FAQ

PPA Information

How long is a typical PPA?

Power Purchase Agreements are typically 15-25 years, but 20 years is the industry standard and the most common term. At the end of the agreement’s term, you retain the option to extend the agreement, to purchase the system at fair market value, or to have the system removed.

What are the major benefits of a PPA?

For a commercial/industrial customer, a PPA allows you to keep your capital and resources invested in your core business. You pay only for the energy that the system produces, and enjoy immediate savings on your electricity bills. Enfinity remotely monitors and warrants the production of the system to ensure that you receive maximum benefit, while handling all operations and maintenance to create a hassle-free solution. For public/tax-exempt customers, a PPA additionally enables you to monetize the tax credits and depreciation through this 3^rd-party ownership model.

Are PPAs suitable for all customers?

The PPA model is most beneficial for customers with the following characteristics:

Non-residential, such as commercial businesses, cities, schools, and hospitals.
Own or lease the building long-term, minimum of 10 years
Have at least 20,000 square feet of available roof and site space
Pay high rates for electricity and want to save on energy costs
Have a strong credit rating with audited financials
Interested in environmental merit of a PV system

What makes Enfinity the best choice for our organization?

As a global company with a significant portfolio and pipeline of projects, Enfinity is able to procure modules and system components at very competitive prices, enabling us to pass those prices on to our customers in the form of lower PPA rates and stronger electricity savings
With a shared interest in the long-term production and reliability of your PV system, Enfinity partners with strong, experienced EPC partners/integrators and O&M contractors to ensure that you are receiving the optimal benefits from the PV solution.
Having successfully funded over $1 billion of renewable energy projects globally, Enfinity has established a proven track record with our customers and with the investment community, giving us the credibility in the marketplace to secure investment for your solar project.
Enfinity’s local presence allows us to understand and successfully navigate through local and state programs and ordinances, and utility-specific procedures in order to streamline the development timeline and get the benefits of your solution to you sooner.

I believe having solar installed might make sense for my company or organization. What are the next steps?

Click here to see our Step-by-Step PPA process description.

Click here to request more info or to request a quote.

Immediate Benefits

What kind of savings on my electric bill will I see from an Enfinity solar PV system?

For customers in California, we have been able to propose savings of 10% or greater versus their utility electricity costs. The concrete potential for savings depends on the electricity consumption profile of each specific customer, coupled with the space available to host the PV system. For more information and an assessment of how much Enfinity may save your organization, please click here.

Your savings are also estimated based on the historical escalation of the electricity rates offered by your utility service provider, which are expected to increase over time.

Installation / Construction

How will a PV installation impact the appearance of my buildings?

Depending on the design of your building’s roof, many PV installations are virtually invisible. From thin-film laminates to elevated and integrated PV solutions, there are a growing number of technology options that seamlessly integrate the PV system into your building and its surroundings.

Alternately, some applications allow you to showcase your PV system, and its environmental benefit, to the community.

Will a solar installation create leaks in my roof or disturb my business operations?

Depending on the type of roof, there are installation methods that require no, or very limited, penetrations into your roof. For roofs that require penetrations to install the system, these penetrations are flashed and sealed to prevent potential leaks caused by the penetration. Additionally, Enfinity works with the original roofing company/manufacturer in order to preserve the existing roof warranty.

Installation of the solar PV system is done in parallel with operations under the roof, and generally will have little or no impact on your daily business operations.

What if my roof requires repair while a PV system is installed?
Systems with no roof penetration can be temporarily removed during the time of repair. Minor repairs can easily be carried out in affected areas, since the modules are secured with only a few bolts; however, the most advantageous time to install a PV system is just following a roof refurbishment. The life and condition of the roof is assessed prior to any installation in order to minimize the need for any interruptions during the term of the PPA.

Operations & Maintenance

Who is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the PV system?

Enfinity is responsible for its performance and will remotely monitor the system to ensure optimal production. We will take care of any necessary system repair or component replacement and will perform regularly scheduled maintenance throughout the term of the agreement, including system cleaning. We will also handle and process any necessary warranty claims to the equipment manufacturers.

What is involved in system maintenance?

Typical rooftop PV systems perform at the optimal level when cleaned 2-4 times per year. This generally requires a simple washing and hosing down of the panels. Cleaning the system for optimal performance is Enfinity’s responsibility for the duration of our PPA. As noted above, preventative maintenance will also be handled by Enfinity.

What levels of electricity production should the solar PV system sustain over the long run?

A PV system typically experiences 0.5% loss of production per year due to natural module degradation, (e.g. after 10 years the system should produce 95% of the output it produced when originally installed). Through the PPA, Enfinity warrants a minimum level of annual production to ensure that you receive the full benefit of the system.