Leasing Your Property
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Lease Your Property for Solar with Axis Solar
& Austin Energy’s Standard Offer Program
Interested in having a tenant on your roof? start here!
Turn your unused roof or land into passive income with a commercial solar lease. Axis Solar helps Austin property owners earn reliable revenue through the Austin Energy Standard Offer Program—no upfront costs, no hassle. We openly share our sample lease rates because we’re confident in our rates and expericence with the Standard Offer Program. We believe strongly in our value proposition. Use our *Sample Lease Tables below to see your potential earnings and start profiting from solar today.
EST 55,000 SQFT
- 500kW System Size
- 25 Year Lease
- Zero Upfront Cost
- 1-2% Annual Escalator
EST 80,000 SQFT
- 750kW System Size
- 25 Year Lease
- Zero Upfront Cost
- 1-2% Annual Escalator
Est 110,000 SQFT
- 990kW System Size
- 25 Year Lease
- Zero Upfront Cost
- 1-2% Annual Escalator
*These aspects (as well as others) will influence the site lease amount:
- Size and organization of available roof space (55,000 Sq Ft Min)
- Size and placement of transformer (750 KVA Min)
- Roof condition
Exploring the Opportunity
a Quick peer into what next steps look like
- Get a prospective estimate either from our Sample Lease Table above or a conversation with our Business Development team
- If those numbers look good, we will confirm them with a site assessment and detailed design
- We’ll put together a term sheet and LOI to get the process started
- Next we’ll begin the interconnection process with Austin Energy, and start engineering the project
- While we’re working on that, you’ll review the lease contract and we’ll execute it upon mutual agreement
- Once we are all set with the interconnection, lease agreements, and permits, we can commence the installation, which will typically take between 3 and 9 weeks depending on the system size.
- Upon completing installation, we work with Austin Energy to get through the inspection process and turn the system on.
- Revenue starts to flow.
Solar Lease Stakeholders
Better understand who receives & is responsible for what
System Owner
- Covers all CapEx
- Pays for System O&M
- Pays Property Owner to
lease roof space - Sells Electricity to
Austin Energy - Takes on all Liability
for Solar Project
Axis Solar – Installer
- Registered With
Austin Energy - Develops and Engineers
Solar Project - Procures materials
and installs project - Responsible for system
function through 10-year
workmanship warranty - Performs O&M
Property Owner
- Receives lease payment
from system owner - Lease has a 25-year term
and 1-2% annual escalator - Allows access to system/roof
for maintenance - Increases NOI for Property
- Increases Property Value
Austin Energy
- Reviews, inspects, approves
& commissions project - Pays System Owner for
electricity - Retains Rewnewable
Energy Credits - Meets city-wide renewable
energy goals
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions asked regarding leasing your property for solar use.
What does this system cost me to get installed?
Nothing. You read that right, there are zero out-of-pocket expenditures for the building owner. Our capital partner will own the system and cover all of the installation costs.
Who maintains the solar system?
Austin Energy requires Axis to provide a 10 year workmanship warranty so as to ensure a high level of installation quality. That means the system should require very minimal maintenance. If it does, Axis will handle that and it will be paid for by the system owner.
What are the risks to installing solar on my roof?
In having a lease project installed by Axis Solar and owned by our capital partner, there are very few risks to you. Axis Solar has an exceptional safety record, both in the installation and long-term function of our projects. Axis will work to maintain the condition of your roof, placing extra TPO slip sheets between our racking and the roofing membrane. We will also work with your roofer to maintain the roofing warranty, just in case. Insurance for the system is covered by the owner as well.
Working with a leading and experienced solar installer such as Axis Solar is a key way to make sure there is little to no risk to you or our property. We take this seriously and we know you do too. We are happy to speak to you at length about how we work to mitigate any risk to you.
We may need to build out the space to suit a tenant in the future, and that might include adding equipment to the roof. What happens then?
Once the panels are in place they will have to stay in place for the duration of the lease. However, in many cases, there will be plenty of room on the roof to accommodate added equipment in the future. If you have any questions, we are happy to discuss the design with you in detail, and work to suit your needs.
I've never heard of this option before, is it new?
Launched in January 2025, Austin’s new Standard Offer Program introduces rooftop leases for solar. Similar lease projects have been common for years, especially on the East Coast.
What makes for a good roof?
Size matters. We’re looking for rooftops of at least *55,000 sq. ft. The roof must also be in good condition to minimize the risk of post-installation repairs.
How will this help marketing?
You can definitely market your building as having solar and we’ll take some great photos of your project to support this. And you can highlight that by taking part in the Austin Energy Standard Offer Program, you are supporting community solar in Austin. However, you can’t claim any carbon offsets, because those are owned by Austin Energy.
Do we get the tax benefits from this system?
No. Because our capital partner will own the system, they will reap all of the tax benefits from the project.
Will this reduce the monthly electricity Bill?
No. Because our capital partner will own the system, they will reap all of the electricity savings from the project.
what if we want to own the system?
You can do that. If you have the cash on hand and want to invest in solar, it will provide a great return. Please connect with our Business Development team for more information. Keep in mind that solar projects cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars depending on the size.
What happens if we sell the property?
In most cases, the solar lease will continue on with the property, the same as any tenant lease would. In this way, it will guarantee revenue for the next owner, the same as it did for you. And that increased revenue should mean a higher property valuation when you go to sell.
If you need to terminate the lease upon dispositioning the property, however, you should be able to. There will be lease buyout options available at certain timelines in the agreement.
I have land but not a good roof, can we do a lease on the ground?
It’s possible. We are happy to speak with you about that. Please reach out to our Business Development team for more information.
My roof needs to be replaced before I can pursue this. What should I do?
That will likely be a pretty big expense. Depending on the cost and the opportunity, we might be able to cover the cost of roof replacement for you and roll it into the lease. Please reach out to our Business Development team for more information.