Ohio SRECs

Customer Market Overview

Carbon Solutions Group, LLC (CSG) is focused on helping you as a solar array owner to monetize your Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).

What is an SREC?

SRECs are, or will be, generated by your solar array for every MWh your system produces. These credits only represent the environmental attributes of the power you produce, and we are not seeking to purchase the power. Click here for a more detailed explanation of SRECS.

How does this process work?

We are partnered with your solar installer to make this process as easy as possible for solar owners. We will receive information about your system from your solar installer and will provide you with a customized contract proposal for your system.

Our contract proposals are emailed via DocuSign straight to your email. We include all the payment structure options available to you with transparent pricing. Please review and select your preferred payment schedule. If you have any questions about the proposals or the SREC process, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

The registration process will begin after a system has been interconnected, and the solar owner has signed a REC contract. Systems eligible for Pennsylvania Tier I, regardless of physical location, will be registered with the state of Pennsylvania and PJM GATS registration, a REC generating and tracking system. This process generally takes between 2 - 5 months. Payment to the customer is dependent on the payment option chosen during contracting.

What Contract Options do we offer?

Full Upfront - One Upfront Lump-Sum Payment

This option is one payment upfront. This is a “pre-payment” for 25 years of SRECs generated. We calculate this payment based on your DC size. Payment occurs within 60 days of all registrations being approved and the first REC being delivered.

Short Term Locked-In Rate - Fixed Price per SREC with a shorter term

This option has a locked-in price per SREC and offers a shorter term. You will be paid annually between December and February based on your previous year’s actual production.

Market-Based - Current Market Rate Minus Commission

The timing and amounts of the payments will fluctuate with the market. We will sell your SRECs (based on the actual production) at least twice per year. Payments will be made within 45 days of the sale of the SREC, and a set commission will be deducted from your payment.

Ohio Market Details

Market Overview

The OH SREC Market is an open market where prices are determined by market forces. Key factors include the Alternative Compliance Penalty and supply and demand based on the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). OH-sited systems are also eligible for the Pennsylvania Tier I (PATI) market.

The Pennsylvania Tier I (PAT1) Market is an open market where market forces determine prices. Key factors include the Alternative Compliance Penalty and supply and demand based on the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). This is a subsection of the Pennsylvania SREC Market open for all eligible systems located in the PJM Grid, which include all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

CSG will register your system in the highest-priced market that your system is eligible to receive.

ACP and Market Trend

The PAT1 Market is ever changing, which is reflected in the pricing for RECs. The market has been trended up throughout the 2022 energy year. The Solar Alternative Compliance Payment (SACP) is set by the RPS and can be viewed as a soft benchmark for what the REC will be valued at. The SACP (or ACP) is a fee imposed on utilities and mandated purchasers for shortfalls in REC procurement.

The Alternative Compliance Payment (ACP) for Tier I  is $45/SREC.  

Retroactivity / Eligibility Start Date

Facilities on estimates will earn credit beginning with the first full month following application submission to PennAEPS.

REC Shelf Life

PA SRECs have a shelf life of 3 years.   Example: A SREC generated in 2022 can be counted towards the 2022, 2023, or 2024 compliance periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is CSG?

A: Carbon Solutions Group (CSG) is an Aggregator of SRECs across the US. CSG has been working in the renewable credit industry for over 15 years. Our focus is on helping solar array owners monetize their Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). CSG partners with local installers to create a seamless offering that gives you options with regard to how and when you receive the value generated by the RECs from your array. We currently service approximately 20,000 customers across 12 states. 

Q: What are SRECs?

A: SRECs are, or will be, generated by your solar array for every MWh that your system produces. These credits only represent the environmental attributes of the power you produce, and we are not seeking to purchase the power from the system itself. A short video provides more information here.

For clarification, we do not buy solar generation but rather the green attributes that your system production represents. You will retain all energy production. What we buy is the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs). Think of SRECs as certificates that represent that 1 MWh of solar energy was produced.

Q: How is my power bill impacted?

A: Your power bill is unaffected by SRECs. SRECs are "Solar Renewable Energy Credits" and represent the environmental attributes of the power you produce. You will not see any changes on your utility bill. 

Q: How does this impact Net Metering?

A: Selling your SRECs has no impact on Net Metering. You can participate in both Net Metering and sell SRECs at the same time. This is because Net Metering involves excess energy production, whereby you can receive a credit from your electricity supplier.

SRECs are solely the environmental attributes, so if you use all of your production or put it back on the grid for others to consume, it has no impact on your SREC production or ability to sell them. SREC brokering and Net Metering are separate incentive programs that allow solar owners to make back money.

Q: What are CSG Fees?

A: Depending on the contract option you select, we'll either offer a bundled fixed price offering that includes our commission, a market based-price that we would deduct our commission from, or a one time prepay upfront payment.  

Q: What are my obligations?

A: If you agree to a contract, then you would be agreeing to provide meter readings from your array on a consistent basis for the term of your contract. Depending on your inverter, online monitoring may satisfy this requirement.

Q: Can I sell my SRECs in a state market I don't live in?

A: It depends! Some markets do allow for systems located outside that state to participate. However, it is usually at a lower tier or class of the market, which is substantially less than the "in-state" price. CSG will register your system in the highest-priced market that your system is eligible to receive. Every state market has different eligibility requirements, and your system may not qualify. Check out our SRECS by State sections for more information.