How Much Space Does my Business Need for Solar Panels?

You can start by saving money on your electricity costs for your business by installing a solar PV system, but first you must make several essential selections about your solar array, like brand, model, and size. Most importantly ensuring that you are balancing the energy you use with the energy you export, choosing the proper size solar PV system will allow you to get the most out of your panels and achieve the right balance between your original investment and your long-term revenue.

Roof Size and Your Budget

The first step is determining the largest installation that can be made, because this will help you determine what is and isn't practical. This calculation, which takes your roof size and budget into account, will only show you what you must work with so that you can base future decisions on those considerations.

What you can and cannot buy depends on your budget. Although commercial solar PV systems will typically pay for themselves in under 5 years, before any incentives that may be appropriate for your business, such as the Annual Investment Allowance.

Your physical ability to install solar panels is directly impacted by the size of your roof. Although you can begin with as many panels as will fit on your roof, it is always preferable to assess your needs and choose the option that will best match your budget.

You need to be aware of your building's dimensions to calculate the size of your roof. To gain an approximate estimate of the size of the roof, you can either consult the original designs for the building or measure the square foot if building size has changed since first built.

Remember to measure areas that can accommodate solar panels. For example, if you want to put up panels on the south side, measure the length of the roof along the south side and then the east side from the corner to where the roof finishes, normally approximately half of the wall.

To achieve maximum generation, the best place for solar panels is a roof that faces south, on a 30-40-degree slope, and receives little to no shade. However, most commercial rooftops are much lower in pitch, typically 6-20 Degrees, and not always with a south facing elevation.  Significant generation still occurs from non-south facing roofs, and if the pitch of the roof is relatively low, it is unlikely to have a major shading impact on its opposing elevation.  Independent specialist software is available to solar PV system designers and installers to accurately predict the expected annual generation of a solar PV system for their client, illustrating what can be achieve from different roof pitches and orientations.

Commercial Solar Systems

If you want to install the most panels possible, you will need to pay great attention to what you are putting and its precise proportions; for commercial systems it is best to leave this to an experienced solar PV design and installation business. You can calculate roughly how many panels can be installed by using the typical solar panel's approximate dimensions of 1m x 2 m to estimate how many panels your roof can accommodate, however, consideration must be given to the obstacles typically found on an commercial, agricultural or industrial rooftop..

You can work out how many solar panels you need by utilising the following information once you know how many you can install.

Your annual business energy usage can be found on your energy bills or in a report from your electric provider. The average UK small business consumes roughly between 15,000 kWh of electricity and gas between 15,000 kWh and 30,000 kWh annually, with the larger businesses use roughly 50,000 kWh electricity. It's crucial to consider that different solar panels create varying amounts of energy.

The typical commercial solar panel produces 200 watts per square metre of surface area; however, you can choose panels that produce power based on the brand and your budget.

Conclusion

Solar power is a great way for businesses to help the environment and save money on utility bills.. Depending on your available space and electricity consumption, you can work with your solar panel installer to find ways that you can maximize the benefits your solar PV system will bring.