STG Solar is now expanding our proven utility-scale expertise to serve commercial and industrial facilities throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. After successfully installing 1.79 gigawatts of solar power since 2015, we're bringing the same self-performing quality and reliability that major utility-scale projects demand to commercial buildings across the Southeast.
Ready to explore how commercial solar can reduce your energy costs? Talk to an expert at STG Solar to discuss your facility's specific requirements and discover how our commercial solar EPC services can deliver measurable results for your business.
Understanding Commercial Solar EPC Services
Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services represent a comprehensive, turnkey approach to solar project delivery. When you work with a commercial solar EPC contractor, you partner with a single company responsible for every aspect of your solar installation—from initial design through final commissioning and beyond.
This integrated approach offers significant advantages over fragmented project delivery where separate companies handle design, equipment procurement, and installation. With a single point of accountability, commercial solar EPC services eliminate coordination gaps, reduce project risk, and streamline communication throughout your solar installation.
What Makes EPC Different
Traditional construction approaches often involve multiple contractors: one company designs the system, another sources equipment, and a third handles installation. This fragmented approach creates coordination challenges, unclear responsibility when problems arise, and increased project risk.
Commercial solar EPC services consolidate these functions under one experienced contractor. Your EPC partner manages every project phase, ensuring seamless integration between design, procurement, and construction. When challenges arise—and they invariably do on complex commercial installations—you have a single team fully invested in solving problems and delivering results.
Why Self-Performing Teams Matter for Commercial Solar
Not all commercial solar EPC contractors are created equal. A critical distinction separates contractors who self-perform work with their own skilled crews from those who subcontract installation to third parties.
The Self-Performing Advantage
When STG Solar commits to your commercial solar project, our own trained crews perform the work. This isn't just a staffing decision—it fundamentally changes project outcomes in ways that directly benefit commercial building owners.
Quality Control: When the same company designs, procures, and installs your system, quality standards remain consistent throughout. Our crews understand how design decisions impact installation, allowing them to optimize both efficiency and quality during construction.
Accountability: Self-performing contractors cannot shift responsibility for installation problems to subcontractors. This creates powerful incentives for getting things right the first time and standing behind workmanship long after project completion.
Schedule Reliability: Commercial building owners need predictable project timelines. Self-performing contractors control their labor resources, eliminating the scheduling uncertainties that arise when coordinating multiple subcontractors.
Communication Efficiency: Direct access to the crews doing the work streamlines problem-solving and decision-making. Questions get answered quickly, and adjustments can be implemented without the delays inherent in managing subcontractor relationships.
Long-Term Partnership: When installation crews work directly for your EPC contractor, they're available for future service, maintenance, and expansion. This continuity benefits commercial solar owners throughout the decades-long life of their solar installations.
Commercial Solar Solutions for Every Facility Type
Commercial and industrial facilities present diverse opportunities for solar installations, each with unique technical requirements and economic considerations.
Rooftop Solar Systems
Commercial rooftop solar represents the most common installation approach for urban and suburban facilities where ground space is limited or dedicated to other uses.
Modern rooftop systems can be installed on virtually any commercial roof type—from flat membrane roofs common on warehouses and distribution centers to metal roofs typical of manufacturing facilities. Each application requires careful structural analysis to verify roof capacity and proper engineering to ensure the solar installation doesn't compromise roof integrity or create water intrusion risks.
Rooftop installations offer several advantages: they utilize otherwise unused space, avoid dedicating valuable ground area to energy infrastructure, and can often be installed without disrupting facility operations. However, they also present unique challenges requiring specialized expertise in both solar installation and commercial roofing systems.
Ground-Mount Solar Arrays
When commercial facilities have available land, ground-mount solar installations often provide the most cost-effective approach to solar energy. Ground-mount systems typically cost less per watt than rooftop installations, offer simpler installation logistics, and avoid concerns about roof structural capacity or warranty implications.
Ground-mount installations work particularly well for manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and commercial campuses where land is available but may be unsuitable for other development. These systems can be oriented and tilted optimally for solar production without the constraints imposed by existing building geometry.
BESS Integration for Enhanced Value
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) complement commercial solar installations by storing excess solar generation for use during periods of high electricity demand or when solar production is unavailable.
For commercial facilities facing high demand charges—costs based on peak electricity usage—battery storage can dramatically reduce energy expenses by shaving demand peaks. Batteries also provide backup power capability, increasing facility resilience during grid outages.
The economics of commercial solar plus storage have improved substantially as battery costs have declined. For many commercial facilities, the combination delivers greater value than solar alone, particularly in markets with favorable regulatory structures or high demand charges.
The Commercial Solar EPC Process: What to Expect
Understanding the typical commercial solar EPC process helps facility owners and managers prepare for what lies ahead when pursuing solar energy.
Initial Assessment and Feasibility
Every successful commercial solar project begins with thorough assessment of your facility's solar potential:
Site Evaluation: We analyze your facility's physical characteristics, including available roof or ground space, structural capacity, shading patterns, and electrical infrastructure.
Energy Analysis: We review your facility's electricity usage patterns, utility rate structures, and demand profiles to understand how solar can optimize your energy costs.
Financial Modeling: We develop detailed financial projections showing expected energy production, cost savings, available incentives, and return on investment timelines specific to your facility.
Custom System Design: Based on our assessment findings, we design a solar system optimized for your specific operational requirements, physical constraints, and financial objectives.
Engineering and Permitting
Once you approve the preliminary design, we proceed with detailed engineering and regulatory approvals:
Structural Engineering: For rooftop installations, structural engineers verify that existing roof systems can safely support the planned solar array and provide stamped drawings required for permitting.
