Self-Storage Facility Saves with Solar
Project Background
This storage facility in Guelph, Ontario offers temperature-controlled storage units of varying sizes, for residential and commercial use.
Seeking to offset the costs of powering such a large facility, they partnered with Guelph Solar to install a 456-panel solar array on the flat roof of their warehouse. The new solar system ensures that they will have clean, reliable power and stable energy costs for years to come.
This storage facility in Guelph, Ontario offers temperature-controlled storage units of varying sizes, for residential and commercial use.
Seeking to offset the costs of powering such a large facility, they partnered with Guelph Solar to install a 456-panel solar array on the flat roof of their warehouse. The new solar system ensures that they will have clean, reliable power and stable energy costs for years to come.
System and Technology
The 253.4 kW solar photovoltaic system was designed to maximize available roof space and generate as much energy as possible to offset the existing consumption.
The 253.4 kW solar photovoltaic system was designed to maximize available roof space and generate as much energy as possible to offset the existing consumption.
Solar Panels
456 x 545W Canadian Solar bifacial panels
Optimizers
N/A
Grid-Tied Inverters
1 x 185kW Solis 600V inverter
System Monitoring
SolisCloud monitoring
System Operation
This net-metered solar system powers the facility during daylight hours, significantly reducing costs and grid dependence. Excess energy is exported to the grid, earning credits that offset electricity use during the cloudy winter months.
This net-metered solar system powers the facility during daylight hours, significantly reducing costs and grid dependence. Excess energy is exported to the grid, earning credits that offset electricity use during the cloudy winter months.
Financial Overview
With the 30% Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CTITC):
25-year savings: $1,240,000
Payback Period: 8.9 years
Assumptions used for estimating system value:
Utility Rate: $0.145/kWh
Utility Rate Inflation: 2% per year over 25 years
Annual Solar Output Degradation: 0.3%
Year 1 Energy Generation: 278,120 kWh
Inverter Replacement: One time over system life
Equipment warranty: 25 years
With the 30% Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CTITC):
25-year savings: $1,240,000
Payback Period: 8.9 years
Assumptions used for estimating system value:
Utility Rate: $0.145/kWh
Utility Rate Inflation: 2% per year over 25 years
Annual Solar Output Degradation: 0.3%
Year 1 Energy Generation: 278,120 kWh
Inverter Replacement: One time over system life
Equipment warranty: 25 years
Project Impact
The system will:
Produce 268,271 kWh of clean electricity annually.
Offset 201.25 metric tons of CO₂ over its lifetime.
Deliver an environmental benefit equivalent to preserving 8 acres of Canadian forest.
With their new 456-panel solar array in place, this Guelph storage facility has taken a proactive step toward long-term cost stability while reducing their environmental footprint. The project demonstrates how energy-intensive, temperature-controlled facilities can benefit from solar, turning unused roof space into a reliable asset that delivers energy savings year after year.
The system will:
Produce 268,271 kWh of clean electricity annually.
Offset 201.25 metric tons of CO₂ over its lifetime.
Deliver an environmental benefit equivalent to preserving 8 acres of Canadian forest.
With their new 456-panel solar array in place, this Guelph storage facility has taken a proactive step toward long-term cost stability while reducing their environmental footprint. The project demonstrates how energy-intensive, temperature-controlled facilities can benefit from solar, turning unused roof space into a reliable asset that delivers energy savings year after year.
© 2025 All Right Reserved by Guelph Solar