Storage is the new solar.
After July 4, 2026, the federal credit for new solar starts is gone — but battery storage carries its own incentive runway. Demand charges, SGIP rebates, and resilience needs make storage-first designs the smart play for Inland Empire businesses.
Why storage, why now
Three forces driving storage-first
Demand charges are brutal
For commercial SCE customers, demand charges can be 40-60% of the total bill. A single 15-minute spike sets your demand charge for the month. Battery discharge flattens that spike.
Resilience is non-negotiable
Wildfire PSPS events, grid instability, and equipment-sensitive operations mean outages aren't just inconvenient — they're expensive. Battery backup keeps critical loads running.
SGIP rebates still available
California's Self-Generation Incentive Program pays up to $1,000/kWh for equity-tier storage projects. We handle the reservation, compliance, and payout tracking.
Use cases
Storage solves real operational problems
Warehouses & Distribution
Warehouses & Distribution
Demand charges can be 40-60% of your bill. Peak draw from conveyor systems, dock equipment, and HVAC spikes your kW demand.
Battery discharges during peak windows, flattening demand and cutting the demand-charge line item. Solar charges the battery off-peak.
Cold Storage & Food Processing
Cold Storage & Food Processing
Refrigeration loads cannot go down — even a brief outage means product loss. Compressor start-up surges are notorious demand-charge drivers.
Battery provides seamless transition during outages (sub-second transfer) and absorbs compressor inrush currents to cap demand peaks.
Data-Adjacent & Telecom
Data-Adjacent & Telecom
Even edge data centers and server rooms need UPS-grade reliability. Diesel generators have 10-30 second lag — too slow for modern equipment.
LFP battery banks provide instant transfer and bridge the gap until generators spin up, or replace them entirely for shorter outages.
Retail & Restaurants
Retail & Restaurants
POS systems, refrigeration, and lighting need to stay up. A 4-hour outage during business hours means lost revenue and spoiled inventory.
Right-sized battery keeps critical circuits running through most outages. Solar reduces the baseline bill so the battery ROI accelerates.
Agriculture & Irrigation
Agriculture & Irrigation
Pump scheduling is dictated by TOU rates. Remote sites may face unreliable grid or no grid at all. Diesel is expensive and dirty.
Solar-charged battery runs pumps on schedule regardless of grid status. Off-grid configurations eliminate the utility connection entirely.
Technology comparison
Three chemistries, one integrator
We're not locked to one manufacturer. We size and specify the right chemistry for your load profile, duration needs, and fire-safety requirements.
Electrovaya Infinity BESS
- Chemistry
- LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
- Capacity
- 215 kWh – 2.158 MWh
- Duration
- 2-4 hours
- Warranty
- 20 years
Ceramic separator technology — highest safety margin in LFP
Made in USA (Jamestown, NY)
Best for: Warehouses, distribution centers, carport solar
ESS Iron Flow Energy Warehouse
- Chemistry
- Iron Flow (non-lithium)
- Capacity
- 4-12 hour duration
- Duration
- 4-12 hours
- Warranty
- 20+ year design life
Zero thermal runaway risk — no fire suppression required
Made in USA (Wilsonville, OR)
Best for: Microgrids, tribal land, community solar, water utilities
Eos Energy Z3
- Chemistry
- Zinc-Bromine (non-lithium)
- Capacity
- 3-12 hour duration
- Duration
- 3-12 hours
- Warranty
- 20+ year design life
Non-flammable aqueous chemistry, FEOC compliant
Made in USA (Turtle Creek, PA)
Best for: Long-duration storage, critical infrastructure
Architecture choice
Solar+storage or standalone?
Charged by the sun
- Solar charges battery during peak production
- Maximum bill offset — both energy and demand
- May qualify for Section 48E (if construction began by July 4, 2026)
- MACRS depreciation on full system
- SGIP rebate eligible
Best when you have roof/ground space and high daytime + evening loads.
Grid-charged or generator-integrated
- No roof space needed — works anywhere
- Charges during off-peak TOU, discharges during peak
- Demand charge reduction only (no energy offset)
- Qualifies for SGIP rebate
- MACRS depreciation eligible
Best when roof isn't viable or your primary pain is demand charges.
SGIP rebate pathway
How we secure your SGIP rebate
SGIP can offset a significant portion of battery cost. The process is competitive and compliance-heavy — we handle it end-to-end.
Reserve capacity
SGIP capacity reservations open in blocks. We track the queue and file your reservation the moment a window opens.
System installation
We design, permit, and install your battery system to SGIP-compliant specs with our own crews.
Commission & verify
After PTO, the system is commissioned and verified. SGIP pays out over 5 years based on actual performance.
Ongoing monitoring
We monitor discharge cycles and SGIP compliance metrics. Rebates can reach $1,000/kWh for equity-tier projects.
SGIP equity-tier rebates can reach $1,000/kWh. Eligibility depends on location (DAC), facility type, and project size. We'll model your specific eligibility during the assessment. Rebate amounts are subject to program funding and CPUC rule changes.
Quick sizing
Storage sizing calculator
No email required to see the estimate.
Instant estimate
Size your system
Drag the sliders. The estimate updates live — no dollar figures, just system sizing and offset range.
Estimated system
200 kW solar
150 kWh battery
Estimated bill offset range
55–70%
Ballpark only. Our team confirms final sizing after a site review.
Full assessment
Give us the details, get a real proposal
The more we know up front, the faster we can model your incentive stack and return a real Artemis proposal — not a vague range.
Tell us about your business
We'll route this to the right specialist based on your profile.
Prefer to just talk it through?
30 minutes with a commercial storage specialist. Bring your last utility bill.
Ready to take control of your energy costs?
Get a complimentary solar assessment from a GC-licensed team with 30+ years of construction expertise. No pressure, just honest numbers.