Commercial Solar for Cold Storage in Arlington
A typical commercial solar system for cold storage in Arlington can save up to $4,266,958 over 25 years. With 5.0 peak sun hours per day and a commercial electricity rate of approximately $0.102/kWh through Oncor, Arlingtonis one of Texas's strongest markets for commercial solar.
kWh/m² per day in your area
Avg $/kWh through Oncor
For a typical Arlington cold storage
With all federal & state incentives
Why Arlington Cold Storage Are Ideal for Solar
Cold storage facilities have extreme energy intensity, often 4-5x the consumption per square foot of standard warehouses. This creates the fastest payback period of any commercial building type.
Strong Solar Resource
Arlington averages 5.0 peak sun hours per day, ideal for commercial solar production.
Real Utility Rates
With Oncor commercial rates around $0.102/kWh, every solar kWh delivers direct savings.
Tax Advantages
30% Federal ITC + 5-year MACRS depreciation + 100% Texas property tax exemption stack together.
Arlington Cold Storage Solar: Local Market Context
Why Arlington
Arlington's position as home to AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field drives year-round demand for cold storage serving the hospitality and food service sectors that support 4+ million annual visitors to the Entertainment District. With summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100°F for 20+ days per year, refrigeration compressors in cold storage facilities run at peak capacity precisely when Arlington's 5.0 peak sun hours deliver maximum solar output, creating natural load alignment that reduces demand charges by up to 40%.
Industrial Corridors
Cold storage operators concentrate along the Interstate 20 corridor near Six Flags Drive and in the South Arlington industrial area around Sublett Road, where proximity to both DFW Airport (12 miles) and Fort Worth's food processing plants minimizes transportation costs. The Great Southwest Industrial District along Highway 360 has seen three new temperature-controlled warehouses break ground since 2021, each exceeding 150,000 square feet and drawing 1.5+ MW at peak refrigeration load.
Oncor Specifics
Oncor's deregulated delivery model means Arlington cold storage owners pay only $8.50/kW in Oncor-billed demand charges while purchasing energy from competitive retail electric providers at $0.102/kWh, but solar systems require a separate Distributed Generation Interconnection Agreement that typically takes 45-60 days for systems above 1 MW. Oncor's lack of solar export credits under Texas deregulation makes proper system sizing critical—oversizing by even 10% eliminates ROI since excess generation has zero wholesale value to cold storage facilities with 24/7 base loads.
Sample Cost Breakdown for Arlington Cold Storage
Estimates for a typical 625 kW system on a Arlington cold storage.
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross System Cost | $937,500 |
| Federal ITC (30%) | −$281,250 |
| MACRS Depreciation Tax Savings | −$199,219 |
| Texas Property Tax Exemption (25 years) | −$515,625 |
| Net Effective Cost | $457,031 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from Arlington commercial property owners
