Comments on: Commercial Solar in a “Land Grab” http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/ Helping the Earth with Technology Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:25:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Standard Solar to Expand With $8.5M [Earth2Tech - Start-Up News] | Internet Startups http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-18630 Standard Solar to Expand With $8.5M [Earth2Tech - Start-Up News] | Internet Startups Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:23:13 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-18630 <p>[...] on the day that the ITC was passed, they noticed an uptick in calls about solar installations. The “land grab” for residential and commercial customers is back in [...]</p> [...] on the day that the ITC was passed, they noticed an uptick in calls about solar installations. The “land grab” for residential and commercial customers is back in [...]

]]> By: Standard Solar to Expand With $8.5M « Earth2Tech http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-18619 Standard Solar to Expand With $8.5M « Earth2Tech Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:35:02 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-18619 <p>[...] on the day that the ITC was passed they noticed an uptick in calls about solar installations. The “land grab” for residential and commercial customers is back in [...]</p> [...] on the day that the ITC was passed they noticed an uptick in calls about solar installations. The “land grab” for residential and commercial customers is back in [...]

]]> By: JoJo http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-8830 JoJo Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:59:31 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-8830 <p>While it is reasonable to suggest that selling a solar installation to a commercial customer has a 10% margin give or take, that isn't the business that Recurrent Energy is in. Recurrent Energy continues to own the solar they place on a roof. Thus, their economics are those of a utility. They invest capital at $3 per watt, and then earn a yearly return on that investment.</p> <p>Near San Francisco, a watt will generate a bit more than 1.5KWh a year. At $0.14 per kwh, which seems to be roughly what PG&E would charge, you are getting a return of 7% a year on the investment. If you can capture the time-of-use benefits, you can earn more. If electric rates increase over time, you earn more.</p> While it is reasonable to suggest that selling a solar installation to a commercial customer has a 10% margin give or take, that isn’t the business that Recurrent Energy is in. Recurrent Energy continues to own the solar they place on a roof. Thus, their economics are those of a utility. They invest capital at $3 per watt, and then earn a yearly return on that investment.

Near San Francisco, a watt will generate a bit more than 1.5KWh a year. At $0.14 per kwh, which seems to be roughly what PG&E would charge, you are getting a return of 7% a year on the investment. If you can capture the time-of-use benefits, you can earn more. If electric rates increase over time, you earn more.

]]> By: San Francisco Wants Some Serious Solar « Earth2Tech http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-5444 San Francisco Wants Some Serious Solar « Earth2Tech Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:12:35 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-5444 <p>[...] The new funding could finally start moving panels downstream, kicking installation companies into high gear and providing employment for hundreds of new green-collar workers. Programs like this one would also take the strain off startups that have been doing everything they can to cut costs. Energy Innovations President Andrew Beebe recently described the commercial solar sector as being in a “land grab.” [...]</p> [...] The new funding could finally start moving panels downstream, kicking installation companies into high gear and providing employment for hundreds of new green-collar workers. Programs like this one would also take the strain off startups that have been doing everything they can to cut costs. Energy Innovations President Andrew Beebe recently described the commercial solar sector as being in a “land grab.” [...]

]]> By: Jason Morris http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-5243 Jason Morris Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:44:05 +0000 http://earth2tech.com/2007/12/10/commercial-solar-in-a-land-grab/#comment-5243 <p>It is really interesting to watch this unfold, since there are a number of companies that have been in the solar installation market for more than a decade. They grew organically by servicing a pretty limited market. Now government incentives and venture/private equity investment has turned it into a dog fight. What will be the major differentiator? Funding? Quality of service? Marketing/reach?</p> It is really interesting to watch this unfold, since there are a number of companies that have been in the solar installation market for more than a decade. They grew organically by servicing a pretty limited market. Now government incentives and venture/private equity investment has turned it into a dog fight. What will be the major differentiator? Funding? Quality of service? Marketing/reach?

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