For commercial solar projects, solar technology choices are critical. For example, using a tracker mount for your solar panels can produce more energy than any other mounting system. These trackers follow the sun all day, ensuring you get the most out of your solar array and allowing you to make more accurate predictions about your solar energy production. If you have a flat rooftop on your commercial building, Point Load Power offers PV Booster , a tracking mount meant for rooftop installation that can produce significantly more energy with your solar panels than a fixed tilt rack.
Bifacial solar panels are another solar technology factor that can help you make the most out of a snowy day. Bifacial solar panels produce energy from both sides of the solar panel and generate energy from sunlight reflected off the backside panel. If using bifacial solar panels, weather events like snow can be a benefit and can help reflect more sunlight onto your solar panels.
If interested in learning more about how climate and weather affect solar energy production, check out Energy Information Administration&#;s website.
Unless you&#;re utilizing solar batteries, which store your excess solar energy, it is unlikely you will be able to go entirely off the grid when you install your commercial solar energy system. In fact, almost all commercial buildings using solar energy still utilize the grid but with significantly reduced energy costs.
Solar energy systems for commercial buildings are not meant to completely eliminate your need for the grid, but to replace the majority of your electricity usage with renewable sources, creating a more sustainable energy solution and allowing you to take advantage of the solar tax incentives in your state.
Now more than ever, commercial building owners are profiting off their solar energy systems. As a building owner utilizing a solar energy solution, you will need to sell solar power to your tenants. This is simpler than it sounds. By using an electric meter, you can record how much solar energy your tenant is using and bill them accordingly. To learn more about your options as a building owner for billing your tenant for solar energy, see Energy Sage&#;s Solar for Landlords Guide.
Installing solar on your commercial building will also allow you to take advantage of net metering (NEM), a solar incentive that allows you to store excess solar energy on the grid. It is unlikely that you will use all the solar energy produced by your solar panels on a daily basis, so net metering sends excess energy back to the grid, and in return, your utility company will give you credits that further lower your electricity bill. To learn more about net metering in your state and how it can help you see a faster return on your solar investment see DSIRE Clean Energy&#;s website.
For commercial building owners, going solar is a strategic decision that almost guarantees a significant financial return for your business. EnergySage market data shows the average commercial building owner in the U.S can reduce their electricity bill by up to 75% after switching to solar power. Switching to solar energy will also lock you into a low electricity rate for the life of your solar panels, usually 25-30 years.
There are many tools that can be used for estimating how much you stand to save from switching to solar. Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets , to see a demonstration of our favorite energy bill estimator, Energy Toolbase. This demonstration uses PV Booster , Point Load Power&#;s rooftop tracker, to show how building owners can generate up to 70% more revenue per panel when using a rooftop tracking mount on their commercial building.
The cost of solar energy has dropped by about 90% in the last decade, and prices are continuing to drop. This is due to a combination of consumer preference for corporate sustainability and government mandates meant to reduce the effects of climate change.
On top of already historically low costs, commercial building owners can further increase their return on investment by taking advantage of government incentives in their states. Check out DSIRE database to see what incentives are available in your state.
The amount of money you save by investing in a commercial solar energy system varies based on multiple factors including:
The solar incentives you utilize
The type of solar technology you use
Your solar energy usage/the number of solar panels you choose to install
Solar panels have low maintenance costs and can last up to 30 years. Most commercial buildings have significant rooftop space and will profit the most from solar panels. We call this rooftop space your biggest idle asset, which is potential revenue generating square footage that commercial property owners should put into use. In our experience, commercial building owners usually see their ROI in 5 years or less. To determine you&#;re ROI for a commercial solar power system , contact your preferred solar panel contractor and check out Renewable Energy Hub&#;s Business and Commercial Solar Panel ROI .
For commercial building owners looking to install solar panels, you have a few options. Solar panels built on top of parking lots, carports, or mounted on poles or building facades send a great message but may not significantly reduces your electricity bills. These solutions do somewhat reduce energy costs but mostly are a great way to let your customers know you support renewable energy. For more information on these solar power options check out Lets Go Solar&#;s page .
