Battery – Nextwatt

Battery

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Battery Basics

Nextwatt works with landowners and solar & battery energy storage system (BESS) developers to develop energy projects across the U.S.A. We do this by:

identifying land that meets the developers’ specified criteria,
working with landowners to lease or sell their land to developers, and
assisting developers in obtaining all required permits and approvals, such as municipal, zoning, and interconnection.

Timeline

1. Site Control

(1-3 mns)

Landowner signs a non-binding Utility Consent Form, which the utility requires to start the interconnection study process.
Option to purchase or lease property or portion of the property.

2. Interconnection

(3-5 mns)

Technical Review (15 days). Utility performs a desktop review of the proposed interconnection point and sends a report indicating viability.
CESIR Study (60 days). After a viable Technical Review, the utility performs a full interconnection study that results in required grid upgrades and costs.
If the cost to interconnect is within budget, the site is secured via an executed lease or purchase agreement.
Project moves to municipal permitting.

3. Permitting

(6-12 mns)

Securing all necessary building permits and approvals to move toward construction and operation.

4. Construction

(2-3 mns)

Light construction consisting of clearing and grading (if any), laying concrete pads and conduit, delivery of premanufactured battery system, and utility interconnection.

5. Operations

(30-40 yrs)

Project owner manages and operates the BESS system.
Landowner has no responsibilities or obligations regarding the project.

6. Decommisioning

(1 mn)

At the end of the project’s life, the project owner decommissions the project and returns the site back to its original form. This decommissioning is secured by a decommissioning bond and decommissioning plan as a standard requirement to secure a municipal use permit.

F.A.Q.

Do you lease or buy land?

What is the process?
The process is the following:
- Site Control. Sign a Lease or Purchase Option Agreement with the landowner.
- Permitting. Request a grid interconnection study from the local power company and obtain permitting from the municipal government.
- Construction. Construct the solar project, which includes erecting the supporting metal structure, placing the solar panels, connecting the solar project to the electric grid via a power line.
- Operation. Operate and maintain the solar project, which includes remotely monitoring its power production, periodically cleaning the panels, and landscaping the surrounding vegetation.

What are the benefits?
1. Earn more money! Solar and energy storage projects offer landowners a way to take what might otherwise be unused land and either sell or lease it to generate more income. And if you sell the land, you will not have to pay the customary 3-6% real estate agent fee for listing your land. That’s a big saving to you.
2. Decrease your community’s electric bill by 10-20%! Community solar projects allow local residents to subscribe to the solar project (usually at no cost) and earn credits that decrease their monthly electricity bill by 10-20%! That means that you can decrease your and your neighbors’ monthly electricity bill by 10-20%. Sound too good to be true? This is possible through state government subsidies from taxes. See the other FAQ “How does community solar work?” for more details.
3. Help the environment. Solar and energy storage projects help us move towards a cleaner environment and help decrease global warming.

What are the risks to me?
- The biggest risk to you is that after you sign the Lease or Purchase Option Agreement, the developer may not be able to obtain grid interconnection or all the required permits, in which case the project will not be built and the developer will not purchase or lease your land. You will receive an upfront payment that you will still keep, but you will not receive the larger sale proceeds or lease income that you expected. This risk is unfortunately unavoidable and is clearly communicated to you and in the agreement that you will sign.
- If all the permits are obtained and the project is constructed, then both solar and energy storage projects are relatively low maintenance with very little risk of disruption or danger.

Who will remove the solar project?

If you lease your land, at the end of the lease term (25-35 years) the solar developer will be responsible for removing the solar project and all of its components and restoring your land to the condition that it was in when you signed the Lease Option Agreement. This will all be specified in the Lease Option Agreement that you will sign. Sometimes, the solar developer is required by local law to establish a fund in which it will periodically deposit money that will cover the solar project removal costs.

How much do you pay?

This is the big question!

For solar projects, the buy and lease prices that our developers offer range. The buy offer can be the market price of the land, given comparable land close by that has sold recently, or it can be up to $6,500/acre.

The lease offer can be between $500-2,000/acre per year, depending on the developer. The lease term is 30 years with an option to renew an additional 10 years.

How long will it take?
Below are typical timeframes for each stage of a community solar project:
- Site Control. 1-3 months
- Permitting. 6-12 months, but after receiving the interconnection study (3 months) we will have a very good idea of whether the solar project will be feasible and will inform you.
- Construction. 3-6 months
- Operation. 25-35 years

Why should I work with you?
- Nextwatt works with multiple developers and therefore can bring you the highest and most competitive price offer. Also, this increases the likelihood of finding a developer who wants to lease or buy your land. There are no costs to you for working with us.
- We are here to help you monetize your land for a good cause. We are professional, efficient, and pleasant to work with. Our goal is not to hoodwink you into signing over your land, but instead to guide you through the process, explain the benefits and risks, and find an arrangement that works best for you.
- We also only work with serious and well-capitalized solar and energy storage developers, so you don’t have to worry about the developers going bankrupt or engaging in unprofessional practices.

