What is commercial and industrial (C&I) solar?
C&I solar delivers on-site or offsite clean power to businesses through ownership or a PPA, giving offtakers predictable energy costs and investors contracted cash flows.
Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar sits at the intersection of cost savings and sustainability. For businesses, institutions, and industrial offtakers across the U.S., on-site and offsite solar delivers predictable, lower-cost clean power—often with no upfront capital under a PPA or lease structure.
Why are businesses installing C&I solar?
Businesses install C&I solar to lock in a portion of load at a known price and to meet sustainability commitments with verifiable generation. The drivers are both economic and strategic:
- Lower, predictable energy costs that hedge against volatile utility rates
- Sustainability commitments met with verifiable clean generation
- Resilience when solar is paired with battery storage
- No capital outlay under PPA or lease structures
How much a facility saves depends on its load, the local tariff, and the contract—not a single percentage that applies across markets.
Should a business choose on-site or offsite solar?
The choice depends on roof or land availability, load shape, and how the company wants to claim the environmental attributes. C&I solar takes two broad forms:
- On-site: rooftop or ground-mount systems that offset a facility's own consumption behind the meter
- Offsite: larger arrays that deliver power through the grid under a PPA or virtual PPA
Each fits a different facility profile, load, and sustainability goal. Community solar serves a similar subscriber model for customers who cannot host on-site systems.
How does a C&I solar PPA work for the business?
For the business, a C&I PPA is a long-term agreement to buy clean power at a competitive, defensible rate while the developer handles design, financing, construction, and operations. A bankable PPA is what makes the arrangement financeable for all parties.
Why do investors like C&I solar portfolios?
Investors like C&I portfolios because they spread offtake across many creditworthy commercial counterparties, producing stable, contracted cash flows—an attractive profile for institutional solar investors.
How Sunlight helps
Sunlight Energy Investments finances, develops, and operates C&I solar for businesses and institutions seeking predictable, lower-cost clean power. To explore an on-site or offsite project, explore our PPA services or contact our team.
