Loading NuWatt Energy...
We use your location to provide localized solar offers and incentives.
We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
Loading NuWatt Energy...
The SMART 3.0 base incentive is just the starting point. Stack adders for battery storage, brownfield sites, canopies, and more — commercial projects can reach $0.22+/kWh for 20 years.
Under SMART 3.0 (PY2026), adders are additional per-kWh payments stacked on top of the base incentive — $0.03/kWh for residential systems or $0.06–$0.10/kWh net for commercial. The most common adder is the battery storage adder (+$0.04/kWh), which adds approximately $528/year or $10,560 over 20 years for a typical 11kW system. Other adders include low-income (+$0.05), solar canopy (+$0.08), community solar (+$0.07), dual-use agricultural (+$0.09), and brownfield (+$0.04). Multiple adders stack — a commercial canopy project with battery storage can reach $0.22/kWh or more for 20 years.
Each adder stacks on top of your base SMART rate and is locked in for the full 20-year term when you enroll.
+$0.03–$0.05/kWh
The most popular adder. Adding a battery to your solar system earns an extra $0.03–$0.05/kWh on top of your base SMART rate for the full 20-year term. A 10kWh battery on an 11kW system generates approximately $528/year or $10,560 in additional SMART revenue over 20 years.
Battery nameplate capacity ≥ 25% of solar system AC nameplate
Battery must be co-located with the solar system
Must be enrolled in ConnectedSolutions (if available)
Battery cycling requirements per DOER guidelines
Stacks with: All other adders
System Size
11 kW
Adder Rate
$0.040/kWh
Annual Adder Income
$528/yr
20-Year Adder Income
$10,560
+$0.03–$0.06/kWh
Available to households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) or solar projects located in designated low-income census tracts. This adder recognizes that solar should be accessible to all Massachusetts residents.
Household income at or below 80% AMI, OR
System located in a designated Environmental Justice community, OR
Community shared solar project with ≥50% low-income subscribers
Income verification through utility or state documentation
Stacks with: Battery adder, location adder
System Size
8 kW
Adder Rate
$0.050/kWh
Annual Adder Income
$480/yr
20-Year Adder Income
$9,600
+$0.03–$0.05/kWh
Incentivizes solar development on land that is otherwise difficult to use. Brownfield sites include former industrial properties, closed landfills, and sites with environmental contamination. This adder makes solar projects financially viable on land that would otherwise sit unused.
Site listed in MassDEP 21E database as a brownfield, OR
Closed or capped solid waste landfill, OR
Site with Activity and Use Limitation (AUL)
Environmental site assessment required
Project must meet MassDEP siting requirements
Stacks with: Battery adder, community shared solar adder
System Size
500 kW
Adder Rate
$0.040/kWh
Annual Adder Income
$24,000/yr
20-Year Adder Income
$480,000
+$0.03–$0.08/kWh
Rewards solar installations that use existing built infrastructure instead of greenfield land. Includes parking canopies, rooftop systems on commercial buildings, agricultural canopies (agrivoltaics), and floating solar on reservoirs or retention ponds.
Solar canopy over parking area or walkway, OR
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), OR
Floating solar on eligible water body, OR
Agricultural dual-use (agrivoltaics) with MDAR approval
Structural engineering certification required
Stacks with: Battery adder, low-income adder
System Size
200 kW
Adder Rate
$0.080/kWh
Annual Adder Income
$19,200/yr
20-Year Adder Income
$384,000
+$0.04–$0.07/kWh
Provides additional incentive for community solar farms that serve multiple subscribers, typically renters or homeowners who cannot install rooftop solar. Subscribers receive bill credits based on their share of the project output.
Minimum subscriber count per DOER guidelines
Subscriber management platform required
Low-income carve-out may be required (varies by block)
Net metering credits allocated proportionally to subscribers
Stacks with: Battery adder, brownfield adder, low-income adder
System Size
1000 kW
Adder Rate
$0.070/kWh
Annual Adder Income
$84,000/yr
20-Year Adder Income
$1,680,000
See how combining multiple adders increases your total SMART rate and 20-year revenue.
11 kW system
8 kW system
200 kW system
Revenue projections based on constant SMART rates over 20 years and 0.5% annual panel degradation. Actual rates depend on current block availability. See current block status
Select your system size, choose which adders you qualify for, and see your projected 20-year SMART revenue — base rate plus all stacked adders.
