Fed up of skyrocketing energy bills? Or perhaps you want to show that your business is dedicated to going green? Switching entirely to solar power could allow you to harvest all your electricity from the sun – you’ll seriously cut your company’s carbon emissions and you won’t have to pay an energy bill again. However, going off-grid may not always be entirely feasible due to the upfront costs and the necessary space for solar panels. In this guide, we’ll shine a light on whether going completely solar is truly worthwhile for your business and what it may take.
Assessing your energy needs
You should start by conducting an energy audit. Work out how much energy your business uses on average per month, and how many solar panels you would need to provide this energy. Some insulated office buildings may have relatively low energy usage, while buildings like hotels and factories have much bigger energy needs.
Consider your local sunlight hours
The efficiency of solar panels is dependent on how many hours of sunlight you receive per day. Some locations may have winters with very short daylight hours, leading to less energy production during these months. Clouds can also impact energy production – while solar panels can still generate energy on an overcast day, they won’t generate as much as they would on a clear day. All in all, locations with shorter daylight hours in winter and less clear skies will typically require more solar panels to maintain energy needs.
Identifying which solar system you need
The next job is to identify what size of system you need to meet your energy requirements. A solar power company can help you to explore your options and help you determine how many panels you need. A battery will likely be recommended to help you store excess energy (very important if you run your business after dark). During this stage, it could also be important to explore different solar setups to find out what is most efficient – facing panels in certain directions and away from sources of shade will maximize energy production.
Determining installation feasibility
Make sure that your business premises has a large enough roof to accommodate the amount of solar panels you need and make sure the roof itself is strong enough to support the weight of your solar system. Specialist solutions like bendable solar panels may be required for lightweight roofs. If installing solar panels on a roof isn’t feasible, consider whether you may be able to install panels around your property (panels may be possible to install over bays in parking lots, doubling up as canopies to provide shade).
Factoring in the upfront cost
The biggest barrier can be the cost. A large enough solar system might cost $50,000 or more for some businesses. By exploring financing options, you can pay this off in instalments, but you need to consider how long you’ll be paying it off and whether monthly instalments are any less than what you’re currently paying for energy. Local grants and discounts may exist in some locations which could allow you to reduce the upfront costs of solar panels, making going off-grid more affordable.
Do you need to go completely solar?
A lot of businesses love the idea of going completely off-grid, however many find that it is not achievable due to the cost and space requirements for panels. Of course, this is no reason to dismiss solar energy – you can still install a few solar panels and massively cut your energy bills and carbon emissions. Instead of trying to go out, consider just how far you can go on your budget. It’s likely to be a decent investment that will boost your reputation and save you long-term costs.
Add Comment