Many businesses choose solar energy solutions to decrease their carbon footprint, save money on energy and promote consumer goodwill for their business through responsible energy consumption. When considering solar energy as a power alternative for your business, there are four things to keep in mind:
Consider Your Site
Take a look at your site. What is the orientation of your building? There is a 6% greater efficiency in south facing versus east facing panels. Also consider the total hours of sun per day that is usual for your area: Phoenix, Arizona will provide a much greater solar efficiency than Seattle, Washington. The size, age and design of your structure must be evaluated. Depending on the installation, your roof must be able to support panel, rack and ballast weights of the panels. A structural engineer can decide the potential effect of the panels on your building and consider environmental factors such as wind and snow loads. Building strength will determine the type of technology that can be used.
Choose Your System
Photovoltaic cells convert energy from the sun into electricity. These systems are made up of modules called arrays, which require inverters that take the direct current electricity produced by the sun and convert it to alternate current electricity, to be stored in batteries. There are two main categories: flat-plate or concentrator. Flat plate systems are the most common, using arrays that are either fixed or mobile to track the sun. These use diffuse or direct sunlight for operation and are simple and lightweight. Concentrators use lenses or reflectors to increase power output by focusing light intensity. They are able to use less cell material, which results in cost savings, since photovoltaic cells are the largest expense in a solar energy system. However, they do require additional cooling equipment, as the lenses produce heat that can, over time, degrade the cells.
Installation
Proper installation is the key to providing the greatest functionality for your solar energy system. On a commercial-scale project it is desirable to work with qualified energy specialists that will oversee the quality of workmanship. Having a project manager handle construction and site issues can also help prevent disruption of your daily business operations.
Maintenance
Once installed, solar energy systems are relatively simple to maintain and have a long lifespan. Depending on the size and complexity of your system, consider a maintenance program that provides service on an annual or semi-annual basis. This includes ensuring the module arrays are clean and the electrical systems are functioning and up to code. It is also recommended to have a yearly analysis of your system's energy output to make sure it is operating at maximum efficiency.
Consider Your Site
Take a look at your site. What is the orientation of your building? There is a 6% greater efficiency in south facing versus east facing panels. Also consider the total hours of sun per day that is usual for your area: Phoenix, Arizona will provide a much greater solar efficiency than Seattle, Washington. The size, age and design of your structure must be evaluated. Depending on the installation, your roof must be able to support panel, rack and ballast weights of the panels. A structural engineer can decide the potential effect of the panels on your building and consider environmental factors such as wind and snow loads. Building strength will determine the type of technology that can be used.
Choose Your System
Photovoltaic cells convert energy from the sun into electricity. These systems are made up of modules called arrays, which require inverters that take the direct current electricity produced by the sun and convert it to alternate current electricity, to be stored in batteries. There are two main categories: flat-plate or concentrator. Flat plate systems are the most common, using arrays that are either fixed or mobile to track the sun. These use diffuse or direct sunlight for operation and are simple and lightweight. Concentrators use lenses or reflectors to increase power output by focusing light intensity. They are able to use less cell material, which results in cost savings, since photovoltaic cells are the largest expense in a solar energy system. However, they do require additional cooling equipment, as the lenses produce heat that can, over time, degrade the cells.
Installation
Proper installation is the key to providing the greatest functionality for your solar energy system. On a commercial-scale project it is desirable to work with qualified energy specialists that will oversee the quality of workmanship. Having a project manager handle construction and site issues can also help prevent disruption of your daily business operations.
Maintenance
Once installed, solar energy systems are relatively simple to maintain and have a long lifespan. Depending on the size and complexity of your system, consider a maintenance program that provides service on an annual or semi-annual basis. This includes ensuring the module arrays are clean and the electrical systems are functioning and up to code. It is also recommended to have a yearly analysis of your system's energy output to make sure it is operating at maximum efficiency.
Borrego Solar is a Commercial provider of solar energy solutions.
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