A “Great Circle” is the shortest pathway between two points on a sphere. Inspired by this concept, Great Circle Solar provides a direct and efficient route for North American institutional and real estate owners to adopt, host or own Solar and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).

Not exactly. We manage the whole process of assessing specific sites for suitability, working with clients to create financial models and business cases for the project, designing the system, running RFPs for installation counterparts, overseeing procurement of materials, managing the construction at site and confirming completion and commissioning of the system so it can be safely energized. We engage installation partners to complete the construction of our clients’ solar assets.

Great Circle is prepared to step in at any stage of the development process, however, the earlier you involve our team, the better. Due to our decades plus experience in the solar sector, we know the potential hurdles that developing solar projects will face and can mitigate their impact.  We can also offer different ownership options or structures to optimize a client’s solar program rollout.

We work with our clients to determine their objectives and tailer our work to address their unique needs and priorities. We draw upon our expertise to raise considerations our client might not have otherwise considered. Our firm is wholly-independent and we seek to align our business model and profit purpose 100% with equity. We act on a direct fiduciary basis for the special purpose entities of our investor clients, with a mandate to support the local technical, commercial operation and regulatory compliance of our clients’ investments and to focus on all elements of asset optimization and return realization.

Many of the systems we manage are located in Ontario, Canada. However, we are currently developing sites in New Jersey and California and anticipate building in Alberta in 2024.

Yes! We received our Certificate of Authorization from the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 2023 (100604254).

In addition to standard Commercial and General Liability policies, the firm maintains comprehensive Errors & Omissions coverage in Canada and the United States.

Net metering is a billing method that credits owners of solar energy systems for the surplus electricity they supply to the grid. It involves:

1. Solar Energy Production: Excess electricity generated by rooftop solar systems during the day is fed back into the grid.
2. Electricity Metering: A meter records both electricity consumed, and electricity sent to the grid, effectively running backward when excess electricity is produced, crediting the owner.
3. Billing and Credits: At billing time, the utility company calculates the net electricity usage, crediting or sometimes paying the owner if more electricity was produced than consumed.

The details of net metering can differ based on local regulations and utility policies, impacting the financial benefits and savings from solar energy investments. Some areas offer credits equal to the retail rate of electricity, while others may offer a reduced rate.

Yes, a solar power system offsets power from the grid, which will have a calculated level of carbon intensity depending on the power generation systems in that grid. Since solar power is emissions-free, if the grid has related emissions, solar power will decrease the end-users’ scope 1 emissions (direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization). Also, most ESG scorecards give points for buildings with rooftop solar systems, such as the LEED and the WAIRE programs, among others. In short, an investment in a solar system can be an asset to both the company’s finances and addressing climate change.