment for your specific facility type and utility.
Financial Analysis Considerations
Commercial solar finances differ from residential in several important ways:
- Depreciation: Commercial solar owners can claim MACRS 5-year accelerated depreciation (US), significantly improving after-tax returns
- ITC: Same 30% federal Investment Tax Credit applies through 2032
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPA): Developers often finance commercial projects through PPAs, where building owners buy power at a fixed rate with no upfront cost
- Interconnection: Commercial systems >100 kW typically require formal interconnection studies with the utility, which can take 6–18 months
SolarScope's AI assistant can provide detailed financial modeling guidance for commercial projects, including ITC, MACRS, and PPA economics.
Preparing the Commercial Proposal
Once you've completed initial SolarScope analysis for a promising site:
- Export the PDF report for the project
- Use the report's production estimates and GHI data as the foundation for your proposal
- Supplement with installer-specific pricing, O&M cost assumptions, and utility tariff analysis
- Use Site Studio to create a site map showing proposed array layout for the proposal visuals
SolarScope provides the data foundation; the proposal narrative and financial modeling complete the picture for commercial clients.