The Steps to Solar Investment

From Conception to Installation

Transparency is a pillar of Adapt Energy’s business and sits atop our value structure as a company. Through this post, I will show you behind the scenes of our modern assessment, design, and quoting procedure in the name of transparency and understanding. This process transitions an initial interest in solar energy into a viable long-term investment and is less complex than you might think. Utilizing cutting edge Geographic Information System (GIS) data, on the ground observations, and practiced design skills, we make solar investment accessible, easy, and high tech.

Step 1: Assessment

The first step upon receiving interest in solar energy is a viability assessment of the home or property. This will assess if a home or property has the assets essential for solar power energy generation including: orientation to South, risk of shade, risk of obstruction, and slope of the roof (where applicable). We achieve this through satellite imagery of the area without the need for physical measurements on the ground.

Step 2: Electricity Demand

If a home or property passes the initial assessment as a viable candidate for solar energy generation, we then request more information about historic (or projected) electricity usage. Typically, electricity bills, usage numbers, or costs over a period of at least one year will give enough information to base a system design upon. However, the more information available the better! The electricity data not only informs the design of a solar system but also ensures a smooth application to the utility company when accessing net-metering.

Step 3: Full Solar Proposal

Adapt Energy now has all the information necessary to design an array of custom solar energy solutions. We generate and present 2 - 3 different solar systems that range in size and/or technology to achieve the economic, density, and aesthetic goals of each client. This process is achieved entirely remotely, requiring no on-the-ground measurements. The layout, product quantities, costs, return on investment (both annually and over the warranted life of the system), expected energy generation (annually and month to month) are all included in our proposals.  
 
Step 4: Pick a System

We will take any feedback you have upon receiving the proposals and answer any questions. Often, we can provide clarity and insight into how the numbers were generated and give the home/property owner all the tools necessary to make an informed decision.

Step 5: Apply to the Utility

Once you have selected a system, the rest is up to us. We will fill out the electrical utility’s net-metering application with the specific details of your system. The utility company (Fortis or BC Hydro) will then process the application over a 2-week period. In this time, they will check that the home/property’s electricity demand matches the system design and that the supporting energy infrastructure of the neighborhood can support solar energy generation.

Step 6: Book your installation

Once your application has cleared, we will arrange a convenient time to install the solar system. A typical residential install will take anywhere from 2 – 5 days depending on site specific factors. We will also walk through the included solar monitoring system that ensures all solar components are functioning correctly.

These 6 steps are all it takes to own a solar system through Adapt Energy. We are proud to offer a transparent process that gives owners all the tools to make an informed decision about a solar investment. Adapt energy is determined to aid British Columbia’s transition to sustainable energy generation and a low carbon economy on quality installation at a time.

Mackenzie Kilpatrick