Solar and financial considerations: As consumers, we have become accustomed to buying energy from monopoly providers at pre-set rates and tiers with few options available. Once you own a solar energy system, the energy it produces is essentially free because there is no cost for fuel, year after year. At this point, you own a small utility company to serve your own energy needs, with almost no operating costs. Incentives, credits and rebates have made solar energy systems popular in recent years. Incentives that can either reduce initial up-front investment or compensate the on-going energy generated or both. New markets for renewable energy can make its intrinsic value multiples higher in value than traditionally-generated energy. All of these factors must be put together to analyze each project in order to make informed business decisions for investing in solar.