How to Pick a Renewable Energy Partner for Rooftop Development

Cutting Through the Confusion

Demand for solar energy is booming, and with it, opportunity. Commercial property owners are seeking bids or being approached by renewable energy firms.

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Taking the highest offered lease payment may not actually be the smartest option for your business. What should owners actually consider when picking a renewable energy partner?

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Fixed Prices vs. Integrated Systems For a long time, solar contracts have been fixed price paid on the energy produced, rather than the benefits it can bring to commercial facilities.

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Utilities are shifting the economics to the time and volume of power dispatched. This makes storage and controllable additional loads (like EV charging) increasingly valuable.

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Long-term renewable independent power producers can expand and optimize systems to share that upside with their real estate partners, enlarging the opportunity for everyone.

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Develop & Flip vs. Own & Operate Costs of solar equipment, labor, and components of capital are mostly the same, and the highest bidders often have the most low-cost debt.

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High bidders also usually transfer ownership to financial institutions after reaching commercial operation for the project. As a result, your highest bidder may be a short-term partner.

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A long-term independent power producer ensures commitment to the full duration of the lease. They are incentivized to quickly fix issues and explore additional opportunities.

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Is This High Bid Real? It’s not unusual for developers to cherry pick cost of capital to win a bid while planning on renegotiating a deal when all the permits are in hand.

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Unlike 5-10 year commercial leases, renewable energy assets will be on a property for for 20-35 years. It's in your best interest to understand a partner's intentions.

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Before selecting a partner, ask: Will the owners be able to provide roof warranties that can be enforced? Do they have a strong safety record? Do they have financial strength to enforce OEM warranties and the proper levels of insurance? All of these are investments that a good partner will make rather than cutting corners.

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Your best partners will strive to have consistency and transparency in the relationship, even when things change. They also will have secured capital and materials in advance to have certainty of execution.

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MAKE THE SWITCH TO SOLAR WITH CATALYZE →

Catalyze is committed to helping organizations achieve sustainability goals across your entire portfolio. We make it easy to understand which properties can generate immediate value from distributed energy to quickly generate ROI and savings.

How to Pick a Renewable Energy Partner for Rooftop Development

Demand for solar energy is booming, and with it, opportunity. Commercial property owners are seeking bids or being approached by renewable energy firms.

Next →

Taking the highest offered lease payment may not actually be the smartest option for your business. What should owners actually consider when picking a renewable energy partner?

Next →

Fixed Prices vs. Integrated Systems For a long time, solar contracts have been fixed price paid on the energy produced, rather than the benefits it can bring to commercial facilities.

Next →

Utilities are shifting the economics to the time and volume of power dispatched. This makes storage and controllable additional loads (like EV charging) increasingly valuable.

Next →

Long-term renewable independent power producers can expand and optimize systems to share that upside with their real estate partners, enlarging the opportunity for everyone.

Next →

Develop & Flip vs. Own & Operate Costs of solar equipment, labor, and components of capital are mostly the same, and the highest bidders often have the most low-cost debt.

Next →

High bidders also usually transfer ownership to financial institutions after reaching commercial operation for the project. As a result, your highest bidder may be a short-term partner.

Next →

A long-term independent power producer ensures commitment to the full duration of the lease. They are incentivized to quickly fix issues and explore additional opportunities.

Next →

Is This High Bid Real? It’s not unusual for developers to cherry pick cost of capital to win a bid while planning on renegotiating a deal when all the permits are in hand.

Next →

Unlike 5-10 year commercial leases, renewable energy assets will be on a property for for 20-35 years. It's in your best interest to understand a partner's intentions.

Next →

Next →

Your best partners will strive to have consistency and transparency in the relationship, even when things change. They also will have secured capital and materials in advance to have certainty of execution.

Next →

MAKE THE SWITCH TO SOLAR WITH CATALYZE →

Catalyze: Your Partner for the Long-Term