Onsite solar puts your existing infrastructure to work, using rooftops, parking lots and open land to generate local, clean renewable energy. Onsite solar has the ability to create economic value through utility bill savings, decreased future energy market volatility risk and by meeting corporate sustainability/ESG/renewable energy initiative goals.
Why onsite solar?
Investments in renewable energy can help the planet and your business. With onsite solar, your organization can:
Reduce your scope 2 carbon footprint and achieve sustainability/ESG/renewable energy initiative goals.
Curb carbon emissions
Reduce your scope 2 carbon footprint and achieve sustainability/ESG/renewable energy initiative goals.
Decrease facility energy costs at your facility.
Lower energy costs
Decrease facility energy costs at your facility.
Reduce future energy market volatility risk and reliance on fossil fuels with your own clean energy supply.
Energy independence
Reduce future energy market volatility risk and reliance on fossil fuels with your own clean energy supply.
Build value and increase brand loyalty with your customers, employees, and investors.
Brand appeal
Build value and increase brand loyalty with your customers, employees, and investors.
Take advantage of substantive tax benefits and incentives that reduce the upfront cost of installation.
Cash in on incentives
Take advantage of substantive tax benefits and incentives that reduce the upfront cost of installation.
Is your organization a good candidate for onsite solar?
Onsite solar may be a great choice if you have:
• Large energy requirements
• Owned property
• Expensive electricity rate structures
• Available roofs or land
• Large parking area near a facility
• Locations in utilities and states with favorable incentives and regulations
The energy experts at World Kinect can help determine if onsite solar is right for your business, with an onsite solar assessment.
Are you solar-ready?
If you’re not sure or wonder what options you have when it comes to renewables in your energy mix, ask about our Renewable Energy Strategy Assessment, a full-scale review of your entire Scope 2 options. Visit our FAQs for details including more about our Onsite Solar offers. <anchor tag>
Contact our Renewable Energy experts to explore your options
Not a fit?
If onsite solar won’t work for your organization, there are several other sustainability solutions to consider. Contact our energy experts to learn what might work best for your business.
Partner with energy experts
Our energy experts understand the details of energy markets and solutions so you don’t have to. When investing in an onsite solar project, the right partner can make all the difference.
World Kinect’s energy specialists are with you from project inception to completion and beyond. From knowing which vendors to trust to understanding complex utility market regulations, our people can simplify your move to renewable energy.
And since you’ll still need traditional power to run your business, World Kinect can help with that, too. Whatever your energy needs, we have experts who live and breathe the details and can tailor solutions for you.
Start the conversation with our energy experts.
Onsite solar offerings from World Kinect
Onsite Solar Assessments
Can solar can work for your business? For a fixed fee, our team of experts determines the feasibility of installing solar panels at your facility. The assessment includes: Our energy experts will share tangible insights on the project to ensure all stakeholders and decision-makers understand the full impact on your business. |
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Solar Managed Services
If onsite solar will work for your facility, we can help you get a project off the ground (or on your roof) from start to finish. After a site review and high-level assessment, our energy experts: Either via customer RFP proposals or with the faster-to-market option that uses vetted suppliers, our Preferred Developer Network, manages every detail necessary to get your project from insight to onsite. |
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Onsite Battery Storage
The deployment of battery storage technology continues to expand globally. Onsite battery storage offers commercial and industrial facility owners with a wide range of potential value propositions. Battery storage technology also offers the ability to unlock additional value streams when coupled with onsite solar. Some key battery storage value propositions include:




At World Kinect, we start by helping assess the feasibility of onsite battery storage at your facilities and then work alongside your team to match you with trusted partners and see the battery storage facility through development, construction, and through to operation.
Learn more about onsite solar
Here’s a quick overview of onsite solar as shared with customers at one of our regional Get Kinected events.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should my organization consider solar?
Cost savings: Once installed, solar panels can generate electricity for free, and the cost of maintenance is relatively low. You can see significant savings on your energy bills over the lifetime of the system.
Environmental benefits: Solar power is a clean, renewable energy source that produces no greenhouse gas emissions or other harmful pollutants. You can reduce your carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.
Energy independence: Become less reliant on the grid and reduce your exposure to energy price volatility, which can stabilize your energy costs over the long term.
Brand value: Going solar can be a powerful symbol of your organization’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, enhancing your brand value with environmentally conscious customers or stakeholders.
Government incentives: In many states, there are government incentives and subsidies that can reduce upfront costs and improve the financial viability of the project. These are in addition to the federal government’s tax incentives via the Inflation Reduction Act.
How does solar save money?
Lower electricity bills: Solar energy can offset electricity purchases from your utility company.
Net metering: Some utility companies allow you to sell any excess energy back to the grid. Whether you get a credit on your electricity bill or a check from the utility company, it can help offset the cost of your solar installation.
