Sizing Your Solar Panel System: Determining the Optimal Capacity for Your Energy Needs

When the strength of the sun's rays is harnessed, a wide range of energy-efficient options become available. Energy efficiency may be revolutionized with a personalized solar system for your home and way of life, saving you money and helping the environment. 

Consider factors like location, size, and usage when designing a system to meet your and your house's needs. You may wave goodbye to electricity expenditures and enjoy the magic of solar power.  This would offer you a perfect mix of economic prosperity and environmental care with the help of knowledgeable professionals and dependable technology!

How to Size a Solar Panel System?

In 2021, according to this statistical data, 56% of households in the US use solar panels to produce solar energy. As a result, 18.9 million households in the United States use solar energy. Moreover, among the surveyed participants, 57% are installing solar panels. Almost everyone is sizing solar energy and optimizing it for their energy needs. 

The same thing applies to the business world. Solar energy can provide enterprises with substantial energy savings. Solar energy can reduce energy costs by up to 75 percent. Accordingly, purchasing and installing solar systems for businesses is comparable to paying electric expenses for five years. Of course, it has something to do with your business's demand for consumption, but the idea of becoming an eco-friendly energy user is rewarding to use the solar system.

On the other hand, solar panel installation for businesses is  affordable and financially feasible for almost every industry.  It will help you reduce business expenses and eliminate your business's electric bill. Another benefit of installing solar energy is that you can keep yourself safe from changes in energy rates. 

As the number of people who need power increases and the amount of nonrenewable resources decreases, fuel prices increase. Thus, always make your business green. You make a good investment for a lifetime. Solar panel installation will require minimal maintenance, mainly if no batteries are utilized. The solar panel can provide electricity efficiently and will last for almost 25 to 40 years. Hence, the benefits of solar energy are permanent.  

To make the solar system sizing estimation as accurate as possible, you'll also need to consider the type of roof mount you'll require, the direction your panels will face, and the correct panel size for your system's design.

Choose Your Mount Type

A roof mount is the most straightforward and economical option, as it is cheaper than other carriers. To determine if a roof mount can be used:

  • Retrieve the address using Google Maps. 

  • Check to see if there are any viable south-facing roof mounting options. If the solar array cannot face south at the desired angle, the system must be adjusted by adding more solar panels.

  • Your solar system should face the equator; therefore, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you should consider north-facing options. Typically, the roof's slope is optimized for solar gain, and it maintains the solar panels close to the inverter and service panel. This increases efficiency and reduces conduit and wire costs.

 Select the Appropriate Solar Panels.

Suppose you have a small or atypically shaped roof. In that case, solar panel size is a crucial factor in determining the size of a solar system.

 Consider the following;

  • With a sizeable functional roof area, you can purchase larger panels (at a lower cost per panel) to generate the desired energy.

  • If your usable roof area is limited or partially shaded, the most cost-effective, long-term solution will be to use fewer, more minor, high-efficiency panels. 

  • You can install more solar panels in the future to accommodate growing energy demands. You can consider using large scale commercial solar panels.  Choosing the right solar panels for your business can provide significant benefits, such as cost savings, financial stability, meeting renewable energy objectives, and enhancing your company's environmental image.

Calculate Solar System Output

Using a PV watt calculator.You can determine how much power your system will produce each month once you've chosen the area available for solar panels and the angles and orientation you'll be working with. Do the following:

  • Enter the address and press the orange arrow pointing to the right.

On the System Info page, input the DC system size determined in the previous section.

  • Select a standard module.

  • For array type, choose "fixed" for roof-mounted systems and "open" for ground-mounted systems.

  • Keep the system's losses at approximately 15%.

  • Enter the roof's pitch in degrees and its azimuth. Azimuth degrees relate to north and south, with north being 0 degrees and south being 180 degrees.

How to Determine the Optimal Energy Storage Capacity

The total energy storage capacity of any given PV system is dependent on the size of the solar panel array, the local climate and sun exposure, and usage requirements. It enables you to save electricity for later use. It regulates when, where, and how to use it. Energy storage can aid in preventing climate change by reducing emissions from electricity, heating, and air circulation needs.

These are the steps in determining optimal energy storage:

  • Examine your electric receipt to determine the kilowatt reading. On your bill, the kilowatt reading should appear next to the "kWh" abbreviation. Ensure the task represents a month of average usage.

  • Select a month with average energy consumption is challenging, add the kWh usage for each month of the year and divide by 12 to determine the monthly average.

