Skip to main content

News

A long-term sustainable competitive advantage

Expertise

Since inception we have approached our projects as long-term partners, differentiating us from developers that exit projects at NTP or COD. We create value for project equity holders by designing, constructing, and operating the solar power plants to maximize long-term performance and returns, rather than maximizing up-front development fees.

While most of our competitors focus on only a single segment of the renewable energy value chain, our expertise at every stage makes us highly competitive on cost management and volume of business. Our in-house development, permitting, engineering and construction expertise means that we can finish turnkey solar projects in an efficient and timely manner.

scroll right

Origination

We employ an all-encompassing team of solar-savvy individuals to conduct site origination. Our origination team covers in-depth local renewable policy and regulation review, GIS studies in real estate and utility infrastructure, land control contract agreements and managing long-term relationships with landlords, municipalities, and all stakeholders of each project.

Site acquisition and relationships are the fundamental element during the development process. We lease rooftops or lease/purchase land for the duration of the contract term, providing landlords with steady, long-term rent with no upfront investment requirement.

Development

We are experienced in working with local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to cover site plan approval, zoning applications, and building permits. Environmental review, grid interconnection, tax treatment, incentives and power purchase arrangement are all part of our know-how to ensure a higher successful rate to reduce project cost and enhance project profitability.

Financing

We developed long-term reliable relationships over the last 10 years with various financing sources to have a solar project financed, whether in the form of sponsor equity, investment tax credit, long-term debt, or construction financing. The Company is becoming an Independent Power Producer (IPP) going forward and will provide its sponsor equity contribution from its operating income and future financings.

Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)

As a licenced engineering consulting firm in Ontario, Canada, our in-house engineering teams ensure industry best practices are utilized through each phase of the solar project from origination to asset management. We employ in-house procurement specialists and project managers to monitor and maintain the economic viability of each project. In addition to our core team of engineers, we also work with local engineering firms and construction partners to leverage their local resources and expertise in order to build each and every solar power plant in a safe, reliable, and low-cost manner.

Operations & Maintenance and Asset Management

As ongoing monitoring and maintenance is of the highest priority, we endeavour to oversee each project throughout its lifetime, including 24/7 monitoring, data analysis, and project performance review. We utilize advanced technologies in managing each project on an individual basis. Our preventative maintenance activities and emergency response team deploy electronic management system to gain virtual exposure into each project at any time, which always safeguards the highest levels of project output. Financial analysis, reporting and management are all being done in-house by an experienced management team, including chartered accountants and finance professionals.

FAQs for Landowners

Both. SolarBank can lease or purchase land, depending on the landowner’s interests.
The process typically begins with an Option Agreement, which is a period of 2 years that covers the early-stage development of a project.
SolarBank spends up to a few hundred thousand dollars during the Option Period to ensure that the site is ready for the Solar Project. This includes environmental, geotechnical, & engineering studies, and local, state, & federal approvals.
A typical lease agreement is 25 years.
Typically, conditions indicating the land is not suitable for a Solar Project will result in the lease being cancelled. Connection, soil, and land studies will all be completed in the early stages of development to understand the feasibility of the site.
Income generated from the lease of the roof space or land is considered taxable revenue. The Solar Project would not cause a property tax increase.
The Landowner will have full control of their property during the Option Period. The Landowner will have minimal responsibility that consists of coordinating site access for development purposes.
Landowners can expect above-market lease rates.
There are very minimal impacts of a Solar Project on the surrounding area. Visual screening is available to prevent the solar arrays from being seen, and the equipment does not produce significant noise.
The lease agreement that the landowner has with SolarBank will transfer to the new owner. Having a recurring revenue stream on the property often results in higher property value.
First, we look at how much square footage is available and how many panels we can fit on the site. Then, we review the land to determine any other factors that may affect the number of panels that can fit. Finally, we use meteorological data provided by sources like Natural Resources Canada to determine how many kW-hours of electricity your site will produce.
Our Projects