A Next-Generation Solar Strategy for Commercial Operations

As businesses rely more on energy-intensive operations, including data centers and manufacturing facilities, solar is steadily gaining traction as a choice for powering large commercial and industrial facilities. Utility-scale photovoltaic solar has become cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity in many areas, especially for facilities with large energy needs.

Companies considering solar energy have traditionally been limited to onsite installations, which come with a variety of challenges. Today, there are new ways to purchase solar energy that reduce or suppress upfront costs, reduce siting barriers and ensure a level of price stability not achievable with fossil fuel electricity. Power-purchase agreements (PPAs), for example, allow businesses to procure solar electricity at a predictable cost for up to 25 years, including financing, design, engineering, procurement, permitting, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance. PPAs free a business from having to own or manage a solar power plant, while enabling them to take full advantage of solar electricity’s predictable pricing.

In this free, one-hour webcast, you’ll learn:

• The opportunities for companies seeking low-cost/low-risk solar energy solutions
• How to enter into long-term contracts for solar resources
• How a major data center player implemented solar into its portfolio
• How a major consumer-facing company implemented solar energy

Panelists:

Karl Brutsaert, Director, Global Commercial & Industrial Origination, First Solar

Seth Baruch, National Director for Energy and Utilities, Kaiser Permanente

Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz Group