Does a business have to own the C&I array?

No. Many C&I projects use a third-party-owned PPA: the offtaker buys the power, and the owner-operator owns the system. Direct ownership is another path when the customer wants the tax attributes and has the balance sheet for them.

What makes a C&I offtaker bankable?

Lenders and tax-equity partners look first at counterparty credit, then at tenor, pricing, and whether the site and interconnection can deliver the contracted volume. A strong credit with a vague contract is still a problem.

What is a C&I solar PPA?

A C&I solar PPA is a power purchase agreement sized for a business or industrial offtaker. The customer buys the power; a third party typically owns the array. Direct ownership is another path when the customer wants the tax attributes and has the balance sheet for them.

What is commercial and industrial solar?

Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar is generation sized for a business, campus, or industrial load—on the roof, in the parking lot, or offsite through a power purchase agreement. Offtakers lock in a portion of their power price. Investors underwrite contracted cash flows with a shorter development cycle than most utility-scale plants.

For investors Explore PPAs

C&I

How commercial & industrial works

Sunlight Energy Investments finances, develops, and operates C&I solar for businesses and institutions, and structures offtake that can support project equity. We also advise owners who want diligence without necessarily taking Sunlight capital.

Rooftop solar array on a commercial building supplying on-site power

On-site arrays

Rooftop, canopy, and behind-the-meter ground-mount systems that offset a facility's retail load.

Offsite PPAs

A contracted slice of a larger plant when the roof, land, or credit profile does not support on-site build.

Predictable energy cost

Businesses use C&I solar to lock in a known price for a portion of load over a multi-year tenor.

Investor offtake

Creditworthy commercial counterparties and shorter cycles are why C&I sits beside utility-scale in a portfolio.

Insights

Related insights

Further reading on commercial & industrial from the Sunlight Energy Investments team.

Rooftop solar array on a commercial building

Markets

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.

Team reviewing solar offtake documents at a conference table

Advisory

What makes a solar PPA bankable?

A bankable solar PPA has a creditworthy offtaker, a tenor that matches the capital stack, defensible pricing, and clear allocation of curtailment and change-in-law risk.

Finance

What is tax equity in solar finance?

Tax equity monetizes the federal investment tax credit and depreciation. Partnership flips, sale-leasebacks, inverted leases, and Section 6418 transfers are the main tools.

FAQ

Commercial & Industrial questions

Answers specific to commercial & industrial—not a repeat of the site-wide FAQ.

C&I systems are sized for commercial or industrial load, contracted with a business offtaker, and underwritten as project finance. Residential rooftop is a consumer product with different credit, interconnection, and ownership structures.

Talk to us about commercial & industrial

Whether you are allocating capital, bringing a project, or need offtake and operations support, our team can help.

Prefer to talk? Call +1 (201) 492-7516