This document summarizes the key points from a webinar about how rooftop solar pays back for businesses in Illinois. It discusses that solar PV costs have decreased significantly in recent years to under $1 per watt installed. For small commercial systems, payback periods are now 3.5-5 years due to energy savings and incentives. Larger commercial facilities that use more energy and have suitable roof or land areas are good candidates for solar. Battery storage can provide additional value through energy time-shifting and backup power. Strong state incentives and policies have made Illinois a top state for solar market growth.

1. How Rooftop Solar Pays Back
for your Business in Illinois
Five Questions Answered
Tim Montague, M.S.
www.CECCo.comAug 28, 2018
Solar Works for Illinois!
Free monthly webinar brought to you by:

2. 1. What does solar PV cost?
2. What is the pay back period?
3. Which facilities can benefit from solar energy?
4. What about solar plus battery storage?
5. Why Illinois is now a top solar market in the US?
Today’s Agenda

3. • Solar PV is semiconductor based technology that
makes electricity from sunlight
• 1970’s cost was over $100/Watt
• Today the cost is < $1/Watt!
• Since 2010 the cost of solar has decreased 75%
1. What Does Solar Cost?

4. Small Commercial: $2.50 - $3.00/Watt installed;
20 kW System: $50-$60,000
Medium Commercial: $2.25 - $2.50/ Watt
100 kW System: $225,000 - $250,000
Large Commercial: $1.50 - $2.00/Watt
1,000 kW (1 MW) System: $1.5 M - $2 M
Turnkey Cost of Installing Solar

5. Historically in the payback period was 10+ years
Now the payback period is 3.5-5 years
2. What is the Payback Period?

6. Energy to Grid (energy savings) …………………… 20%
SRECs – Solar Renewable Energy Credits……. 30-50%
Smart Inverter Incentive.......................................... 10%
Federal ITC – Investment Tax Credit ..................... 30%
100% Bonus Depreciation....................................... 22%
Sub-Total (Years 1 thru 5)………………………100-122%
2a. Why is the Payback Period so Short?

7. Incentives + Energy Savings
Small Commercial PV (55 kW DC)
Capital Expense ………………………. $137,500
Energy Bill Savings ……………………. $27,500
Cash Incentives (SRECs + Smart Inverter)…...$55,000
Tax Credits – Federal ITC……………… $41,250
100% Bonus Depreciation …………..… $34,375
5 yr. Net Savings ………..... $20,625
25 Year Savings .…..…… $122,500

8. Incentives + Energy Savings
Large Commercial PV (2,450 kW DC)
Capital Expense …………………….… $4,287,500
5 Yr. Energy Bill Savings……………….. $918,750
Cash Incent. / SRECs + Smart Invert. $2,022,322
Tax Credits – Federal ITC……………. $1,286,250
Accelerated Bonus Depreciation …….. $ 990,412
5 yr. Net Savings ..…....... $930,234
25 Year Savings …..… $4,832,600

9. 3. Which facilities can benefit
from solar energy?

10. 1. Bigger the bill, bigger the benefit
2. Sunny Roof or Ground
3. Roof in Good Condition
www.CECCo.com
Who Can Benefit?

11. 2011-2018
20+ MW of Solar PV + Storage

12. Clarke Environmental, St. Charles – 120 kW
North Central College, Naperville – 563 kW +
Grayslake HS N/S, Lake County – 1.8 MW
Abt Electronics, Glenview – 516 kW +
www.CECCo.com
3. Facilities That Can Benefit
from Solar (+ Storage)

14. • Converts Sunlight to Electricity
• Rooftop DC – AC – Building Load – Grid
• Reduces kWh Consumption – Saves $
• Roof Mount, Ground, Building Integrated
Solar Photovoltaics…since 1954
www.CECCo.com

15. 119 kW Array
148,750 kWh/yr
$9500 savings/yr
344 Panels:
Helios US 305 W
Ballasted Rooftop,
Carport, and
Awning Design
Self Financed
LEED Silver
Clarke Environmental
St. Charles, IL | DuPage Co. | Sept. 2015

16. Ground Mount: Grayslake North + South HS
2.76 MW | Grayslake, IL | Lake Co. | May 2017
1,400 kW
Ground Mount
32% energy offset
4,242 Panels:
Square D 330 W
2 Acres
ESCO Performance
Contract
1,363 kW
Ballasted Roof

17. • Batteries Provide Additional Value:
• Storing Solar Energy
• Providing Backup Power / Resiliency
• Grid Services
4. What About Solar Plus Storage?

18. North Central College - Solar + Battery Storage
Naperville, IL | DuPage Co. | April 2017
563 kW Array
$50,000 in savings/yr
1,632 Panels:
SunEdison 330 W
250 kW Battery
1.55 Acres
University Endowment

19. 516 kW
Ballasted Array
1,564 Panels:
SolarWorld 330 W
Tesla 500 kW
Powerpack
Battery
1 Acre Rooftop
Abt Electronics - Solar + Battery Storage
Glenview, IL | Cook Co. | 2017 - 2018

23. 1. RPS + Future Energy Jobs Act
2. $200M in Cash Incentives / Yr. (30-50%)
3. Federal ITC (30% until 2020; 10% in 2022)
4. 3,000 MW of Additional Solar (30-fold increase)
5. Act Now…Incentives Decline Over Time
5. Why Illinois is a Top Solar Market Now?

24. Upcoming Webinars
www.cecco.com/solarwebinar
Sept 25th, 2018 - Getting to Net Zero with Solar Energy
featuring Sean Moran, Sr. Project Manager with Skender
Oct 30th, 2018 - Maximize Your Solar Investment by
Adding Battery Energy Storage | Featuring Travis
Simpkins, PhD, Founder & CTO of MuGrid
www.CECCo.comAug 28, 2018
Solar Works for Illinois!
Free webinar last Tuesday of the month:

25. How Rooftop Solar Pays Back
for your Business in Illinois
Thank You!
www.CECCo.comAug 28, 2018
Solar Works for Illinois!
Free monthly webinar brought to you by:
Tim Montague, M.S.
Solar Sales & Business Development
tmontague@cecco.com | 217.722.0429 m | 815 Commerce Dr. Oak Brook, IL