Why SF solar is its own design problem

San Francisco rewards owners who think strategically about energy. Commercial demand charges run aggressively high under PG&E E-19/E-20 tariffs. Multi-tenant buildings — common in SOMA, the Mission, FiDi, and Dogpatch — create rooftop revenue opportunities that don't exist in single-tenant markets. And San Francisco's mandatory benchmarking (the Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance) creates compliance pressure that on-site solar materially mitigates.

What's different about San Francisco solar:

CleanPowerSF generation, PG&E delivery. Most SF customers are on CleanPowerSF (CCA) for generation while PG&E handles delivery. Solar economics are still excellent — but the modeling has to account for both the generation rate (lower) and the delivery rate (steady).
Multi-tenant Monetize Rooftop opportunities. SF has thousands of mid-size commercial buildings with single owners and multiple tenants — exactly the structural setup where our Monetize Rooftop model creates new landlord revenue.
Architectural integration. Historic SF buildings, residential conversions, and high-design new builds need solar that meets the architectural intent — not solar that gets tacked on. See our design philosophy.
Mandatory Benchmarking compliance. Commercial buildings over 10,000 sq ft must report annual energy use under the Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance. On-site solar directly improves Energy Use Intensity — see our AB 802 article (covers the broader California version).

What we install in San Francisco

Commercial Rooftop Solar

Mid-size buildings across SOMA, Dogpatch, the Mission, and the Avenues. PPAs, leases, ownership — modeled for your specific tariff and load.

Multi-Tenant Rooftop Revenue

Monetize Rooftop model adapted to SF building stock. Sell solar to tenants below the prevailing rate; landlord collects the spread.

EV Charging Infrastructure

Workplace and multi-tenant building Level 2 and DC fast charging. Paired with solar where possible to avoid grid upgrade costs.

Architectural Integration

Solar for design-forward residential and institutional projects. Flush-mount, hidden conduit, custom canopies — see our approach.

Local references

We installed a custom timber-framed solar pavilion for a French school in San Francisco — bifacial panels integrated overhead, creating a shaded gathering space below. The project demonstrates how solar can be designed into architecture rather than bolted onto it. For commercial portfolio examples relevant to SF multi-tenant buildings, see Pacific American Group and Airport Business Center.

Common San Francisco questions

Does SF have enough sun for solar to work?

Yes — the SF marine layer is misleading. Annual irradiance averages ~1,500 kWh/kW/year, on par with most Bay Area markets. The afternoon clearings that follow morning fog actually line up well with commercial peak-rate windows.

How do CleanPowerSF tariffs affect solar payback?

For commercial customers, the combination of CleanPowerSF generation rates and PG&E delivery rates yields solar paybacks of 5–8 years for typical mid-size buildings. Adding battery storage to capture demand-charge savings tightens this further.

Can solar help with the Energy Performance Ordinance benchmarking?

Yes — directly. The ordinance measures whole-building energy use; on-site solar reduces grid consumption, which is what's measured. Solar is the single highest-impact lever to improve EUI scores for SF commercial buildings.

Get a free evaluation for your San Francisco property

Multi-tenant building? Commercial owner? Architectural project? We model the economics before you commit a dollar.

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