Commercial and industrial property owners can benefit from installing solar energy on business or factory roofs on a commercial or industrial campus. Many corporations have massive manufacturing facilities with expansive flat roof space, and installing a solar array in that space can be a source of clean, limitless energy.
The system size for the majority of commercial and industrial installations is usually substantially larger than a typical residential solar system. A commercial solar system can be up to several megawatts (MW) in size, depending on the amount of electricity the facility needs.
Commercial solar is considered “distributed generation,” meaning that the energy produced by the system is used at or near the point of generation. Distributed generation projects such as rooftop solar are usually connected to the local electric grid. This allows for commercial property owners to take advantage of net settlement, a policy enabling distributed generation customers to send excess electricity back to the grid for rebate.
What does a commercial or industrial solar installation look like?
The solar panels used in commercial and industrial-scale installations are larger than residential panels. The typical commercial solar installation uses 96-cell or greater solar panels, meaning each panel is made of 96 or more individual solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. In contrast, a typical residential solar panel will have 60 or 72 cells.
Commercial and industrial solar installations are usually installed on factory roof space, on large solar carports for parking lots. More than smaller rooftop systems, commercial and industrial solar systems include intricate racking systems to elevate and tilt the panels. Some commercial panel arrays even use racking with tracking capabilities, allowing the direction panels face to change and increase the amount of direct sunlight the panels receive.
Advantages of going solar for businesses
There are many reasons for businesses to consider going solar:
1. Solar saves businesses money
One of the best reasons to install a commercial or industrial solar panel system is the financial benefit. Offsetting some or all electricity use at a factory or small business with solar reduces electric bills from day one. Solar panel systems operate effectively for over 30 years, and once a business makes back the upfront investment for their system, they can generate free electricity from their panel system for many years after.
2. Foster a sustainable brand image
Solar panels are a visible signal that the company installing them is committed to sustainability and a clean energy future. How companies and corporations are responding to environmental responsibility is an increasingly important issue; by taking action to support clean, renewable energy, companies can signal to potential customers that they care about more than just turning a profit. Installing solar is a great way to generate positive buzz with stakeholders and the local community.
3. Installing solar supports the local economy
Many of the highest quality solar panel installation companies are local businesses, and contracting with them for a large commercial installation increases demand for high-quality, local labor. Additionally, the money spent on installation goes right into the local economy.