Onsite Solar + Storage Feasibility and Execution Kit

Screen sites, choose the right business model, and execute a project that can be operated and proven (not engineering advice)

Decision KitsDecision Kit90 min

Important: This is operational guidance, not engineering advice. Use qualified professionals for structural, electrical, and interconnection work.

What you'll accomplish

  • Screen sites quickly and eliminate bad candidates early
  • Collect the minimum data required for a credible feasibility decision
  • Choose an execution model (owner-funded vs third-party)
  • Run procurement (RFP optional) and evaluate vendors consistently
  • Plan operations: monitoring, O&M, measurement, and documentation
  • Avoid the most common failure: "we installed it, but no one owns the data and proof"

Who this is for

  • •Owners/operators evaluating onsite generation
  • •Facilities and capital planning teams
  • •Finance teams evaluating capex vs third-party models
  • •Sustainability teams needing measurable impact

When to use this

Use this when:

  • •You want to reduce utility cost volatility or peak demand exposure
  • •You need resilience and backup power (storage helps here)
  • •You have large roofs/parking lots or similar assets
  • •You're considering EV charging expansion

Prerequisites (minimum viable)

  • •Site list and addresses
  • •12 months of electricity bills per site
  • •A basic understanding of site control/access (who can approve construction)

Related resources:

Quick start (90 minutes)

Pick 5 candidate sites:

  • Fill Site Screening Scorecard (Template 1)
  • Pull 12 months bills (kWh + demand if available)
  • Log constraints and ownership/approval path (Template 2)
  • Decide which 1–2 sites move to pre-feasibility

Solar + storage in plain English

  • Solar generates electricity when the sun is available (usually daytime).

  • Storage can shift energy to later times, reduce peaks, and provide resilience (depending on design).

Beginner rule: Solar is a generation decision; storage is a controls + value stacking decision. Treat them separately, then combine if it makes sense.

Step-by-step

Step 1 — Screen feasibility fast (don't overstudy bad sites)

Key screening dimensions:

  • •Roof/area available and condition
  • •Shading/obstructions (high-level)
  • •Electrical interconnection feasibility (unknown is okay—log it)
  • •Load profile fit (daytime usage helps solar value)
  • •Ownership/control (can you approve work?)
  • •Upcoming roof replacement (timing matters)

Step 2 — Decide the business model

Common models:

  • •Owner-funded (capex): you own the system
  • •Third-party financed (PPA/lease): provider owns, you buy power/services
  • •Hybrid: varies by structure

Choose based on:

  • •capital availability
  • •appetite for ownership/O&M
  • •contract complexity tolerance
  • •accounting and risk posture

Step 3 — Define value streams (don't assume only "kWh savings")

Potential value streams:

  • •energy cost reduction
  • •demand reduction (sometimes, depends on peak timing)
  • •resilience/backup value (storage)
  • •TOU shifting (storage)
  • •operational insight (metering/monitoring)

Beginner rule: Be honest about which value streams you can actually measure and capture.

Step 4 — Run pre-feasibility (minimum viable data package)

Collect:

  • •annual kWh and billing periods
  • •demand and TOU structure (if applicable)
  • •single-line electrical (if available)
  • •roof age and replacement timeline
  • •constraints and approvals

Step 5 — Procurement and vendor selection

Use:

  • •a short RFP or a structured comparison
  • •a vendor evaluation scorecard (Template 5)
  • •contract checklist (Template 6)

Step 6 — Execute with operations in mind

Non-negotiables:

  • •monitoring platform access
  • •O&M responsibilities
  • •performance reporting cadence
  • •evidence storage
  • •measurement plan

Templates

Template 1 — Site Screening Scorecard

Site Screening Scorecard

| Site | Area available (rough) | Roof condition | Shading risk (L/M/H) | Load fit (daytime) | Interconnection unknowns | Access/approvals | Priority (H/M/L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

Template 2 — Constraints + Approvals Log

Constraints + Approvals Log

| Site | Constraint | Risk (L/M/H) | Owner | Mitigation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|

Template 3 — Pre-Feasibility Data Request Checklist

Pre-Feasibility Data Checklist

Pre-Feasibility Data Checklist

- 12 months electricity bills (kWh + billing periods)
- Demand/TOU details if present
- Site address + utility account
- Roof age + expected replacement timeline
- Any known structural constraints
- Electrical single-line (if available)
- Access constraints and tenant coordination needs

Template 4 — RFP Outline (optional)

Solar/Storage RFP Outline

Onsite Solar/Storage RFP Outline

1) Sites included and goals
2) Consumption summary (kWh, demand)
3) Proposed solution types allowed (solar, storage, both)
4) Monitoring and reporting requirements
5) O&M responsibilities and response times
6) Contract structure options (capex vs third-party)
7) Pricing format and assumptions
8) Timeline and approvals

Template 5 — Vendor Evaluation Scorecard

Vendor Evaluation Scorecard

| Vendor | Technical fit (1–5) | Ops/monitoring (1–5) | Contract clarity (1–5) | Pricing transparency (1–5) | References (1–5) | Notes |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---|

Template 6 — Contract Checklist

Solar/Storage Contract Checklist

Solar/Storage Contract Checklist

- Ownership model clearly defined
- Performance reporting cadence defined
- Monitoring platform access granted to owner/operator
- O&M responsibilities defined (who fixes what and how fast)
- Evidence deliverables defined (production reports)
- Termination and renewal terms reviewed (avoid surprise renewals)
- Insurance and compliance requirements defined
- Measurement plan defined for proof of impact

Template 7 — Operations Runbook

Solar/Storage Operations Runbook

Solar/Storage Operations Runbook

- Monitoring access credentials stored:
- Monthly production report owner:
- Alerting and incident response:
- Maintenance vendor contact:
- Annual inspection schedule:
- Performance KPI targets:
- Evidence storage folder link:

Template 8 — M and V Summary

Solar/Storage M&V Summary

Solar/Storage M&V Summary

Baseline period:
Post period:
Metrics:
- kWh produced
- kWh net consumption change
- peak kW change (if applicable)
- cost impact

Limitations and assumptions:
Confidence (High/Med/Low):

Common pitfalls

  • Picking sites without considering roof replacement timing
  • Signing contracts without monitoring access and reporting deliverables
  • Assuming storage always saves money (depends on tariffs and peaks)
  • No clear ownership of O&M and incident response
  • No measurement plan → impact debated forever

Change log

v1.0 (2026-01): Latest release