Path-Q Solar

How should a business compare solar on a leased warehouse roof with solar on land it owns beside the facility?

Answer

Compare the options on control, usable life, energy yield, construction cost, and operational risk. Owned land generally provides stronger long-term site control, while a leased roof may avoid land-use impacts but depends on lease rights, roof condition, structural capacity, and the remaining lease term.

Key points

  • Owned land can support a longer project life and easier access, maintenance, replacement, and removal if the business controls the parcel.
  • A leased roof may have lower site-acquisition impact but requires enforceable rights to install, access, insure, maintain, and remove the system.
  • Compare shading, orientation, interconnection location, trenching, drainage, structural upgrades, roof replacement timing, and expected production.
  • Include the value of using the land for other purposes and the opportunity cost of occupying roof or ground space.

What it depends on

  • Remaining roof lease term and renewal rights
  • Roof structural condition and warranty requirements
  • Land availability and competing uses
  • System layout, shading, access, and interconnection requirements
  • Responsibility for repairs, insurance, and removal

Risks and trade-offs

  • A roof system may need removal or relocation if the roof is replaced or the lease ends.
  • A ground system may require more civil work, security, fencing, drainage measures, or land-use approvals.
  • The highest-producing location may not be the lowest-cost or most controllable location.

Information you may need

  • Roof and land survey or preliminary design
  • Roof warranty and lease provisions
  • Structural and geotechnical assessments
  • Interconnection and site-access requirements
  • Expected production and full installed cost for each option

Your next step

What to do next

Request comparable preliminary designs that use the same production assumptions and separately identify site work, roof work, access, removal, and interconnection costs.

Path-Q

Find the right next step

Answer a few questions and we’ll narrow your options.

Loading…

SQ03224