Electrical Engineering: Our electrical engineering team designs the complete electrical system, including panel configurations, inverter specifications, interconnection details, and integration with your facility's existing electrical infrastructure.
Permit Applications: We manage all permit applications and regulatory approvals, coordinating with local building departments, electrical inspectors, and utility companies to secure necessary authorizations.
Utility Interconnection: We handle all utility interconnection applications and coordinate the technical requirements for safely connecting your solar system to the electrical grid.
Construction and Installation
With permits approved and equipment procured, our self-performing crews begin the physical installation:
Site Preparation: We prepare the installation area, whether rooftop or ground-mount, ensuring proper access and staging for efficient construction.
Structural Installation: Our mechanical teams install all mounting structures, carefully following engineered specifications to ensure structural integrity and proper drainage.
Electrical Work: Our licensed electricians install all electrical components, from panel wiring through inverters, disconnects, and final connection to your facility's electrical system.
System Integration: We integrate your solar system with existing facility systems, including any battery storage, monitoring equipment, and building management systems.
Quality Verification: Throughout construction, our quality control processes verify that all work meets our standards and complies with applicable codes and engineering specifications.
Commissioning and Handover
Before we consider your project complete, we conduct comprehensive system commissioning:
Functional Testing: We systematically test every system component to verify proper operation and performance.
Performance Verification: We measure actual system output against design specifications to confirm your solar installation will deliver expected results.
Training: We provide training for your facilities team on system operation, monitoring, and basic maintenance requirements.
Documentation: We deliver complete system documentation, including as-built drawings, equipment specifications, warranty information, and operating instructions.
Final Inspections: We coordinate all required final inspections with building departments and utilities, obtaining all necessary approvals for system operation.
Making the Decision: Is Commercial Solar Right for Your Business?
Commercial solar represents a significant investment, and responsible business owners naturally want to understand whether solar makes financial and operational sense for their specific situation.
Several factors typically indicate favorable conditions for commercial solar:
Substantial Electricity Usage: Facilities with high energy consumption generally achieve better solar economics because fixed project costs are spread across larger energy savings.
Favorable Utility Rates: High electricity rates and demand charges improve solar financial returns. Time-of-use rate structures that charge more during peak hours often align well with solar production patterns.
Suitable Space: Adequate roof or ground space with minimal shading is essential for productive solar installations.
Long-Term Facility Plans: Solar installations typically achieve optimal returns over 10-25 year timeframes, making them most attractive for facilities you plan to operate long-term.
Ownership vs. Leasing: Building owners generally benefit most from solar installations, though creative financing structures can work for some leased facilities.
Sustainability Goals: Beyond financial returns, many commercial organizations pursue solar to support corporate sustainability commitments and reduce environmental impact.
Why STG Solar for Your Commercial Solar Project
When STG Solar decided to expand into commercial solar EPC services, we brought decades of utility-scale experience to the commercial market. Since 2015, we've successfully delivered 1.79 gigawatts of solar installations for some of the largest names in the utility solar industry.
Proven Track Record
The quality standards, safety protocols, and project management disciplines required for utility-scale solar installations exceed those typical of smaller projects. By applying these proven methodologies to commercial installations, we deliver exceptional results that stand the test of time.
Self-Performing Capabilities
Our mechanical and electrical teams perform the critical work on your project, ensuring consistent quality and direct accountability. We don't rely on subcontractors for core construction activities—when we commit to your schedule and quality standards, our own crews deliver.
Comprehensive Electrical Expertise
Commercial solar installations demand sophisticated electrical capabilities. Our teams hold unlimited electrical licenses throughout the Southeast, providing the expertise needed to safely integrate solar systems with complex commercial electrical infrastructure.
Safety as a Core Value
Our commitment to safety runs deep, backed by comprehensive OSHA training and strict safety protocols on every jobsite. We've completed major utility-scale projects without lost-time incidents, and we bring the same safety culture to every commercial installation.
Geographic Coverage
With coverage across Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, STG Solar can support multi-location commercial clients with consistent service quality across the Southeast.
Taking the Next Step: Starting Your Commercial Solar Journey
If you're considering commercial solar for your facility, the best first step is a professional consultation to assess your specific situation and solar potential.
STG Solar provides no-obligation assessments for commercial facilities throughout our Southeast service area. During an initial consultation, we'll:
- Review your facility's physical characteristics and energy usage
- Identify suitable locations for solar installations
- Provide preliminary estimates of system size and energy production
- Discuss available incentives and estimated project costs
- Outline a realistic timeline for project development and installation
- Answer your questions about commercial solar technology and implementation
Want to learn more about STG Solar's commercial capabilities and explore whether solar makes sense for your facility? Our team is ready to provide a no-obligation assessment of your solar potential and help you understand the specific benefits solar could deliver for your business.
Book a consultation with STG Solar today to discuss your commercial solar EPC requirements and discover how our self-performing teams can deliver the quality, reliability, and results your business deserves.
**Disclaimer:** The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and should not be considered professional engineering, financial, or legal advice. Solar system design and implementation require site-specific engineering analysis that accounts for your facility's unique structural, electrical, and operational requirements. Before making any decisions about solar installation, we strongly recommend consulting with qualified solar engineers and designers who can properly assess your specific situation. Every commercial facility has unique structural, electrical, and operational characteristics that must be properly evaluated by qualified professionals before proceeding with solar installation. Factors including roof structural capacity, electrical system compatibility, local code requirements, utility interconnection specifications, and site-specific conditions require professional engineering analysis.
Ready to get started? Contact STG Solar's team to schedule a professional consultation and engineering assessment for your facility.