How does community solar work?
A community solar project is a solar project, to which local residents can subscribe and receive a credit to decrease their electricity bill, typically by 10-20%.

Here are some helpful websites that provide more information:

If I lease, will my taxes go up?

About

Nextwatt works with landowners and solar & battery energy storage system (BESS) developers to develop energy projects across the U.S.A. We do this by:

identifying land that meets the developers’ specified criteria,
working with landowners to lease or sell their land to developers, and
assisting developers in obtaining all required permits and approvals, such as municipal, zoning, and interconnection.

F.A.Q.

Solar

Do you lease or buy land?

What is the process?
The process is the following:
- Site Control. Sign a Lease or Purchase Option Agreement with the landowner.
- Permitting. Request a grid interconnection study from the local power company and obtain permitting from the municipal government.
- Construction. Construct the solar project, which includes erecting the supporting metal structure, placing the solar panels, connecting the solar project to the electric grid via a power line.
- Operation. Operate and maintain the solar project, which includes remotely monitoring its power production, periodically cleaning the panels, and landscaping the surrounding vegetation.

What are the benefits?
1. Earn more money! Solar and energy storage projects offer landowners a way to take what might otherwise be unused land and either sell or lease it to generate more income. And if you sell the land, you will not have to pay the customary 3-6% real estate agent fee for listing your land. That’s a big saving to you.
2. Decrease your community’s electric bill by 10-20%! Community solar projects allow local residents to subscribe to the solar project (usually at no cost) and earn credits that decrease their monthly electricity bill by 10-20%! That means that you can decrease your and your neighbors’ monthly electricity bill by 10-20%. Sound too good to be true? This is possible through state government subsidies from taxes. See the other FAQ “How does community solar work?” for more details.
3. Help the environment. Solar and energy storage projects help us move towards a cleaner environment and help decrease global warming.

What are the risks to me?
- The biggest risk to you is that after you sign the Lease or Purchase Option Agreement, the developer may not be able to obtain grid interconnection or all the required permits, in which case the project will not be built and the developer will not purchase or lease your land. You will receive an upfront payment that you will still keep, but you will not receive the larger sale proceeds or lease income that you expected. This risk is unfortunately unavoidable and is clearly communicated to you and in the agreement that you will sign.
- If all the permits are obtained and the project is constructed, then both solar and energy storage projects are relatively low maintenance with very little risk of disruption or danger.

Who will remove the solar project?

If you lease your land, at the end of the lease term (25-35 years) the solar developer will be responsible for removing the solar project and all of its components and restoring your land to the condition that it was in when you signed the Lease Option Agreement. This will all be specified in the Lease Option Agreement that you will sign. Sometimes, the solar developer is required by local law to establish a fund in which it will periodically deposit money that will cover the solar project removal costs.

Want to learn more about solar projects?

Click here!

Battery

How much do you pay?

This is the big question!

For solar projects, the buy and lease prices that our developers offer range. The buy offer can be the market price of the land, given comparable land close by that has sold recently, or it can be up to $6,500/acre.

The lease offer can be between $500-2,000/acre per year, depending on the developer. The lease term is 30 years with an option to renew an additional 10 years.

How long will it take?
Below are typical timeframes for each stage of a community solar project:
- Site Control. 1-3 months
- Permitting. 6-12 months, but after receiving the interconnection study (3 months) we will have a very good idea of whether the solar project will be feasible and will inform you.
- Construction. 3-6 months
- Operation. 25-35 years

Why should I work with you?
- Nextwatt works with multiple developers and therefore can bring you the highest and most competitive price offer. Also, this increases the likelihood of finding a developer who wants to lease or buy your land. There are no costs to you for working with us.
- We are here to help you monetize your land for a good cause. We are professional, efficient, and pleasant to work with. Our goal is not to hoodwink you into signing over your land, but instead to guide you through the process, explain the benefits and risks, and find an arrangement that works best for you.
- We also only work with serious and well-capitalized solar and energy storage developers, so you don’t have to worry about the developers going bankrupt or engaging in unprofessional practices.

How does community solar work?
A community solar project is a solar project, to which local residents can subscribe and receive a credit to decrease their electricity bill, typically by 10-20%.

Here are some helpful websites that provide more information:

If I lease, will my taxes go up?

Want to learn more about battery projects?

Click here!