Crete United

CASE STUDY

PUBLIC STORAGE SOLAR EXPANSION AND SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Feb 2025

As the largest owner of self-storage properties in the world, Public Storage is demonstrating its focus on sustainable improvement through the implementation of renewable energy generation. Using 2022 as their baseline, they set a 45% Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions reduction goal by 2032. Coming into 2024, they already had onsite solar photovoltaics at 470 properties, and that number is expected to increase to 1,300 properties by the end of 2025. Their commitment to environmental responsibility at this scale requires excellence in planning, technical solutions, and project execution. Crete United is playing a key role in Public Storage’s solar expansion with 20 installations in the Phoenix, AZ metro area and will soon grow this partnership with multiple installations in Las Vegas, NV. Crete’s renewable solutions team and utility experts work to evaluate portfolio energy use, rate tariffs, and available incentives. That expertise allowed each selected site to meet Public Storage’s IRR requirements, and Crete has been given the opportunity to participate in several New Construction projects at Public Storage’s greenfield climate-controlled properties due to Crete’s ability to navigate utility requirements and manage multi-site installations.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

LOCATION

PHOENIX, AZ

SCOPE

20 SITES / 2.5 MW TOTAL

ENERGY SAVINGS

3.8M+ kWh/YEAR SAVINGS

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

IRR GOAL MET PLUS 30%+ INVESTMENT TAX CREDITS AT EACH SITE

CHALLENGE

As Public Storage rapidly expands their solar portfolio, their success is highly dependent upon who they select as solution providers. This level of aggressive deployment could easily overwhelm an inexperienced company and result in missed deadlines and underperforming systems. Knowing this, Public Storage has become very selective when evaluating potential partners’ capabilities, solution development process, and projections of energy reduction and IRR.

SOLUTIONS

Crete worked with them over many months to demonstrate their ability to analyze properties and gain the confidence of Public Storage’s internal renewable energy team. This included a full energy consumption and rate analysis to identify sites with the potential for the highest financial benefit. Site walks were conducted to physically verify building characteristics and determine the feasibility of rooftop solar applications. Additionally, utility interconnection requirements and available tax incentives were researched to avoid roadblocks and maximize project returns.

 

RESULTS

Crete was awarded a rooftop solar project that spans 20 properties in Phoenix, AZ that will generate an estimated 3.8 million kWh of clean energy production, offset a minimum of 30% of project costs through investment tax credits, and meet Public Storage’s IRR goal at each site. Due to Crete’s demonstration of expertise in managing multi-site installations and coordinating with utility representatives, they were recently awarded another large set of properties in Las Vegas, NV that will move Public Storage closer to their 1,300 solar property goal in 2025.

 

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