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Modern businesses across the globe have to strike a fine balance between innovation and sustainability. Add to that the need to keep their operational costs from ballooning. And one immediately realizes that it’s easier said than done.
That’s when commercial solar enters the picture. It can help modern businesses drive toward their goal of a more sustainable world. At the same time, it enables them to offer innovative, tech-powered solutions to enhance their overall processes. All while saving considerable costs.
But what exactly is a commercial solar panel? How can it help businesses? Are there any challenges? Let’s look at all that and more in this blog.
» What are Commercial Solar Panels?
As the term suggests, commercial solar panels refer to solar panels for businesses. Organizations of all sizes and stat across industries can resort to commercial solar for their projects and operations. That way, commercial solar has a huge customer base, including but not limited to an established large firm, a small local entrepreneur, a non-profit organization, a school or college, a university, and a government agency.
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What’s more? You can mount commercial solar on the ground or on the rooftops of your commercial premises. The rooftop panels are arranged in an array-like structure.
Moreover, the size of commercial solar can vary from megawatts to kilowatts, depending on the requirements of the organization.
» Top Benefits of Commercial Solar Panels
Switching to solar panels brings in a host of benefits to businesses, regardless of their industry or size. Let’s look at some of these advantages in brief:
› Cost savings
One of the biggest advantages for businesses adopting commercial solar is reduced energy bills. Yes, the initial investment into solar is hefty. But this huge investment makes way for electricity cost savings in the long term. That, in turn, allows you to use your capital more strategically. For business expansion, for instance. That eventually strengthens your business’s financial standing and market reputation.
› Customized energy solutions
Whether you are a large company with an entire building to yourself or a medium-sized business, you can personalize your commercial solar system. From a small setup on the rooftop to an installation on the ground, it is possible to configure your solar panel based on the availability of your space and energy requirements. That makes solar a highly scalable and adaptable system.
› Accessibility to incentives
While the upfront costs for commercial solar may seem too much, there are many financing options available for organizations wanting to take the plunge. From government grants to rebates and tax credits, you can choose what suits your goals best. With such incentives, the road to installing solar panels becomes more feasible.
› Better brand image
In today’s rapidly changing environmental landscape, it has become imperative for companies to make sustainable choices. However, not every organization is able to do that. But those that do get a lot of attention and accolades. From their customers, prospects, and the market at large. It makes them come across as a responsible, thoughtful brand that cares for the environment and not just about their profits!
› Energy independence
With a commercial solar panel, your business would no longer be fully dependent on conventional power grids. Besides, the ever-fluctuating energy rates would be less of a worry, too. Commercial solar provides you with a secured, constant energy supply, opening doors to energy independence. The best part? You have more clarity regarding your future operating costs since there won’t be too many cost fluctuations.
» How to Choose the Best Commercial Solar Panel For Your Business?
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Opting for the best commercial solar panel for your business is a difficult task. You’ve multiple options from the leading market players to choose from. Thankfully, there are several key factors that can help you make the right choice. Let’s take a look at these primary considerations:
1) The available space and size of your business
When it comes to installing commercial solar panels, the size and space of your business and premises matter. Large businesses may have more available space than small or medium entities. This availability of area influences your choice of panels or whether you’d go for rooftop or ground-mounted panels.
2) The energy you currently consume
Before choosing any solar panel, analyze how much energy your business consumes at present. Having clarity on your present energy consumption and usage patterns will help establish your solar system requirements in terms of energy capacity and system size. That would take you a step closer to choosing the right system that fulfills your demands.
3) Your financial goals & budget
The budget your business can set aside for commercial solar affects the quality and size of the solar system. At the same time, it can also help you select the right financing options that are in line with your financial goals.
4) The location of your business & climate
The performance of solar systems is highly dependent on local climate conditions. Systems installed in a region that has less sunlight consistently will offer lower efficiency than the ones based in sunny regions. Thus, it’s best to keep the geographical conditions of your location in mind to get the desired performance out of your solar system.
5) Your long-term business plans
When choosing a commercial solar panel, make sure you go with a scalable system. A system that can easily handle your growing requirements in the future. Otherwise, when you expand your business, you may have to completely change your solar solution, which may prove to be a too expensive, complex, and time-consuming process.
6) Compliance & available incentives
Last but not least, do a thorough analysis of the local laws and regulations regarding commercial solar. Also, check the incentive programs your business may qualify for. That would simplify the selection process further.
To sum it up, it’s wise to get a thorough understanding of your requirements first. Doing so would help you select the best-suited solar system for your business.
» How to Go About Commercial Solar Installation?
The process of commercial solar panel installation might affect your business operations. However, if you plan it well, considering the potential impact it can have on your processes, the disruptions could be minimal.
Here’s how you can handle it:
- Start with a planning phase: Let experts assess the site for effective installation planning.
- Schedule the installation: Set the installation schedule in a way that doesn’t disrupt or interrupt your operational hours. It’s best if you can keep it during your business’s off-hours or less busy seasons.
- Do thorough preparations: You may have to restrict access to the installation site while the installation is in progress. For instance, for rooftop solar panel installation, the area immediately below it should be free from any activities. Furthermore, you may need to make temporary alternate power arrangements while the switch to the solar system is under process to keep your operations going.
- Follow safety measures: To avoid any unfortunate incidents, it is imperative to set up signage and barriers to restrict movement and access to the site of installation. The safety of your workforce and visitors is of utmost priority.
- Test your new solar panels: Once the solar panels are installed, it is necessary to run a check. Such tests ensure the transition is not only successful but also smooth. Also, these tests reveal if the operations have any gaps so you can fix them ASAP.
If you hire professional commercial solar panel providers, they take care of all these primary measures for hassle-free installation.
Now, let’s move on to discover some common challenges organizations experience when transitioning to a commercial solar system.
» What are the Challenges in Switching to Commercial Solar?
› Upfront costs
One of the biggest concerns that worries businesses is cost. Switching to commercial solar panels needs significant initial investment. Although there are incentives and competitive pricing in a growing market, the upfront cost is still too high for some companies.
› Regulatory issues
Implementing commercial solar requires getting clearances and permits. You have to abide by the local laws and regulations. And that process is both complex and time-consuming.
› Complex incentive programs
While there are numerous financing options and incentive programs available for solar projects, opting for the best one can be a tricky task.
› Space constraints
For organizations with space limitations, it can get difficult to find the required installation space.
› Technological uncertainties
Businesses globally are slowly adapting to solar energy due to the sustainability it offers. But the technology, along with solar software, is still evolving. Thus, there are many questions and concerns with respect to its reliability and suitability.
› Utility policies
For businesses to switch to solar energy, utility policies have to be positive. If the utility rates or metering for solar, for example, are too high, it can reduce the potential ROI, driving businesses away.
» Final Thoughts
Commercial solar equips businesses to create a brighter, more efficient, and sustainable tomorrow. Switching to a commercial solar panel not only unlocks long-term economic benefits but also places your brand as environmentally conscious. Such a boost in your reputation gains more trust from the customers, inching you closer to your revenue goals. All while being an active part of the revolution for clean energy.
