The holiday season is here, and for many the holiday season is not only a season of celebration, but one of giving. 

If you've ever bought a house or leased property, you'll likely remember the reams of paperwork that went into that transaction. 

Brokering a solar deal is similar. 

A number of contracts are a part of the transaction, many of them similar to real estate documents. 

We've put together a basic guide to help each person involved in the process understand what solar contracts to expect, what to look out for in those contracts, and how to interpret what they're reading so that everyone gets the most out of the transaction and experience.

You're looking into finally getting into solar energy and starting to do your research on the pros and cons. You learn all about the benefits, the cost savings, the financing options, and start looking into solar partners and installers. 

What you don't look into is the nitty-gritty; the components of the solar system. 

Why?

It's easier than you think, less technical than you think, and you can learn the six major components and how they work together to make a solar power generation system produce useable electricity in under five minutes.

The more you know... right?

Clean energy is becoming more prevalent in the electricity market, and solar will continue to increase in popularity because of it's affordability, the recent passing of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and it's $369 billion dollar budget towards increasing energy security and reducing climate change, and solar technology advancements making solar more efficient every day. 

We hope this terminology guide of terms used in the clean energy space helps to provide potential buyers more education and clarity before and during the process of investing in clean energy!

Deciding to take your company solar is a big decision, and one you'll likely think about for a while before deciding to move forward. 

Knowing what to expect helps by preparing each person involved for the project and setting expectations early on to help business owners decide when the right time to take on their solar project is. 

Answer: It depends upon your reasons for installing solar. 

Do you want to go green? Reduce your carbon footprint? Are you trying to hit a corporate green initiative? All wonderful reasons for investing in a battery storage solution, but not the main driver of demand for batteries. 

Are you trying to save money on electricity? Are you concerned about intermittent electricity from the grid? Do you live in an area where you may experience an extreme weather event that will take down your electric utility? These reasons are more likely to receive a resounding YES, a battery storage system is worth investing in. 

One of the most difficult parts of going solar has nothing to do with the procurement of equipment, installation, or even shopping around for a great solar partner. 

It's the paperwork. 

Working with a solar company has it's perks; they handle all of the paperwork for you. 

But what kind of paperwork should you expect as a customer during the process of going solar?

Solar has gained popularity in the residential, commercial, and industrial fields in the last 5 years, though it's still a largely state-and-municipality regulated industry. 

Done correctly, businesses can potentially cut operating expenses by up to 40% by going solar.

So how do you know if you're getting the best deal possible before signing a solar contract?

Read our 3 best tips below before entering into a solar contract for your business!