What to Expect in Your Canadian Solar Site Assessment

If you’re considering solar for your business, school, or organization, one of the first steps is a solar feasibility study – or solar site assessment. This process helps determine whether solar is a good fit for your property and outlines what kind of savings, performance, and environmental benefits you can expect. 

At VCT Group, we offer free, comprehensive, data-driven solar site assessments that help Canadian organizations understand the full picture before moving forward. Whether your goal is to reduce operating costs, meet ESG targets, or future-proof your energy strategy, your free VCT Group site assessment is where it all begins.

What is a Solar Site Assessment? 

A solar site assessment is an in-depth evaluation that determines your property’s solar potential. It examines how much sunlight your site receives throughout the year, how much energy you currently use, and how solar can be integrated into your operations. 

Municipalities and funding bodies often require a solar feasibility study before approving projects. These studies provide details such as estimated system performance, projected energy cost savings, and return on investment. In other words, a solar feasibility study answers the key question: Is solar worth it for this site?

What Happens During a Site Assessment? 

During a site assessment, a solar specialist from VCT Group will: 

1. Analyze Energy Needs 

We begin by reviewing how much electricity you’re consuming and what you’re paying for that power. Most of this information is available on bills from your local utility. We often need more detailed information to fine tune our recommendations, but 12 months of electricity bills are a good starting point. 

2. Evaluate Your Property 

 Whether it’s for a rooftop project, parking lot canopy, or open land, we will survey space available for solar and create a preliminary design to model production from the system. We consider available sun hours, panel orientation, shading factors, effects of snow and more. Understanding these factors ensures that we understand how much electricity the system will be able to generate.

3. Financial Modelling  

Once we know how much power you can use and what your usage patterns (demand profile) look like, we start to get into financials. We look at build cost for a solar array that is well suited for your needs and what the cost to generate power will look like. We compare that to your current costs to access power from the grid, consider cost of ownership factors and project what savings will look like over time.

4. Provide Recommendations 

After the assessment, you receive a comprehensive report summarizing all our findings. It includes recommended project size and layout options, projected ROI timeline, estimated carbon reductions, and guidance for next steps. The report can also be used for internal approvals, budgeting, and supporting ESG reporting.

The Value of a Solar Site Assessment for Your Business 

A solar site assessment is more than just a technical review; it’s a decision-making tool that gives your business clarity and confidence. By the end of the process, you’ll know exactly how solar could work on your property, what costs and savings to expect, and what the installation timeline might look like. This insight allows you to make informed choices about energy investments without committing to a project blindly.

Additionally, a site assessment provides a foundation for long-term planning. Businesses can use the findings to budget for energy projects, plan expansions, or explore financing options such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). With this information, you can confidently move forward with solar solutions that fit your business’s financial, operational, and sustainability goals. 

In short, a solar site assessment transforms a complex decision into a clear, actionable plan. It gives you the knowledge you need to pursue renewable energy effectively, while setting the stage for cost savings, operational improvements, and sustainable growth. 

Book Your Free Solar Site Assessment Today 

The process is simple, informative, and tailored to your business. VCT Group works with Canadian businesses to provide detailed, reliable site assessments that show feasibility, cost savings, and the ESG value of solar. 

Book your free solar site assessment today and discover how solar can help your business save money, reduce emissions, and lead in sustainability.