Staples
At a Glance
Industry
Retail and Apparel
Project Types
Commercial Energy Efficiency, Clean and Renewable Energy, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy
Year
2012
Location
Framingham, MA
Summary
Lai helps Staples plan for future solar projects, and save over $100,000 annually from existing installations.
Goals
Staples, the world's largest office supply company, hired Phillip Lai to analyze the economics of on-site solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation.
Solutions
Lai analyzed Staples’s existing solar power purchase agreements (SPPAs) to determine their financial impact on the company and to develop decision-making guidelines for future solar projects. His analysis incorporated the impacts of the solar installations on overall energy costs; a comparison of future electricity prices to SPPA rate escalation schedules; and the impact of net metering rules on solar generation credits received from utilities. Based on this analysis and additional research, Lai also developed guidelines to help decision makers evaluate future solar projects on key factors such as location, system sizing, pricing and net metering considerations.
Potential Impact
With the help of Staples' energy team, Lai uncovered potential for over $100,000 of additional solar generation credits, annually, from existing installations.