Zero Upfront Cost Solar
Pay less for electricity from day one with no capital investment. A Power Purchase Agreement puts commercial solar on your roof at zero upfront cost. Keen Energy handles the design and installation.
$0
Upfront Cost
Day 1
Savings Begin
20-25
Year Terms
A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a financing structure where a third-party developer owns the solar system on your building. You buy the electricity it produces at a rate lower than what you currently pay your utility. The result: lower electricity bills from day one with zero capital outlay.
A PPA developer provides the capital to purchase and own the solar system. They take the federal tax credit (ITC) and depreciation benefits. You pay nothing upfront. The PPA provider assumes the financial risk of system ownership.
As the EPC contractor, Keen Energy handles all engineering, procurement, and construction. We design the system for your specific building, source the equipment, and install it with our in-house C-10 licensed electrical crews. The quality of the installation is identical whether you purchase or go PPA.
Once the system is operational, you purchase the electricity it generates at a pre-agreed rate that is lower than your current utility rate. The PPA rate is locked in for the term of the agreement, protecting you from future utility rate increases.
Because the PPA provider owns the system, they are responsible for monitoring, maintenance, and repairs throughout the agreement term. If a panel fails or an inverter needs replacement, it is their cost, not yours.
At the end of the PPA term (typically 20 to 25 years), you usually have three options: purchase the system at fair market value, extend the agreement, or have the system removed at the PPA provider's expense. Most businesses choose to purchase the system because it still has 5 to 10 years of useful life remaining.
Both paths lead to lower electricity costs. The right choice depends on your financial situation, tax position, and business goals.
Zero upfront cost. No capital expenditure. Nothing on the balance sheet.
Immediate savings. Lower electricity rate from day one.
No maintenance responsibility. PPA provider handles all system upkeep.
No tax credit needed. PPA provider captures the ITC.
Predictable costs. Fixed or near-fixed rate for the agreement term.
Best for: Nonprofits, municipalities, businesses with limited capital, companies that cannot use the tax credit.
Maximum long-term savings. No PPA rate - you own the power.
30% federal tax credit. Directly reduces your tax liability.
MACRS depreciation. Accelerated 5-year depreciation schedule.
Full ownership. Asset on your balance sheet that increases property value.
No term limitations. System produces for 25 to 30+ years.
Best for: Profitable businesses with tax liability, companies with available capital, long-term building owners.
How We Fit In
Keen Energy is not a PPA provider. We are the EPC contractor that designs and builds the system. We partner with established PPA developers and financiers who provide the capital and own the asset. Here is how the relationship works:
Provides financing, owns the system, captures the tax credit, handles long-term maintenance contracts, and sells you electricity at a reduced rate.
Designs, engineers, procures, and constructs the solar system. Handles all permitting and utility interconnection. Delivers a turnkey installation to the PPA provider's and your specifications.
Provides the roof or land, buys the electricity at a reduced rate, enjoys lower bills from day one with zero capital investment. Gains purchase option at end of term.
PPAs work well for many businesses, but they come with commitments. Here are the questions we hear most often and straightforward answers.
Tax-exempt organizations cannot use the federal tax credit. A PPA lets a third party capture the credit and pass the savings to you through a lower electricity rate. This is often the only way nonprofits can benefit from solar economics.
Government entities and school districts face the same tax credit limitation as nonprofits. PPAs have become the standard financing structure for public-sector solar projects across California.
If your capital is better deployed in your core business, a PPA frees up cash while still lowering your electricity costs. You get the benefit of solar without tying up six or seven figures in a roof asset.
Businesses with multiple buildings can roll out solar across their portfolio through PPA structures without massive capital deployment. Each location gets its own system and agreement.
PPA providers evaluate the creditworthiness of the building owner and the tenant. Strong credit scores and long lease terms make it easier to qualify for favorable PPA rates.
Companies with sustainability commitments can add on-site solar generation to their ESG reporting without capital allocation. The PPA provides clean energy documentation for corporate sustainability goals.
Not sure if a PPA or direct purchase is right for your business? We will model both scenarios with real numbers for your property. No obligation, no pressure.
