It is important to choose the most appropriate solar panel for your business building. There are several options available. As a result, you must do extensive research to locate the most reliable and high-quality solar panels. When choosing a solar panel in Australia, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. Here we brought you a comprehensive guide on how to select solar panels for commercial buildings in Brisbane.
Importance of installing commercial solar panels for your business
The cost of electricity is expected to double over the next 10 years worldwide. Investing in solar panels for commercial usage is a smart energy option that will enable your company to effectively forward-purchase its power at a fixed rate. By solar energy for business use, your company will never be subjected to an increase in energy prices again, which makes financial forecasting a whole lot less complicated.
Brisbane has extremely dry and sunny weather conditions throughout the year, making it a great place to live. In this case, installing commercial solar panels for your company area or commercial building is unquestionably a wise choice.
People who are interested in solar panel installation may take advantage of a state-sponsored incentive scheme called the “Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES),” which is administered by the Queensland government. Many benefits will accrue to qualified solar panel owners as a result of this service.
- Under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program, the solar panel owners will be paid as long as they export their unused solar panels generated electricity to the main grid.
- They also will be awarded a Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC), which certifies the solar panel owners have contributed to generating 1,000 kWh of electricity between 2021 to 2030.
Furthermore, the demand for solar panel installation is increasing at an alarming rate on a daily basis. The solar panel business, the market value, and the cost of commercial solar panels will all rise as a result of high demand. So taking the initial step toward installing business solar panels as soon as possible can never fail to satisfy you.
Benefits of solar power for business
1. Extremely cost-effective
Should you consider installing commercial solar panels? There’s no denying that commercial solar panels are cost-effective and worth the investment. Your electricity costs will be reduced up to 90%, thanks to commercial solar panels for your business.
2. Long-term profitable investment
A normal solar panel will perform its function for more than 20 years with little to no maintenance. At the very least, after seven years, the majority of your solar panel investment will be recovered via savings on your regular energy bill and the sale of excess electricity to the grid. As a result, the remainder of the solar panels’ working years will be purely profitable for your company.
3. Low maintenance
Assuming you’re using good quality components, you won’t have repair costs instead of regular maintenance. Once you install commercial solar panels, you are almost worry-free in often repairs and operating costs.
4. Increase the value of the commercial building
According to many studies, homes and commercial buildings that are equipped with solar panels tend to have greater property values and sell more quickly than those that are not. That is not expected to alter in the foreseeable future. Due to the growing momentum behind the solar revolution, installing commercial solar panels is expected to increase the value of your building. The fact that you are paying less in energy costs is a benefit for any future company owner.
5. Business/ brand gets a more eco-friendly image
Being more concerned about the environment is the current trend. The majority of Australia’s top companies are shifting their energy requirements to environmentally friendly sources. As a result, using solar energy for commercial purposes is beneficial to your brand’s image.
6. Can be exposed to state incentive programs
The Australian government have launched renewable energy supportive programs such as FiT, STC, ARENA. With over $7 billion investments since 2012, most of the states, including Brisbane city in QLD.
Things to consider with installing solar panels for commercial buildings in Brisbane
1. Roof
The shape of the roof
A variety of forms and sizes are possible for roofing. First and foremost, make sure your roof has enough room for solar panels before proceeding with the installation. A lack of available space will almost certainly result in you not receiving the return on your investment that you expect.
Check the building roof or the solar panels covering areas for repairing if needed
You should take a careful check at your building’s roof or the area you are going to cover by solar panels and make any required repairs if they are found to be essential. It has already been stated that the installation of solar panels for commercial buildings is a long-term effort. As a result, you must make certain that the roof space available is appropriate for solar panel installation. The longevity and effectiveness of your PV system are directly influenced by the surface area of your system.
Check for the safest maximum weight that your roof can handle
The weight of solar panels on your roof will rise as a result of their installation. If the weight of these solar panels is too heavy for your roof to hold, there is a possibility that it may collapse. For a variety of reasons, this is very hazardous, It is essential to have a professional assess your roof to decide whether or not extra support is needed to finish the construction in order to prevent such scenarios.
Manage the water flow of the roof
When it rains, there should be a managed water flow system for your roof. Otherwise, the water will remain even after the rain, resulting in severe water-related damages to your commercial solar panel system.
2. Weather conditions
Thunderstorms
Lightning damage is one of the most destructive problems that may occur with photovoltaic (PV) systems. Lightning protection should be taken into consideration when installing commercial solar panels. While thunderstorms cause harm to electrical equipment, grounding the circuit is the most effective solution.
Snow
When it comes to performance, your commercial solar panels may be less efficient if there is snow on the solar panels. Solar snow guards are the best solution for this issue. You can ask your contractor to install solar snow guards if needed. However, Brisbane is not usually a city that falls snow.
Wind
Most solar panel manufacturers certify that their PV systems are withstanding winds of about 180 km/h. But make sure to check if the rackings are well-attached to the roof when installing
3. Commercial solar panel cost
In many cases, solar panels that are less costly or of lesser quality are built in a way that makes them less durable too. Your investment’s worth as well as the potential savings in the future are reduced when your solar panels are less durable than they should be. What’s most worrisome is that these lower-quality panels may sometimes be dangerous, putting commercial building’s and people’s lives in danger.
4. Contractor selection
Before entering into any deal with a contractor, be certain that you have conducted thorough research on the company. Picking the first contractor you come across may seem to be a fast and simple method to start saving money as soon as possible.
However, this is not the case. Shop around and obtain several cost estimates from various solar panel installation companies if you are serious about putting solar panels on your roof. Carry out some background research on these businesses to ensure that they are trustworthy and that their clients are happy.
You will be grateful that you took the time to talk with a few contractors. You may use this tool to compare prices, customer reviews, and other information in order to make the best choice possible.
Before signing a contract, there are a few things you should watch out for in the agreement itself. Some of these things are as follows:
- Expectations in terms of financing
- Expectations in terms of ownership
- Expectations for performance
- Entities that may gather information about your electricity output and use
- Companies that have access to your data on energy generation and use are known as “data brokers.”
If this information is not clearly stated in the contract, you may wish to consult with the contractor to get some clarity. Never agree to something that you are not completely comfortable with.
Conclusion
Using solar energy for business use is a great decision that your company can take as a long-term investment. Being eco-friendly is truly admirable for a sustainable future for your business as well. There are so many benefits that will come with solar panel installation. As a consumer, you need to consider several things before installing commercial solar panels for business premises. Understanding your expenses and other valuable considerations will make your greener decision much more effective.
If you have any problems with installing solar panels for commercial buildings in Brisbane, don’t think twice to contact Coolsolar Solutions. We are happy to help you with everything.
