Multi-tenant commercial solar has long been a project type many installers would rather avoid. Here’s why it may be time to take another look.
Malls, warehouses, apartment complexes and other multi-tenant properties can be difficult projects to get across the finish line. The challenge usually isn’t the solar hardware. It’s figuring out who benefits from the system, who owns it, how the savings are divided and who handles billing as tenants come and go.
The 2 big hurdles
The split incentive. The property owner controls the roof, but tenants often pay most of the electricity bills. That leaves the owner with little reason to invest, while the tenants who would benefit from lower energy costs have little control over the property.
Billing and tenant turnover. Allocating solar production across multiple meters and tenants can get complicated quickly. Lease terms change, tenants move in and out, and someone still has to manage billing and tenant questions over the life of the system.
To see how new ownership, financing and billing models are helping overcome these challenges, and when a shelved multi-tenant project may be worth revisiting, read the full article at Solar Power World.
