"The city is very happy with the solar panels. They are reducing our electric bill, and with the State Grant it was very affordable."
-City of Belpre, Ohio

System Sizes and Costs :: Commercial

System Size
Solar power systems are measured in kilowatts.  Your electric usage is measured in kilowatt-hours, and, depending on your rate schedule, kilowatts or “demand”.  In Ohio and surrounding areas, 1 kilowatt of solar array produces approximately 95 kilowatt-hours per month.  Often, a system design is arrived at that will reduce (but not eliminate) a facility’s electric bill.

Designing an effective solar system is not only a technical process, but involves financial design as well.  Each business has its own unique needs, financial situation and tax circumstances.  Our process will take your business’s specific needs into account, and we will work with your financial team and advisors to maximize the ROI of your solar project.

The economic analysis of a renewable energy plant is complex.  It must factor in the following variables:

Typical System Prices and Information

Third Sun can specify a system to fit every business and budget. Below are examples of three sizes of systems, their estimated performance, the space required and the net cost after incentives.  Larger, smaller and other sized systems are available. Third Sun works with each customer to determine the best sized system based on their unique goals. We will also preform a financial analysis to determine your best ROI.

System Size

10.8 kW

45.14 kW

250 kW

Monthly energy

992 kWh

4,146 kWh

23,750 kWh

Square footage

643 SF

3, 952 SF

18, 520 SF

Net cost

$13,317

$45,610

$595,000

Shading and specific site variables may affect monthly output.


Roof square footage based on SunPower solar modules and T-10 racking.


Net cost based on full service installation on typical site.  This net cost calculation includes 30% Federal Tax Credit, NPV-adjusted depreciation and Ohio Energy Office Rebate (only available for customers of an Ohio Public Utility), and assumes a 30% tax rate for the business.  Your specific tax status as well as custom sizing will affect the net cost.  Third Sun will present you with an accurate proposal for your specifc project.

Placement of Solar panels
While each project is different, often we find that flat roof mounted PV is the most cost effective option available to businesses.  We use a “ballasted-non penetrating” racking system to deploy solar over membrane roofs.  This type of racking system allows you to install solar without physically attaching the array to the building – instead it is held in place by the weight of the system plus additional ballast as required to meet your site’s local conditions and building code requirements.  Alternatively, panels can be installed on pitched roofs, awning style on the façade of a building, integrated into building features such as entrance canopies, on ground mounts or as parking lot shade structures.

For your system to perform at its maximum potential, shade and orientation are very important.  Your solar panels must have unobstructed southern or approximately southern exposure. Orientation to the east or west is possible, but will reduce performance.  They must be clear of trees, buildings, or other potential shading obstructions.  Solar panels are usually roof mounted, and this is the most economical.  

Batteries and Backup Power
With an on grid system, utility power outages still result in a power outage for the renewable power system owner.  This is because an on-grid system is required to shut down when there is a power outage, eliminating safety concerns for utility workers.  It is possible for a battery bank to be added in order to produce backup power in times when there is a utility power outage, but this is costly and is often better addressed with an appropriate generator system.  Third Sun has done many off grid and grid tied systems with battery backup, and we would be happy to discuss the specific pros and cons of adding backup capacity to your system.