If you have a large flat rooftop or ground space near your commercial building, you can install larger solar power systems that will greatly reduce your energy costs and increase the value of your property. Using a tracker mount for your solar panels, as opposed to fixed solar panels, will ensure your panels face the sun all day, making your solar energy production more predictable. 70% of ground mount projects use tracking panels and that technology is starting to take over the rooftops of commercial buildings too. Point Load Power offers PV Booster, a rooftop tracking mount designed for commercial buildings that increase energy production significantly.
Installing solar panels on your commercial building will undoubtedly increase your building&#;s value. Having a solar energy system could improve your company image as a green company, ensures low energy costs, and updates a building&#;s physical appearance. These factors increase your profits margin and the value of your building.
The best buildings for commercial solar are buildings with large, flat rooftops in good condition. Solar projects will last many decades and it is best that you make sure your rooftop lasts just as long. At Point Load Power we call these rooftops &#;idle assets&#; because of the lost opportunity commercial building owners face by not investing in a solar power system. Technologies, like rooftop tracking systems, provide additional solar production with a smaller overall investment, freeing up additional capital for rooftop replacement or refurbishment.
Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets with Highly Profitable Solar Projects to see what kinds of rooftops are best for tracking solar panels.
1. Save money every year
2. Increase your property value
3. Lock in your electricity rate
4. Earn big tax incentives
5. Double Digit ROI quickly
For more information, please visit KINGSUN.
6. Demonstrate commitment to sustainability and social responsibility
To learn more about how solar can financially benefit your commercial building, see Benefits of Commercial Solar for Business.
A commercial solar panel is a photovoltaic (PV) panel that converts sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic is the process of converting sunlight to energy. Photovoltaic (PV) commercial-grade solar panels are made up of solar cells created from silicon formed with both positive and negative layers that produce an electric field. Multiple commercial-grade solar panels can be wired together to form a solar array. A solar array is a collection of connected solar panels. They are also called &#;photovoltaic arrays.&#; They can be situated on a large area of land or the rooftop of a building. Rooftop commercial solar system projects are common in C&I scale solar as the rooftop of a building often gets the most sunlight, which is the renewable energy source for solar energy.
Commercial-grade solar panels convert sunlight into electricity through photovoltaics. It is the scientific process of turning solar energy, sunlight, or the sun&#;s rays into electricity. As previously mentioned, solar panels are made up of solar cells created from silicon formed with two layers, a positive and a negative. The silicon acts as a semiconductor, and when the sun&#;s rays beam on it, electrons fuse with the silicon to release their energy as both current and voltage.
A commercial solar panel is a photovoltaic (PV) panel that converts sunlight into electricity. Photovoltaic is the process of converting sunlight to energy. Photovoltaic (PV) commercial-grade solar panels are made up of solar cells created from silicon formed with both positive and negative layers that produce an electric field. Multiple commercial-grade solar panels can be wired together to form a solar array. A solar array is a collection of connected solar panels. They are also called &#;photovoltaic arrays.&#; They can be situated on a large area of land or the rooftop of a building. Rooftop commercial solar system projects are common in C&I scale solar as the rooftop of a building often gets the most sunlight, which is the renewable energy source for solar energy.
Commercial solar panels are a great clean, renewable energy source as they produce no carbon emissions and require little maintenance. They have a lifespan of over twenty years. Business corporations can vastly reduce their carbon footprint and electricity costs by using commercial solar panels. Commercial solar systems, or solar arrays, can be installed on the rooftops of residential or commercial establishments and generate enough solar power to cover the structures&#; entire energy needs. The electricity generated by a solar array can power internal and external spaces at affordable rates.
Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles with commercial solar energy solutions is becoming essential for businesses focused on sustainability. By adopting commercial solar systems, companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprint, aligning with ESG goals and boosting their environmental responsibility. Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), businesses can benefit from solar energy with no upfront costs, as the provider, like Constant Energy, handles installation, maintenance, and operational expenses. This setup allows companies to secure clean energy at predictable rates, ensuring long-term sustainability while enhancing their commitment to ESG practices and lowering energy costs.