Tax incentives: The federal government and many states offer tax incentives for homeowners and businesses that install solar panels to help offset the upfront cost of installation and improve affordability.
Increased property value: Solar panels can increase the value of your building and or property. According to studies, buildings with solar panels sell for more than buildings without them.
Overall, solar power can save money by reducing your electricity bills, providing credits or payments for excess energy production, offering tax incentives, and increasing the value of your building.
How do we finance solar?
Cash purchase: If you have capital to invest, purchasing the solar system outright may be the most cost-effective option in the long run. You can finance it with cash or use a business loan, and you will own the solar panels and the energy they produce.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): You can purchase the solar energy produced by a third-party solar company at a fixed rate for a set period. This option can provide cost savings on your energy bills without requiring an upfront investment.
Solar loans: Many financial institutions offer loans specifically for solar energy projects. These are a great way to finance a solar system while retaining ownership of the equipment and the energy produced.
Land/roof lease: In some states, developers may be interested in leasing your land or roof, making an annual payment to install solar panels for a fixed period. They would then either sell solar electricity back to the utility or to a third party through a virtual community solar program. The developer would pay you a fixed lease payment each year for the use of your property.
How much does it cost to maintain a solar system?
The cost of maintaining a solar system can vary depending on various factors, like the type of system, its size, location, and the level of maintenance required. Here are some of the common maintenance costs associated with solar systems:
Cleaning: Depending on location and environment, they may need periodic cleaning to remove dirt and debris that can decrease their efficiency. That cost can vary depending on the size and accessibility of the panels.
Inverter maintenance: The inverter is a critical component of a solar system, and it may require periodic maintenance, repairs, or replacement over the lifetime of the system.
Electrical maintenance: The electrical components of a solar system, including wiring and connections, may require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and safety.
Monitoring: Many solar systems come with monitoring systems that track energy production and performance. Monitoring services can provide valuable data on the performance of the system and may require an additional cost.
Overall, the cost of maintaining a solar system can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per year, depending on the size and complexity of the system.
However, it is important to note that a well-maintained solar system can provide significant cost savings on energy bills over its lifetime, making it a worthwhile investment for many businesses. In a third-party PPA financing structure, these costs would be covered by the developer or owner/operator of the solar array.
Why go solar now? Won’t the technology be cheaper down the road?
Energy cost savings: Start seeing significant cost savings on energy bills. By generating your own electricity with a solar system, you can reduce or even eliminate your dependence on the grid and save money over the lifespan of the system.
Incentives and rebates: Many governments, utilities, and other organizations offer financial incentives, rebates, and tax credits for businesses that invest in solar to help offset the upfront cost of a solar system and improve affordability.
Environmental benefits: Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that does not produce harmful emissions or contribute to climate change.
Energy security: Enhance your energy security and reduce dependence on the grid, which can be vulnerable to outages and other disruptions.
Competitive advantage: Demonstrate your commitment to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility.
While it is possible that the cost of solar technology could decrease in the future, consider the potential benefits and cost savings you can realize by investing in solar now. The potential for savings with solar energy can offset the initial cost of installation over time, and the benefits of solar technology extend beyond simple economic considerations.
How will solar impact building operations?
Reduced electricity costs: By generating electricity onsite, a building with solar panels can reduce its reliance on the grid and potentially lower its electricity bills.
Increased energy independence: By generating its own electricity, a building with solar panels can become more independent from the grid, which is particularly useful in areas with unreliable or expensive electricity supplies.
Improved resilience: In the United States, when there’s a power outage or other grid disruption, a building with onsite solar, coupled with onsite battery storage, can continue to operate critical systems like lighting, security, and communications.
Green credentials: A building with onsite solar can demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, which can project a commitment to the environment.
Maintenance and monitoring: Ensuring solar panels are functioning optimally may involve regular inspections, cleaning, and maintenance. Additionally, they will need to monitor the solar production and load management, interfacing it with the energy management systems.
Integration with other building systems: The addition of solar to a building’s energy mix may require integration with other building systems, such as energy storage and load management, to ensure the best use of the electricity produced.
Overall, onsite solar can offer many benefits for building operations, including cost savings, energy independence, improved resilience, green credentials, and opportunities for system integration. However, careful planning and monitoring are necessary to ensure optimal performance and system integration.
Do solar panels produce power when the sun isn’t shining?
Solar panels generate electricity when exposed to sunlight. When there is no sunlight, solar panels cannot produce electricity on their own.
To provide electricity when there is no sunlight, solar energy systems can be paired with energy storage systems, such as batteries, which can store excess electricity generated during the day for use at night or during periods of low sunlight.
Another option for providing electricity is a hybrid system, which combines solar energy with other renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro or geothermal energy or traditional sources such as natural gas or diesel generators. This approach can provide a more reliable and consistent supply of electricity.
