Clear answer, explained.
On completed Green Integrations projects, payback ranges from 3 to 6 years. Facilities with high daytime loads and access to Ontario Save on Energy or the federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit tend to land toward the lower end of the range. These figures are drawn from completed installations — not projections.
The IRR on completed projects runs 15–30%. The key variables are the facility's blended electricity rate inclusive of all charges, annual generation relative to total annual consumption, and the combined incentive stack applied to the project capital cost. Ontario-specific structures — Global Adjustment, TOU pricing, and demand charges — must all be captured in the financial model for the output to be reliable.
A project-specific financial model built from your utility interval data is the only way to know where your project falls. Industry-average estimates do not account for facility-level rate structures or the specific consumption profile of the building.
What this means in practice.
- Completed GI projects deliver payback in the 3–6 year range — from actual installations, not projections
- Project IRR on completed installations runs 15–30%
- Electricity consumption profile, roof area, tariff structure, and incentive access all affect the final payback figure
- Facilities with high daytime loads and Ontario Save on Energy or Clean Technology ITC access reach payback faster
- Ontario-specific charges — Global Adjustment, TOU, demand — must be modelled for an accurate financial result
- A project-specific model built from utility interval data is the only reliable basis for payback estimation
Best-fit environments.
- You are evaluating commercial solar and want a realistic return range before requesting a proposal
- Your CFO or board needs a payback range to evaluate the investment case
- You want to understand which factors move your project toward the shorter or longer end of the range
- You are comparing solar against other capital investments and need a credible IRR benchmark
