Grappling with the complexities of powering business premises can be a delicate balancing act. It always pays to reassess these challenges from time to time by asking two simple questions. Are your company’s green credentials up to scratch? Are you taking advantage of all available savings?
Commercial solar power should feature prominently in your answers. Your business is missing out on some lucrative commercial solar solutions if it doesn’t. Add an extra string to the bow of your business by getting to grips with the benefits of installing commercial solar panels. Read on to discover more.
The Benefits of Commercial Solar Power Explained
If being green is part of your marketing strategy, installing commercial solar panels will be a quick win. For starters, commercial solar power will significantly dent your business’s greenhouse gas emissions.
There are also many financial benefits, some more obvious than others. You will, of course, see a reduction in your electricity bills in the first instance. However, commercial solar solutions will also offer you a level of protection from future electricity price rises. And there are plenty of tax incentives for your business to take advantage of.
As we move away from fossil fuels, solar power can step in to charge your electric vehicles. It will also help your business move away from reliance on gas by eliminating gas bills altogether.
How Much Does It Cost to Install Commercial Solar Power?
There are some key dependencies related to cost, with lots of key factors at play. These include:
- The size of your commercial solar power system
- The make, model and quality of the components in your commercial solar panels
- The quality of workmanship in the installation
- The level of after-sales care you’ll receive
- Any installation headaches like steep roofs or hard-to-access areas
- Essential extras like extensive cabling or rack mounting
- Additional batteries
Understanding the Size of Your Commercial Solar Power System
Your system’s ideal size will depend on the quantity of electricity your business uses. Your budget, the time you use most power, and the available space that captures the sun will also play into any decisions you make. There may also be local regulations to consider.
Most small businesses should aim to install commercial solar panels that will pay for themselves in around five years. Payback periods vary depending on key issues such as maintenance costs, the weather and future electricity prices.
We recommend that those businesses with high electricity use install the biggest system possible and supply at least 80 per cent of the power your business consumes.
This is partly because many larger businesses that use a lot of electricity can’t access pricing plans that offer credit for power sold back to the grid through a feed-in tariff. In these cases, it’s best to develop commercial solar solutions that will let your business use the maximum amount of electricity it generates.
The Steps Towards Installing Commercial Solar Panels
We’ve compiled a simple checklist to help you decide on a quality system that’s the right fit for your business, budget and premises. Here’s what you need to do:
- Work out what is the most appropriate size of the system, its cost and the future savings
- Check out any financial incentives and any available government rebates
- Conduct some research on the basics of how solar power works
- Carry out a survey of your rooftop area and potential design choices
- Look for a reputable retailer and installer like Charged Energy
- Talk to your chosen dealer and ensure you prepare for the installation
Remember that if you rent your business premises or if you are a landlord, there may be other factors to consider.
Batteries Explained
Batteries act as storage units for the solar electricity you generate. You can then use that energy when your commercial solar panels are not working at full capacity due to:
- Nightfall and darkness
- Too much cloud cover
- Times when electricity from the grid is more expensive
Batteries will reduce your reliance on buying electricity from the grid at particular times. Many battery systems designed with businesses in mind will also power your premises should there ever be a power outage.
If there’s a demand charge connected to your electricity, you can use a battery to reduce the likelihood of peak demand charges. Whether to invest in solar batteries will depend on the following:
- How much electricity you use and when you use it
- How much you pay for your electricity
- The size of your commercial solar power system
- The price tag of the battery
Some businesses may need more than ten years to get the money back from the initial outlay of a battery through energy savings. Bear in mind that this could mean your battery is outside its typical ten-year warranty before it starts paying for itself.
However, government loans and rebates are often available to help reduce the upfront cost. Batteries could also form part of a green marketing strategy.
Moving Your Business to Solar Premises
You may be considering moving your business to premises with a commercial solar power system. Here’s a handy checklist of the points to weigh up:
- Get the system checked over by experts like Charged Energy
- Ask to look at the monitoring app and recent energy bills
- Ensure you have proof of any warranties and contact details of who installed the system
- Check the age of the system and ask to see evidence of its maintenance history
- If the system’s out of warranty, contact the manufacturer for spare part availability
- When there is an app available for monitoring the system, ensure you can access it
Commercial Solar Power Delivered by Experts
Charged Energy are expert in finding commercial solar solutions to suit all business needs. If you are thinking about installing a commercial solar system, talk to one of the friendly team today. Soon, you could be joining a growing band of businesses making big savings and boosting their company’s green credentials.
