Installing a solar energy

Installing a solar energy system for a business is not easy to decide, as many connected issues seem complex and confusing at the same time. While earlier more stress was laid on it being a good environmental decision, it is rapidly becoming one that can be strategically and financially correct, with the increasing support from governments, the reducing price of these installations and the increasing efficiency of solar cells.

Businesses of all sizes, both small and big, are finding that installing a solar system can be financially opportunistic and guarantee financial returns for a business. Marketplace data has revealed that businesses reduced their electricity bills by as much as 75 percent after going solar, and this means substantial additions to their bottom lines, especially in cases where such bills are a substantial part of normal expenses.

To add to this, electricity prices have continued to increase due to the cost of oil, while on the other hand, the cost of solar panels has continued to drop as manufacturers are benefitting from the increased demand that lowers the price of mass manufacture. To add to this, technological developments have substantially increased the efficiency of solar cells, and the use of newer materials and configurations that reduce the requirement of the size of solar panels, which lead to lower installation costs.

Increasing awareness of the need to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels has led to governments allowing tax and other credits for businesses that install solar power and made such installations financially viable for businesses of all sizes. Another important aspect that has made these installations attractive, is the accelerated depreciation that allows great benefits in taxation.

Another significant incentive that has made businesses relook at the installation of solar systems for the power needed by them to run their operations, comes from the fact that electric utility companies will take any power from the installations installed by businesses that are not being used by them, and give them credit for it, while also allowing them to draw any required power when the installations do not produce power at night. So, any business always has a guaranteed power source available, while they gain credit for excess power that they produce. The installation of solar panels for power production helps a business to be better protected against the volatility of electricity prices, thus allowing them to plan and budget for the future, once they go the solar way.

The installation of solar panels for power production by a business does bring in a lot of public relations benefits, as customers are impressed by the commitment of the business to sustainability. Employees also are proud to work for such organizations that are taking positive action to reduce their carbon footprints.

The installation of solar power systems by a business makes for smart capital investment. Payback periods are short, the financial returns are steady and maintainable, and rising energy prices have a lower impact on bottom lines. The fact that these systems are low maintenance, closer to zero, makes them another reason why these installations are increasingly being used by businesses.

Research into ways of using various materials to produce electricity from solar energy is working towards higher efficiencies and lower costs, and this constant development only ensures that the use of this method to produce the needed power will only increase, reduce the running expenses and continue to yield financial benefits that good business managers cannot afford to ignore. To add to this, the increasing uses of methods to produce power from sources like the sun, the wind, the tide, and others have led to the reducing dependence of fossil fuels; developments that are to be encouraged and utilized by sensible business management.

About Solar PV: What Is It And How Does It Work?

Solar panels are an ideal way of reducing your electricity bills. All of us enjoy living self-sustainably or perhaps want to mitigate the carbon footprint of your home. Fortunately, solar panels actually make it possible to achieve the dream. However, it’s not that simple.

Although solar panels can be rather expensive at first, they might not always be suitable. Therefore, it’s important to find out if your specific home is suitable, as well as how the solar panels work. Read on to learn more.

What Is Solar PV?

Generally, “solar PV” or” solar photovoltaic” is a common term used to refer to solar electric systems. Most people are probably familiar with photovoltaic technology on a small scale. It is often used to power phone chargers, toys, road signs, and calculators. It runs the appliance by making use of the sun. Only on a large scale, solar panels used for electricity tend to work on the same principle.

In other words, all you need is sunlight to obtain electricity from the panels. Usually, more electricity is generated on sunny days; however, their performance is also good in overcast days. What’s more, these solar PV systems ate much easier to set up and can even last for more than 40 years.

How Does It Work?

  • Photovoltaic solar systems generally make use of cells that comprise one or two layers of semiconducting material that helps in converting solar radiation into electricity. Typically, the semiconducting material is silicon, which happens to be the second most readily available element on the planet after oxygen
  • There’s the formation of electric field across the layers when the light shines on the cell
  • As a result, there is a flow of electrons thus producing electricity
  • On its own, every single cell just creates a small bit of electricity. When joined together to form panels, however, they create large and useful amounts
  • Mounting of the panels is either on a frame or the roof
  • The purpose of the inverter is to deal with converting the DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current) electricity that’s much suitable for operating devices
  • Grid-connected systems usually can export the electricity that they don’t utilize to the grid, and even import it from the same grid if there isn’t sufficient sunlight

Additional Useful Parts to Solar Panels

A typical solar module not only consists of silicon solar cells but also comprises a glass casing that provides protection and durability for the silicon PV cells. The panel also has a protective back sheet and a layer of insulation under the glass exterior, which protects against humidity and heat dissipation within the panel. The insulation is essential since increases in temperature will result in a decrease in efficiency, which also translates to a lower solar panel performance.

