Learn about SRECs

SRECs are tradable certificates that represent the environmental benefits of generating one megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar electricity. When your solar panels produce energy, you earn SRECs that can be sold separately from the electricity itself. In Ohio, utilities are required to purchase SRECs to meet their renewable energy requirements, creating a market for solar system owners to earn additional income.

No! When you sell SRECs, you're selling the environmental attributes of your solar energy production, not the electricity itself. You still use or sell your electricity as normal through net metering or your utility agreement. Think of SRECs as a separate, additional revenue stream that rewards you for generating clean energy.

SRECs exist because of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that require utilities to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Instead of building their own solar facilities, utilities can purchase SRECs from solar system owners like you to meet these requirements. This creates a financial incentive for homeowners and businesses to invest in solar energy, accelerating Ohio's transition to clean energy.

SRECs are generated from your total solar energy production, not just excess energy. Every kilowatt-hour your system produces counts toward SREC generation, whether you use it in your home, send it back to the grid, or store it in batteries. One SREC is created for every 1,000 kWh (1 MWh) your system produces.

SRECs are "minted" through a tracking system that monitors your solar system's production. Your inverter or production meter reports your energy generation data to a state-certified tracking system. Once your system produces 1 MWh (1,000 kWh) of solar electricity, one SREC is automatically created in your account. Buckeye Solar Credits handles all the technical details of this process for you.

We pay you! Buckeye Solar Credits purchases your SRECs and pays you for them. We handle all the complexity of selling SRECs on the market, and you receive regular payments for the clean energy your system produces. There are no upfront costs or fees to join our program.

No, SRECs are not included in your power bill. Your power bill reflects the electricity you use and any credits from net metering. SRECs are a completely separate revenue stream that you receive as payments from Buckeye Solar Credits. Many solar owners don't realize they're eligible for SREC payments until they learn about the program.

In Ohio, you can typically generate SRECs for production going back up to 12 months, depending on when your system was installed and interconnected. If you have an existing solar system and haven't been selling SRECs, you may be eligible for retroactive SREC generation. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and see if you qualify for back-dated SRECs.

Absolutely! Net metering and SRECs are completely compatible and complementary. Net metering gives you credits on your electric bill for excess energy sent to the grid, while SRECs provide additional income for the environmental benefits of your solar production. Most of our clients participate in both programs simultaneously.

We work with all major inverter manufacturers and monitoring systems. During onboarding, you'll grant us secure, read-only access to your solar monitoring platform (such as Enphase, SolarEdge, or Tesla). We automatically pull your production data each month to generate and sell your SRECs. The process is completely automated and secure - you don't need to do anything after the initial setup.

Our onboarding process is simple and typically takes 15-20 minutes. You'll provide basic information about your solar system, grant access to your monitoring platform, and sign a contract. We handle all the registration with Ohio's SREC tracking system. Most customers are fully onboarded and generating SRECs within 2-3 weeks.

We offer flexible options to match your preferences. You can choose upfront payments for guaranteed immediate income, or market-rate payments where we sell your SRECs at current market prices. Our team will help you understand the pros and cons of each option and recommend the best choice based on your financial goals and risk tolerance.

After completing onboarding, you'll typically receive your first payment within 60-90 days. This includes time for system registration, production data collection, SREC generation, and our payment processing cycle. Subsequent payments are made on a regular schedule, typically monthly or quarterly depending on your contract terms.

Yes, SREC payments are considered taxable income. If your annual SREC payments exceed $600, we'll send you a 1099-MISC form for tax reporting purposes. We recommend consulting with a tax professional to understand how SREC income affects your specific tax situation. Many solar owners find that the tax benefits of solar ownership offset the tax liability from SREC income.