You buy the system outright, either with cash or through financing, and claim the federal tax credit, depreciation, and Illinois Shines REC payments directly. Highest lifetime return, and you own the asset.
You own the equipment, the electricity it produces, and every incentive attached to it. The federal tax credit is worth 30% to 50% of system cost as a dollar-for-dollar credit against your taxes, and you take 5-year accelerated depreciation on the equipment.
Illinois Shines Renewable Energy Credits offset roughly 30% to 45% of net system cost on top of that. Most Illinois commercial projects go net positive in 2 to 3 years, then produce free electricity for the remaining life of the system.
A third party finances, owns, and maintains the system on your property. You buy the power it produces at a fixed rate below your utility rate, with no capital outlay.
Because the third party owns the system, they claim the tax credit, the depreciation, and the REC payments. That is what allows them to sell you power below utility rates from day one, with nothing on your balance sheet and no maintenance obligations.
This structure suits organizations that cannot use a tax credit, or that would rather not tie up capital. Contracts typically run 20 years, and many include a buyout option partway through the term.
You lease your roof or unused land to a solar developer, who designs, builds, owns, and operates the array, and you earn steady lease income from an underused asset with no upfront cost and no system to maintain.
The developer handles design, construction, ownership, and operation. They hold all the incentives and sell the power to the grid or to subscribers rather than to you, so your return comes as lease payments rather than energy savings.
This works best for properties with substantial underused acreage or roof area, where the land itself is the asset you are monetizing rather than the electricity. Terms are typically long, giving predictable income.
When you stack every incentive available for commercial solar in Illinois, your net cost can drop by 75% or more off the total project cost.
COMMERCIAL PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
See how Unity Solar Group designed and installed a large-scale commercial solar system at Westmont Yard Sports Complex in Westmont, Illinois — from equipment delivery to full installation.
Whether you’re a business owner, property manager, nonprofit, or municipality in Illinois, we design and install commercial solar systems that cut your energy costs and put more money back into your operations.
Ready to see what solar can do for your bottom line? Our commercial solar advisors are ready to build a custom energy plan for your facility. Start with the form below.
+1 833-743-7676
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