SMART 3.0 PY2026 rates. Commercial net rates shown after subtracting Value of Energy from gross base compensation. Actual net rates vary by utility territory.
Adders boost your rate by 133% above the base rate
10 kW system · 12,000 kWh/yr
Annual SMART Revenue
20-Year SMART Revenue
Extra revenue from adders alone:
+$9,157
over 20 years (with 0.5%/yr panel degradation)
Estimates based on 1,200 kWh/kW annual production (MA average per NREL PVWatts), 0.5%/yr panel degradation, and constant SMART 3.0 PY2026 rates over 20 years. Commercial net incentive rates are approximate — actual rates depend on utility territory and Value of Energy calculation. For educational purposes only.
Simply add a battery that is at least 25% of your solar system size. For an 11kW system, you need at least a 2.75kW (roughly 5kWh) battery. Most popular batteries (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase 5P, Franklin 13) easily qualify.
NuWatt recommendation: Add a battery. The adder revenue plus ConnectedSolutions income typically covers 50–100% of the battery cost over 20 years.
Requires proof of household income at or below 80% of area median income. In Greater Boston (2026), that is approximately $87,000 for a family of four. Documentation through your utility or the Massachusetts DOER.
This adder stacks with the battery adder for a powerful combined benefit.
Your site must be listed in the MassDEP 21E database or be a closed/capped landfill. An environmental site assessment (Phase I/II ESA) is required. This adder is primarily used by commercial and community solar developers.
Mostly relevant for commercial-scale projects, not residential rooftop solar.
Parking canopies, carport solar, building-integrated PV, and floating solar all qualify. Structural engineering certification is required. Agrivoltaics projects need MDAR approval for continued agricultural use.
Relevant for commercial properties with parking lots or agricultural land.
Yes. Most SMART 3.0 adders stack on top of the base incentive rate and on top of each other. For example, a low-income residential system with a battery could earn the low-income base rate ($0.06/kWh) + battery adder ($0.04/kWh) + low-income adder ($0.05/kWh) for a combined rate of $0.15/kWh for 20 years. Commercial systems with canopy and battery adders can reach $0.22/kWh or more. Some combinations have specific eligibility requirements.
The brownfield adder (+$0.03–$0.04/kWh) is available for solar projects built on brownfield sites — former industrial properties, closed landfills, or contaminated land listed in the MassDEP 21E database. An environmental site assessment is required. This adder makes commercial and community solar financially viable on land that would otherwise be unused.
The battery storage adder pays an additional $0.03–$0.05/kWh for every kWh your solar system generates (not just what the battery stores). For an 11kW system generating 13,200 kWh/year at $0.04/kWh adder, that is $528/year or $10,560 over the 20-year SMART term. This is on top of your base SMART rate and on top of ConnectedSolutions revenue.
Adder rates may vary slightly between capacity blocks, but they are generally more stable than base rates. Once you enroll and your SMART tariff is approved, your complete rate (base + all adders) is locked in for the full 20-year term. Apply before your block fills to secure the current rates.
Both. Individual homeowners at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) qualify for the low-income adder on their residential system. Community shared solar projects also qualify if they serve ≥50% low-income subscribers. The adder applies regardless of whether you own the system or participate in a community solar program.
Agrivoltaics (agricultural dual-use) solar qualifies for the canopy/building-mounted adder category. These are solar installations on farmland where agricultural activity continues underneath the panels. Projects require approval from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and must demonstrate ongoing agricultural use.
Yes. SMART payments and net metering are completely separate income streams. SMART pays you based on total generation (every kWh produced), while net metering credits reduce your electric bill based on exported power. All adders apply to SMART payments; net metering is not affected by which adders you have.
NuWatt handles the entire SMART application process including adder qualification. We will identify every adder you are eligible for and lock in the highest rate available.
Get Your SMART Rate AnalysisEverything about SMART 3.0: base rates, capacity blocks, enrollment process, and timeline.
Read moreAll MA solar incentives, costs, payback, and financing in one comprehensive guide.
Read moreEarn $225–$1,500/year per battery from Eversource and National Grid demand response.
Read moreStack SMART solar income with heat pump rebates for maximum Massachusetts savings.
Read more