If there’s one thing every business in Australia is concerned about, it’s the need to save energy. While reasons for setting this goal may vary from sustainability concerns to decreasing operating costs, there’s one very effective way of achieving this goal – investing in solar panel systems. But are commercial solar panels powerful enough to meet all your energy needs?
Is it Possible to Power a Business Through Commercial Solar Panels?
Obviously, there is no easy way to answer this question, as it depends on a wide range of variables, but the answer is yes – it is theoretically possible to supply an entire business with solar power through solar panel systems to meet all their energy needs. Here are some factors to consider to see if going solar is a possibility for your business:
- How much energy does your operation require? Energy requirements vary significantly between industries and businesses. For example, manufacturing plants require a vast amount of energy in daily operation while the requirements of small businesses are at the other end of the scale. It’s important to have an energy audit from a specialist in commercial solar panel systems to determine if your needs can be fully or partially met by solar power.
- Space requirements: Although solar panel systems are becoming more compact and more efficient every year, they still require a lot of space for installation. Roof space is usually the preferred choice for solar panels, so your evaluation needs to include an idea of exactly how many panels you can fit in the space. Sometimes, businesses choose to introduce new roofing space simply to accommodate these panels, for example, by roofing over open parking lots to provide additional square meters of installation space.
- Cost: The cost of solar panel systems has dropped dramatically in the last decade, while the efficiency of the technology has risen to new heights, helping organisations in all sectors to meet their goals to save energy. However, the reality is that commercial solar panels and their supporting systems are still a significant investment that needs to be carefully evaluated. In Australia, there are several ways to manage this cost, each with their different benefits. Some organisations choose an upfront purchase, others choose a solar power purchase agreement (PPA), a rent-to-own operating lease or energy efficiency loans from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. There are also additional rebates and incentives available to commercial and industrial solar panel system projects in different states to help make this move more affordable.
Speak to a Professional Solar Panel Systems Provider
Quality Energy has been helping organisations across Australia improve their power quality, manage their energy costs, save energy and access sustainable power solutions for over 30 years. We work on projects large and small, and our clients include organisations from all sectors, including Qantas, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Rialto.
If you would like to find out how commercial solar panels can benefit your organisation by meeting part or all of your energy needs, please contact us today and speak to our qualified and experienced engineering team.
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