Will solar panels power my building when the grid is down?
Whether or not solar panels can power a building during a grid outage depends on the type of solar energy system installed.
If a building has a grid-tied solar energy system without any energy storage capability, the system will not be able to power the building during a grid outage. This is because grid-tied solar systems are designed to feed excess electricity back into the grid and do not have the ability to store electricity for later use.
However, if a building has a solar energy system with battery storage capability, then the solar panels can power the building during a grid outage. During normal operation, the solar panels generate electricity and charge the battery, which can be used to power the building when the grid is down.
It’s important to note that not all solar energy systems are designed to operate independently of the grid, so if you are considering installing a solar energy system with battery storage, you should consult with a qualified solar installer to ensure that the system is designed to meet your specific needs.
What is the process for going solar?
Going solar for your operation typically involves several steps, which may vary depending on your specific needs and location. Here’s a general overview of the process:
Assess your energy needs: The first step is determining your energy consumption and what portion of it you want to offset with solar power so your system will meet your needs.
Evaluate your site: The next step is determining your site’s solar potential by analyzing factors like the orientation and tilt of your roof or the available space for ground-mounted solar panels.
Design your system: Based on your energy needs and site evaluation, a solar contractor or engineer will design a system that meets your requirements.
Obtain permits and approvals: You may need to obtain permits and approvals from your local government or utility company. It’s important to note that the process and timeline to develop a ground mount vs. rooftop solar array is different and dependent on a variety of local and state regulations.
Install your system: With the necessary permits and approvals, your solar system can be installed on your roof or on the ground by installing the inverters and other components and finally connecting the system to your electrical panel.
Monitor and maintain your system: After your system is installed, it’s important to monitor its performance to ensure operational efficiency. This may involve regularly checking your solar production and addressing any maintenance issues that arise.
What are the environmental benefits of solar?
Some of the factors driving the adoption of solar technology as a clean energy source include:
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Solar energy systems do not emit any greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide, etc.) that contribute to climate change. Using solar energy can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, which is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduced air pollution: The generation of electricity from fossil fuels can result in air pollution that can negatively impact human health. Solar energy systems do not produce any air pollutants, which can help improve air quality and reduce the health risks associated with air pollution.
Reduced water usage: The production of electricity from fossil fuels requires large amounts of water for cooling purposes. Solar energy systems do not require any water for power generation, which can help reduce the strain on water resources.
Reduced land use impacts: Large-scale solar farms can be installed on degraded or otherwise unusable land, such as landfills or former mining sites, reducing the need to develop pristine land for energy production.
Reduced reliance on non-renewable resources: Solar energy is a renewable energy source that relies on the power of the sun, which will continue to be available for billions of years. This reduces the reliance on finite non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil and natural gas.
What are the options for deploying a renewable energy program, including Onsite Solar, through World Kinect?
Renewable Energy Strategy Assessment: Explore whether onsite solar and/or other renewable options will work for your organization.
Onsite Solar Assessment: Get specific about what an onsite solar installation at your organization could look like. Our team of experts determine the feasibility of installing solar panels at your facility, including:
- Preliminary layout design
- Production estimates
- Modeled projections of the economics for a solar panel program for your unique needs
Particularly useful for multisite operations, this detailed assessment includes a preliminary solar layout, a solar production analysis, an economic analysis for a solar project unique to each situation, as well as an overview of how pertinent local incentives may influence the value of solar for a given market.
A modeled projection of economics will show how much you can expect to save on energy costs and when you can expect to see financial payback. With tangible insights from our team, decision-makers will understand the full impact a proposed project would have on your operation.
Solar managed services: If onsite solar will work for your facility, World Kinect can help you get a project off the ground (or on your roof) from start to finish. After a site review and high-level assessment, we provide preliminary layout designs and production estimates, along with a detailed projection of the economics involved to help you assess the payback and savings.
From buy-in with key stakeholders to choosing the right solar developer for a particular situation, World Kinect oversees the entire development process and is compensated by a success fee paid by the selected developer.
A few customers (typically, municipalities and education) will always need custom RFP proposals. But most of our customers opt for the faster-to-market deployment of their project, where we match the best developer for their project from our vetted Preferred Network.
Why World Kinect?
The strength of our service comes from our energy experts, who share over 100 combined years of expertise in consulting and renewable energy. Our team has consulted on over 80 onsite solar projects globally over the last few years alone. And if we determine that onsite solar is not the right fit for your organization, we have multiple options for mitigating Scope Two emissions, including Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs or EACs).
Not sure where to start? Our energy experts can conduct a Renewable Energy Strategic Assessment to help determine which solution would work best for your business.
Learn more about World Kinect energy solutions.
Contact a World Kinect customer representative.