Commercial Solar

As the effects of climate change continue to impact the planet, businesses need to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt more sustainable practices. One effective way to achieve this is by installing solar panels on their business premises. Not only is solar energy eco-friendly, but it can also provide a range of benefits for businesses; below we have outlined ten of them.

Reduced Electricity Costs

A primary benefit of solar energy for businesses is the potential for reduced energy costs. As they generate their electricity, companies rely less on the grid and can lower their electricity bills. This is particularly advantageous for businesses that consume large amounts of energy.

Increased Energy Independence

Switching to solar energy can also provide businesses with increased energy independence. By generating their electricity, companies are no longer at the mercy of energy suppliers and the grid, which can be prone to power outages and other disruptions.

Commercial Property Value Increase

Solar energy systems can increase the value of commercial properties. Studies have found that installing a solar energy system can increase the value of a property by up to 20 times the annual electricity savings. This can be advantageous for businesses that plan to sell their property.

Government Incentives and Grants

State and federal governments worldwide offer tax incentives and grants to businesses in specific locations that adopt renewable energy sources such as solar power. These incentives can help reduce the initial costs of installing solar panels, making it more feasible for businesses to adopt this technology. Moreover, some governments offer feed-in tariffs, which pay companies for any excess energy they generate and then feed into the grid. Read More

Why Use Commercial Solar?

Commercial solar is targeted towards businesses that use most electricity between 9 am and 5 pm (operating hours).
These commercial-sized systems (10kW) and up carry unique design considerations and challenges we will go through within the blog.

The three distinct size breaks for commercial solar

(Baring in mind, the average residential solar system size is 5kW or around 20 solar panels).

Less than 30kW (around 100 panels)

A 30kW solar system will usually generate around 120kWh of electricity daily on average over a year; this will save approximately $2000 per month if 100% is self-consumed (which is possible in commercial situations).

30kW to 100kW

Solar systems of this size are usually installed in medium-sized offices, small retail businesses and local clubs.

Solar systems of this size require unique designs to protect the grid from all the electricity they generate. They also need special permission from your local electricity network (DNSP) to connect to the grid.

100kW – 250kW

These systems are typically installed in large offices, wineries, hotels and small to medium factories.

If your system exceeds 100kW, you can no longer claim the STC incentive. However, don’t stress you are still eligible for the subsidy known as ‘LGCs’. This is paid every year based on how much energy the system generates. The application process and paperwork can become quite complex as you have to install a special meter and report your generation every year to be eligible for your incentives. We will be more than happy to help you through this process. Read More

Choosing the right commercial solar system has many great perks.

Solar Power has become an attractive investment option for Perth and Western Australian businesses.

How much energy will commercial solar panels in Perth generate?

Generally, a solar PV system in Perth will generate an average of 5.3kWh (kilowatt-hours) of energy per kilowatt of capacity per day on average throughout the year. This is based on 30 years of sunlight data from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Therefore, on average, a 10kW solar system will generate around 53kWh of energy per day, whilst a 100kW solar system will generate around 530kWh per day (with less in winter and more in summer months. Actual energy yields will vary depending on location, orientation/tilt angle and the components used. The below table shows the expected output from typical commercial solar system sizes.

Westsun Energy’s engineers will review your power bills with you whilst providing a detailed summary of the optimal size system and expected savings through the life of your commercial strategy. Read More

WA Timber Sales 40kw Fronius System

Since its inception, WA Timber Sales has become a significant supplier of structural timber and engineered timber products. In recent years, WA Timber Sales has expanded to include fabricating and supplying wall frames and roof tussles.

With their expansion, so has their energy demand.

Westsun Energy installed a 40kW solar system using Q CELL solar panels and Fronius Inverters.

As you can see from the data collected from their live access portal via Fronius. Timber Sales WA solar production covers over 90 per cent of their energy demands. This system is reliable and delivers impressive results. Read More