Energy project finance reference. This educational resource covers project investment and financing concepts. It is separate from Jaken Energy’s commercial electricity and natural gas procurement service; it is not a financing offer or a promise of funding.
Bifacial solar economics and production assumptions
Bifacial modules can collect light from both sides, but additional energy depends on site and design. Ground reflectance, mounting height, spacing, shading and soiling affect rear-side contribution. A universal percentage gain is not a bankable production assumption.
What to evaluate
Compare the incremental installation cost with a modeled change in output for the same site. Make clear whether a production estimate is based on a measured surface, an assumed reflectance or a generic default. Review module warranties and the engineer’s loss assumptions.
Build a defensible comparison
A decision should also consider tracker configuration, maintenance access and land requirements. Test the investment with a smaller rear-side gain than the sales case. More output only creates value when it can be used or sold under the applicable contract and grid constraints.
Documents and questions to prepare
- Site-specific rear-side modeling
- Incremental installation and maintenance cost
- Warranty and production uncertainty
- Curtailment and output value
For commercial property owners
Start with the property’s actual accounts, lease responsibilities and plans for ownership or sale. Keep commodity procurement, building improvements and project investment as separate decisions. Include the costs you retain and the savings you retain after tenant reimbursement. An improvement that lowers a tenant-paid expense may benefit tenants without producing the same increase in owner income.
Prepare a base case and a downside case using dated evidence for costs, revenue and funding. Any financing rate, tax benefit or return is a project assumption until supported by current documents. Legal, tax, engineering and lender review should follow the actual transaction.
For the existing property’s supply-cost decision, use the contract-cost calculator or request a property energy review.
Primary sources
Reviewed October 12, 2026. Program rules, tariffs and financing terms should be checked again before a transaction.