How to Capture the Benefits of Solar and Energy Storage in Massachusetts

Solar energy is a tried-and-true clean technology that has the potential to offer both financial and operational benefits for property owners. This is especially true in Massachusetts, where over 5 megawatts (MW) of solar has been installed to date — accounting for 25% of the state's electricity. When solar is combined with a battery energy storage system (BESS), benefits can be maximized to achieve further cost savings and efficiencies.

Are you ready to capture the benefits of solar and energy storage for your Massachusetts business? Read ahead to learn more about what solar-plus-storage can do for you, and how you can take advantage of incentives that significantly reduce installation costs.

Solar and Energy Storage Benefits

Solar and energy storage systems represent a strategic advantage for organizations of all kinds. Not only do they maximize the use of emissions-free clean energy, but they can also lead to considerable cost savings over time.

Reduced Electricity Bills

Electricity is a major cost for businesses — and with the volatility of utility prices these days, an unpredictable one as well. But when you install solar arrays on your property, you can essentially fix your electricity costs. Depending on the size of the solar system, your business can produce enough clean energy to satisfy a significant portion of the onsite demand — reducing your reliance on the utility and shrinking your monthly bill.

In some instances, your solar system may generate more energy than your facility consumes. This is where adding a BESS becomes extremely beneficial. By storing any surplus that's produced during the day and dispatching it to power loads in the evening once the sun sets, you can stretch the usefulness of solar energy to later parts of the day — a practice called “solar shifting.”  

Navigating Peak Periods

There are times when your business naturally uses more energy — when everyone is in the office, when you're increasing production or have more machines and equipment running, or even during weather conditions that require more climate control. Many utility companies bill electricity at a higher rate during these periods of peak consumption, which can spike your monthly energy costs.

By utilizing solar with battery energy storage, you can leverage a strategy known as "peak shaving” where you dispatch stored energy to satisfy your increased demand instead of drawing from utility lines — helping you avoid peak demand charges.  

Improved Energy Security and Resilience

An onsite solar-plus-storage system is a form of distributed generation, in that energy is produced right where it is consumed opposed to being generated at a centralized power plant and transmitted great distances over utility lines. This reduces reliance on the power grid, which is vulnerable to failure due to rising customer demand as well as extreme weather.

Organizations with solar and energy storage installed also have the option of adding islanded microgrid capabilities that can provide power during prolonged blackouts to ensure the continuity of critical operations and equipment.

Massachusetts Incentives for Solar and Energy Storage

A solar-plus-storage system can be a significant investment for an organization, however, Massachusetts continues to offer incentives that offset the cost of installation and make the technology more attractive to internal stakeholders and investors.

Net Metering

If your Massachusetts facility generates a surplus of solar energy, you may be able to get money back on your monthly electricity bill by participating in the state’s net metering program. Customers with solar systems sized up to 2,000 kilowatts (kW) that are interconnected with Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil power companies are eligible to receive a bill credit for the excess electricity they send to the grid. Except in certain cases, these credits can be rolled over month to month and never expire.

Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART)

The SMART program offers a monthly payment to customers with a behind-the-meter system (one that provides their facility with energy) as well as those with a front-of-the-meter installation (one that sends energy to the grid, like in the case of a community solar project).  

Participants who sign on early have the potential to get more for their energy, since the platform has a declining block structure that offers lower incentives as more solar units are added to the program.

SMART Battery Adder

Organizations that participate in the SMART program and have energy storage paired with solar are eligible for an additional payment on top of the base SMART incentive rate. Depending on the capacity of the battery and the size of your solar system, you may be able to get between $.02 and $.07 more per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Clean Peak Standard

The Clean Peak Standard (CPS) program in Massachusetts aims to incentivize clean technologies like solar and battery energy storage that reduce demand during seasonal periods of peak electricity usage.  

Organizations can earn revenue under CPS by generating and selling Clean Peak Energy Certificates (CPECs) to utilities that are obligated to buy a certain number of them each year. CPECs can be generated by producing solar energy or dispatching stored battery energy during times of high demand.

PowerFlex's Solar-Plus Storage Solution

PowerFlex has a proven track record of launching commercial solar and energy storage systems throughout the United States, including solutions right in Massachusetts. As a one-stop provider, we offer everything your business needs to plan and implement your solar-plus-storage project from planning to execution and beyond. Here are just some of the ways we help our customers.

Applying for and Managing Incentives

At PowerFlex, we understand the nuances of Massachusetts incentives and have extensive experience securing maximum funds available for customers. We manage the entire process — from researching the best, most applicable incentives to completing the application. Once funds are awarded, we also offer incentive management services to ensure your system complies with all reporting requirements.

Dependable Equipment

When you opt for solar and energy storage for your business, you need to feel confident that the equipment is dependable both in terms of long-term performance and safety. PowerFlex leverages only the best hardware for your solar-plus-storage project, including batteries sourced from Tier 1 OEMs with established track records that meet all product safety requirements for faster permitting.

Intelligent Energy Management

We provide full visibility into your solar-plus-storage system through the PowerFlex X™ energy management platform. You can view real-time performance as well as track historical data all within a single online dashboard. Flexible and scalable, PowerFlex X grows as your clean energy footprint expands to include more assets, like electric vehicle charging stations.

Bankable Modeling

The solar and energy storage experts at PowerFlex help model your project to achieve the best project economics. Calling on 20 years of renewable industry experience, we produce realistic estimates based on your unique installation — giving you a clearer window into project success.

Customer Success Stories

More than 300 commercial customers spanning nearly 1,000 sites across North America have trusted PowerFlex to help accomplish their energy goals. Here are just a few examples of how we’ve leveraged solar and energy storage for top industry players.

Lineage Logistics

Lineage Logistics, in partnership with PowerFlex, installed 12 MW of systems across California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois. Thanks to its strong embrace of clean solar energy, the company has reduced the equivalent of over 6,500 metric tons of CO₂ each year. PowerFlex helped Lineage Logistics fund their large-scale solar projects by making extensive use of state incentives, including the SMART program in Massachusetts.

Medline Industries

Medline Industries, the largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical and surgical supplies, has partnered with PowerFlex on more than 10 projects in six U.S. states. In fact, Medline’s community solar project in New York is the largest rooftop solar installation in the Empire State, with 7.2 MW of capacity. Meanwhile, In Florida, a 1.7-MW system installed atop a Medline distribution center offsets 100% of the facility's annual electricity consumption.

Krasdale Foods

Grocery wholesaler Krasdale Foods worked with PowerFlex to build a 2.7-MW community solar project in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. Krasdale utilizes 40% of the electricity generated while the other 60% is shared with the surrounding community. Three hundred local families and businesses are able to benefit from cleaner, more affordable energy thanks to this installation.

Cubic Corporation

Cubic's solar carport and energy storage installations at its San Diego headquarters provide an estimated utility bill savings of more than $3 million over the lifetime of the project.  We've also helped Cubic take advantage of the local incentive programs available to help offset those costs, including the California Self-Generation Incentive Program and the federal Investment Tax Credit.

Power Up Your Business With Solar and Energy Storage Solutions

Solar-plus-storage projects aren't just about making the switch to clean, renewable energy. They also offer valuable opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies. Businesses in Massachusetts can take advantage of an array of incentives that can significantly reduce the cost of installing these systems — but the time to act is right now.  

Many of the state’s opportunities, including the SMART program, are offering higher incentives for those who step up first. Don’t delay; contact PowerFlex today and one of our solar-plus-storage experts can get to work on securing the funds you may be entitled to receive.