The anti-reflective coating found in solar panels helps in enhancing sunlight absorption and even enables the silicon cells to obtain maximum sunlight exposure. In general, silicon solar cells are made in two cell formations, polycrystalline or monocrystalline.

When it comes to polycrystalline cells, they are made up of shards or fragments of silicon, whereas monocrystalline cells are usually made up of one silicon crystal. Mono formats often allow more space for electrons to move around and hence provide a relatively higher efficiency solar technology compared to polycrystalline. However, they are generally more costly.

How Can You Guarantee Major Solar Savings?

If you have been thinking about installing a solar panel array for your particular home, there’re a few factors you need to look out for, such as warranties, installer selection, equipment, and financing. Apart from all of these, you need to ensure that you can receive a great deal and have strong energy savings in the long term.

What Are 6 Questions That You Need To Ask Before Installing Solar On Your Commercial Or Industrial Property?

If you are seriously considering going solar with your business, you will need to think about the types of questions you will need to ask the commercial solar contractor. These questions are even more pertinent if you overwhelmed by solar energy, solar panels and all things related to solar power.

What are some questions that you, as a business owner, should ask a commercial solar contractor? How will you know the answers are correct? By having thorough knowledge of how solar technology works, you will be able to a make an informed decision.

So, if you are in the discovery phase and have just started thinking about solar energy for your business, these 6 simple questions can help get you on the right track.

1. Is Your Business (Location And Structure) Suitable For A Solar Energy System?

Before you can even consider choosing a solar power system from a commercial solar contractor, you will need to be sure that your business meets the qualifications necessary to have this type of system installed. This means that your business will need to be evaluated.

The evaluation will determine if the size and location of your property will affect your company’s ability to host a solar farm. The evaluation will take a close look at factors such as:

  • The roof
  • The garage or parking lot
  • Nearby land
  • Structure integrity
  • Sun angle

2. How Much Will You Need To Invest Upfront?

When you are ready to inquire about cost, it is simply not enough to ask the contractor, “How much is it going to cost to install solar panels?” The amount of your initial investment will depend on several factors.

The cost of solar panels is varied, and the types of panels also vary based on the amount of solar energy they are able to produce. This is why you will need the commercial solar contractor to discuss the investment for the entire project, and not just solar panel installation.

3. Which Solar Energy System Is The Best For Your Business?

The commercial solar contractor will need to evaluate the past and current electricity needs of the business. This will need to be done during the initial evaluation.

There are many businesses that prefer to install high-efficiency solar panels, and there are others that choose to use an solution that is offsite. This means that if your business or property is not capable of hosting the amount of solar panels that it needs, there are other ways your business can still benefit from solar energy.

4. How Much Will Potentially Save On Your Company’s Electricity Bill?

Keep in mind that these solar power systems are designed to last for several decades. So, when you are asking the commercial solar power provider about potential savings, be sure to specify long-term savings. However, you also want to inquire about immediate savings as well.

One of the primary benefits to get commercial solar power is to save money on utility costs and have an alternative to the volatile fossil fuel based energy sector.

5. Are There Tax Incentives?

You may be aware of the ITC, or federal Investment Tax Credit. It is the 30 percent tax credit that some businesses receive once they transition to solar power.

However, not everyone qualifies for this tax credit. If you install solar through PPA or through a lease program, you will not qualify.

6. Is Any Maintenance Required?

As mentioned above, these types of systems are designed to last for up to 30 years. They are also typically trouble-free and low to no maintenance.

With that said, commercial solar energy systems do need to be cleaned. They also require annual inspections and even occasional repairs if they are performing at very high levels.

These are some of the questions that you can ask to determine the best commercial solar provider/contractor for your installation project. There is a lot of information about solar energy out there, but starting with basic discovery questions will help you make a financially sound business decision.