  • Divide your monthly kilowatt consumption by 30 to obtain your average daily consumption. Then, divide this figure by the average number of total sun hours per day in your region (usually between 5 and 7 hours).

  • Multiply this new figure by 1.15 to account for any unanticipated inconsistencies in effectiveness. This provides your total in Kilowatts. Multiplying by 100 will convert this to wattage. This will help you better comprehend what size solar system is required.

What are the advantages to Businesses Using Solar Panel Systems?

You know that solar energy is a long-term investment with a slow return. You will ultimately base your decision on the advantages of solar energy for your business. Here are some of the principal benefits:

Reduced Operating Expenses 

Switching to solar power is a significant undertaking. There is no doubt that solar energy will significantly reduce your electric bills. According to reports,, the typical business reduces its electrical expenses by three-quarters. This begins promptly after switching to solar energy and continues at the same rate for the remainder of the system's lifetime. 

Durability and Sustainability

Alternative energy sources, such as nuclear power facilities, have an uncertain future. Given the unpredictability of nuclear accidents and nuclear waste issues, the end of nuclear power generation is grim. This leaves the sun as a virtually inexhaustible renewable energy source. Solar energy is the future solution for low-cost electricity production.
You invest in your company's future profitability by converting to solar energy. Like the stock market, where investors speculate on future needs, you can mitigate your electrical wager by installing a self-sufficient solar generation system. With solar energy, you can reduce your electrical consumption costs and safeguard the future of your business.

Energy Independence

Another significant advantage of converting to solar power is its independence from commercial energy sources. Investing in a self-sufficient solar system can reduce or eliminate your reliance on the utility company. You will save substantial money on overhead expenses and be assured of a reliable electric supply regardless of what occurs to the commercial grid.

Solar Tax Incentives

Tax benefits are likely the most significant benefit of converting to solar electric power. Local, state, and federal administrations support the transition to renewable, clean, and efficient solar energy. To demonstrate their support, they provide tax incentives and financial aid programs.

When you convert your business to solar power, you will obtain the following tax advantages:

Tax Credit 

This tax relief from the federal government of the United States provides a 26% rebate on the total cost of your solar energy system. For instance, if you invested $20,000 in installing solar panels, you are eligible for a tax credit of $5,200. In addition, the program has no investment limit, so you can invest as much as you want in solar energy and still receive the 26% rebate. After 2022, however, the benefit amount decreases. The ITC falls to 22% in 2023 and 10% after that.

Accelerated Depreciation

Your solar energy equipment is also eligible for accelerated depreciation. This is accomplished through the Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS), another federal program. The MARCS initiative lets you write off your entire solar panel system in the first year. In contrast, typical equipment depreciation tax deductions are distributed over the product's useful life. This significantly enhances your cash flow and enables you to finance solar power installation.

Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

This solar energy option enables you to recover equipment installation costs by selling your solar system's energy. Government frameworks equate one SREC to one thousand kilowatt-hours. They mandate that electric companies participate and honor every SREC your solar equipment generates.

You are not required to install a particular model or size of solar panel system to qualify for these tax benefits. They are government-backed incentives designed to encourage the transition to solar energy, regardless of the type of system installed.

Continuous Financial and Environmental Returns on Investment 

Despite the initial high cost, installing solar energy in your home and business is a good investment. This investment will continue to benefit your bottom line. Depending on the size of your system, it can pay for itself in a few years while you enjoy lower or even zero electric costs. 

Finally, businesses of all sizes recognize that installing a solar electric energy system is a crucial strategic decision that ensures a stable financial return for decades. 

It also helps recruit customers, as many are drawn to businesses committed to sustainability initiatives. Imagine that in three years, the CO2 offset of a 105 kW system is equivalent to saving 11,004 trees and 49,522 gallons of petroleum.

Conclusions

The use of solar power has significant advantages for business industries. It doesn't pollute or cause the release of greenhouse gases once it's set up. There is less reliance on oil and chemical fuels from other countries. It is clean, and renewable power is available every day of the year, even when it's cloudy. It has a return on investment, saving you money instead of paying an energy bill.

Therefore, choosing the optimal size and capacity for a solar battery system is essential for enjoying its benefits and future energy consumption by businesses. You may consult experts from Genie Solar. Genie Solar is a part of Genie Energy (NYSE: GNE), a global company that provides power to US and European customers. They can help you figure out your whole energy plan and give you assistance on how to put a solar power system on top of your business.

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