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Commercial Guide

Commercial & Industrial Solar: A Decision Maker's Guide

CAPEX vs RESCO, rooftop vs open access, and how to evaluate a C&I solar proposal.

Zolar Energies5 July 20268 min read

For factories, warehouses, hospitals and offices, solar is no longer a sustainability gesture. It is a cost control strategy.

Ownership Models

CAPEX

You own the plant and get the highest lifetime savings, accelerated depreciation benefits and a payback of typically 3 to 4 years.

RESCO / PPA (OPEX)

A developer invests and you buy power at a fixed tariff lower than the grid, with zero upfront investment.

Loan / EMI

Finance the CAPEX through a bank; EMI is often lower than the monthly savings.

Rooftop vs Open Access

Rooftop plants are fastest to deploy. If your load is far larger than your roof, group captive or open access solar from a remote ground mounted plant can cover the gap.

How to Evaluate a Proposal

  • Is the yield estimate backed by a PVsyst simulation?
  • Are modules and inverters Tier 1 with clear warranties?
  • Is the structure designed for your roof type and wind zone?
  • Is there a generation guarantee and an O&M plan?
  • Who handles approvals, CEIG and net metering?

Talk to our C&I team for a free feasibility study.