From Guest Blogger Lillian Connors: Making Optimal Use of Solar Power in Business Premises
With a rapid rise in business costs and the unstable price of oil on the global market, numerous businesses are looking for alternative energy sources. Choosing sustainable power is also triggered by people’s growing concern for the environment, and the green business model provides companies, both big and small, a chance to increase profits by marketing themselves as an eco-friendly business.
Among the leading, most affordable energy solutions, solar-energy is prized for its cost effectiveness and wide-scale application. However, before making the transition to this renewable energy source, you will first need to learn how to make optimal use of solar power in your business premises.
Considering the Initial Steps
Solar power systems are governed by two major factors. The amount of solar panels can dictate the amount of energy your business produces. The first step when considering solar energy is to request a survey, so experts can measure the available space of your business premises. Additionally, they will analyze the amount of energy you will receive, by projecting the amount of sunlight the panels will be exposed to. Both startups and large corporations can then figure out if they want to position standard panels across their facilities or a few strategically placed ones that will create the optimal power.
Leasing vs. Purchasing
When exploring your solar power options, you also have the ability to purchase the solar power supply, but lease it, as well. When you lease your solar panels, you arrange a medium-term deal with no installation fees and without paying for the actually paying for the power your units produce. However, you will be paying the leasing fee, which increases each year, together with the additional power your facility will require.
Alternatively, in a standard purchase agreement, you’ll pay the installation and purchase of solar units upfront, with monthly maintenance costs. However, you will have a fixed per-unit electrical bill throughout your agreement, claim Sydney’s experts for solar panels. This will ultimately get rid of any uncertainties with your electricity bill, since the power purchase agreement can last up to 20 years.
Determining the Transition Method
Although, making the shift to an all-solar powered facility has numerous long-term advantages, the transition process can render your facilities inoperable during that installation period. Alternatively, if you take on a step-by-step approach, gradually switching certain parts of the company’s electricity requirements, you can ensure that your facilities are up and running throughout the entire transitional stage.
Choosing the Right Panels
Whether going for a lease or purchase agreement, make sure to choose solar panels that can be repositioned. Adjustable solar panels with are a solid option, because they can be fine-tuned to receive most sunlight regardless of the season. Even though pricier, sun-tracking panels are the best option, since they automatically reposition themselves, depending on the angle at which the sun’s rays are hitting the photosensitive surface.
Maintenance Costs
Even though solar panels are low-maintenance energy solutions, it is important to clean the panels every month and conduct regular inspections. Consult the solar company, to make sure you receive a system that requires no batteries, and whether they provide monthly cleaning and inspection services. Most solar systems also have a 20 to 25-year warranty, so even in a chance of a malfunction, the repair costs fall on the leasing company or the solar panel manufacturer.
Green Marketing Opportunities
According to Forbes, the story solar energy just beginning, so remember to market your company as a green, eco-friendly business. Using your solar system for PR and marketing purposes can also have a boost to ROI, as companies which use clean energy have a much greater appeal to potential leads. Additionally, it can have a positive effect on your brand, since you have the ability to generate an environmentally responsible business image.
In the end, solar power is the best solution for companies exploring the market for alternative and clean supplies to their energy demands. With varied application, good ROI, and novel marketing opportunities, follow these instructions to make optimal use of solar power in your business.
Businesses that have a wall facing south can use solar energy to heat their building with InSpire solar siding from Atas (headquartered here in the Lehigh Valley). http://www.atas.com/products/walls/inspire-solar-air-heating/inspire-wall
@ Lillian
nice info and understand you are trying to keep it general .
How ever the commercial market is Much different than the residential market and the big difference is in Electric Utility Rate structures.
The Economics are definitely in the Devilish Details!
The majority of commercial rate structures include Power KW demand charges. These comprise over 40 to 50 % of the total bill. These charges are separate from the energy portion of your bill. To save real money you need to reduce both.
Fact A traditional South facing PV system will reduce lots of kwhr ( energy ) but not have a major impact on demand charges due to the average metered demand impact being around 25 to 30 % only.
Your South facing system saves a high level of kwhr but they are priced lower so Your Total savings are lower and the ROI is lower and the payback period is extended. This is the technical/economic reality of commercial solar systems.
When solar panel efficiency improves to higher levels then the savings relationship between Kwhr ( energy ) and KW ( power demand) will align more favorably. But only to a degree.
Experience has shown that a typical 100 kw solar pv system will save around 30 % of its derated name plate capacity . And even less with a cheap low efficiency system. So this does not deliver good ROI’s. We are talking about KW demand here. The real costs.
There are solutions that can improve this and one is too install hybrid solar system with 50 % of solar panels South and 50 % facing West . These reduce the demand portion of the billing rate at a greater level. They keep the solar system producing longer during the summer peak demand billing times. Field research studies of these systems by utilities show demand reductions of up to 66 % so the economic benefits are greater as is the ROI.
Granted the trade off for these systems is less kWhr production but over all greater utility bill reductions. Also Utilities will treat these systems more favorably as they work towards reforming current Net Metering structures. Reducing demand during peak times is where solar could become a load management asset for the Grid and for reducing GHG etc. The Bigger picture and Goal!
Another way is to over size the solar system and add battery storage and add a Energy Mgmt system that integrates the flow of energy and uses the stored energy to do Peak Demand Clipping so that a certain amount of demand KW is reduced. This works on large 200 kw or greater sized systems and the savings can justify the cost of batteries, etc.
In contrast residential systems save against rate structures that have all of the utility costs built into one charge which makes it more effective in lowering the bill. ( the reason Kwhr charge is higher than ones used in commercial / Industrial rates) . Residential systems can save more money w current rate structures.
However in a effort to slow down solar penetration many utilities may impose demand charges on these systems. ( Then they w lower the energy charge in the Kwhr which reduces your savings) These debates are raging Nation wide. Again the mix of South and West facing panels could avoid conflicts and produce better economics. Saving higher levels of demand is a benefit to the Grid. Then the utilities may back off of the solar users and use them as a load management Tool. Its up to the regulators and the solar installers to find common ground.
There are some commercial solar co’s that have figured out a good East / West facing system that provides decent savings for solar in the commercial sector. These are gaining momentum and the large MGM Grand Resort casino installation in Las Vegas Nevada is going to use this type of system. This will be largest rooftop solar system in the US when completed. Around 8 or 9 megawatts from memory.
The power density is greater than south only facing thus the ROI is greater.
It is all about Power Density! especially at Peak times.
It is time for solar to move beyond the hobbyist stage and become a mature power source and become Mainstream Power Option for the masses!
New developments with Smart Inverters will also enhance these solar systems and power quality.
These are some of the ways to greatly expand the benefits of solar systems to the commercial sector.
Trust this is helpful Lillian.