When switching to commercial solar systems with Constant Energy, our clients have observed savings as high as 25% from their traditional electricity providers from day one. Read on to find out how we achieve this for the benefit of our clients and our planet in our joint fight against Global Warming.
Other than the appeal of reducing carbon emissions and your company&#;s carbon footprint, using a commercial solar system is attractive to a corporation because of how much money it can save the business in the long run. The price of commercial-grade solar panels is commonly measured in dollars per watt. In the United States, the average commercial solar panel cost was valued at $2.87 (&#;93.86) per watt before any rebates or incentives. If you calculate prices based on an average cost of $3 (&#;98.12) per watt inclusive of the United States&#; federal tax credit of 30%, a small commercial-grade solar panel that produces 25 kilowatts would cost an average of $50,000 (&#;1,635,275). The most significant benefit of choosing Constant Energy for your solar power needs is that Constant Energy takes care of your solar panels&#; entire installation and maintenance costs. This means that switching over to solar energy comes at zero cost for you, in addition to generating savings on electricity expenses from day one! To achieve this benefit for large businesses, Constant Energy provides this service in exchange for a long-term Corporate Power Purchase Agreement of a minimum of 15 years.
Commercial-grade solar panels in a solar array can vary in number and size. The amount needed is primarily determined by:
These are essential things to consider when purchasing commercial solar systems for you business. For example, if you&#;re planning to build a solar farm, an excellent guideline to follow is that 1 kilowatt (kW) of solar panels needs an area of 100 square feet and double that amount (200 square feet) of space for a utility-scale project. Constant Energy primarily partners with businesses that own a rooftop space of a minimum of sqm. Our reason for working with rooftop-based solar systems is that it saves on valuable land space and doesn&#;t contribute to the degradation of natural resources to install the solar systems while recycling naturally present and often underused space to help your business go green.
Commercial-grade solar panels are often bigger and heavier than solar panels used for residential properties. They are designed to produce and supply energy for a larger area and therefore contain a higher number of solar cells on one solar panel. Residential solar panels are usually about 5.5 feet long and a little over 3 feet wide and weigh about 40 pounds each with 60-cells in one panel. Conversely, commercial-grade solar panels tend to be about 6.5 feet long, contain 72-cells per panel, and weigh 50 pounds more than the average residential solar panel.
When it comes to commercial solar systems, the position they are installed in and the degree in which they are angled play a big part in how effective it is when it comes to producing power. A roof installation exposed to direct sunlight (ideally facing true south) will yield the best results in energy production. Cell efficiency and solar panel size are other factors that determine its power output. For the most part, the amount of power a commercial grade solar panel can produce will depend on:
Generally speaking, a 120kW commercial solar system can produce enough renewable energy to provide electricity for a business that uses up to 180,000kwh per year.
The duration of commercial solar system installation varies from project to project. It is essential to take your time to do thorough research when hiring commercial solar system installers, as it can make a massive difference in the length of time it takes to install the project. Depending on the expanse of your commercial solar system project, it can take as long as one week to several months. The amount of time it takes to install commercial-grade solar panels is largely determined by these factors:
At Constant Energy, we have fine-tuned our installation processes to keep the construction process to 12 weeks from start to finish. Learn more about our Fast-Track Development Model here!
What is the lifespan of a commercial solar panel?
Commercial solar panels typically last between 25 to 30 years. While their efficiency slightly decreases over time, the panels can continue generating electricity effectively for decades.
How does a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Constant Energy work?
Constant Energy offers a PPA that allows businesses to benefit from solar energy without any upfront costs. The business agrees to purchase the energy generated by the solar system over a long-term contract (15+ years), while Constant Energy covers installation and maintenance.
Are there any incentives for commercial solar installation?
Incentives vary by region but may include tax credits, grants, and rebates. Constant Energy provides expertise to help clients understand and maximize available incentives in their area.
How does commercial solar help reduce energy costs?
By generating electricity on-site, businesses reduce their dependence on the grid, leading to significant savings on energy bills, with some clients saving up to 25% immediately.
Can solar panels work during cloudy days or at night?
Solar panels can still generate power on cloudy days, though output is reduced. However, they do not produce electricity at night, making battery storage or grid electricity an important consideration.