Is Solar Viable
The short answer to the question of solar power viability is: We are currently at the tipping point.

In states where rebate or subsidy programs already exist (such as California, Florida, New Jersey and New York), solar power is not just economically viable, but is an excellent capital investment with strong financial and social ROI. In states with developing programs (such as Pennsylvania), solar power for commercial applications is not yet economically viable - but will be soon.

In response to the many general inquiries Eos receives, this section of the Eos web site discusses the current viability of solar power for middle market commercial applications. The discussions herein are targeted primarily at commercial real estate owners, operators, and investors who are adept with financial nomenclature, but are new to the concepts and technical aspects of solar power. The Eos staff is available for further consultation with prospective clients for specific projects.

Solar Power Explained in 60 Seconds
Solar power is any one of many technologies that convert the energy in sunlight to a transportable energy medium such as electricity or hot water. For simplicity, solar technologies or methods can be broadly grouped as... read on>

Solar Power is Already Mainstream
PV power is not new, nor unusual. In Germany, Japan, and Southern California, grid-tied PV systems are ubiquitous. World-wide production of PV power in all forms is now... read on>

Fundamental Economics of PV as a Power Source
Currently, PV for commercial buildings is economically viable against the cost of power from the grid only when state subsidies and federal investment tax credits are applied. As a generalized point of reference, power produced from PV costs... read on>

Governmental Incentives for PV Investments
The incentives that make PV viable today exist in three "buckets"; federal investment tax credit (ITC), state rebates or grants, and the tradable value of the "green power" produced via... read on>

ROI in PV Investments
The financial return on investment for solar projects can be outstanding – but as discussed herein, there are many variables. In a state with an incentive program, Eos can typically design and deliver a system with IRRs in excess of... read on>

Viability Variables
The economic viability of a commercial photovoltaic system is, of course, dependent upon... read on>

Next Steps
Contact Eos Energy solutions Today for a no-cost, no commitment initial consultation and site survey. ... read on>

Data Sources:
Bradford, T. and Maycock, P. September 2007 Presentation of World PV Market by Application. Prometheus Institute and PV Energy Systems, Inc.

Bradford, T. and Maycock, P. 2007 September Presentation of Global Producers. Prometheus Institute and PV Energy Systems, Inc.

Dunlop, Jim, and NJATC, Photovoltaic Systems, American Technical Publishers: Homewood IL. 2007

Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy, Form EIA-826, "Monthly Electric Sales and Revenue Report with State Distributions Report." October 2006

Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy. Form EIA-920 "Combined Heat and Power Plant Report, Net Generation by Energy Source by Type of Producer, 1995 through 2006", October, 2007

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), "30 Year Average of Monthly Solar Radiation, 1961-1990" http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/sum2/state.htm

Wiser, Mills, et.al. "The Impact of Retail Rate Structures on the Economics of Commercial Photovoltaic Systems in California", Berkeley National Laboratory, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, July 2007. http://eetd.lbl.gov/EA/EMP/reports/63019.pdf