How to Choose Solar Panels for Business

Solar panels, while often grouped into a single category, are surprisingly varied. There are three main types of solar panel, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Getting to grips with the different solar panel types is vital, as it will help you understand the most efficient solution for your business.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through all the essential considerations you need to make before investing in a commercial solar panel installation. We'll discuss how to choose a reliable solar panel installer, calculate savings, and assess your financing options to ensure your business reaps the benefits of switching to solar energy.

The Main Types of Solar Panel

There are three primary types of solar panels used in commercial installations. These are: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Each type has distinct characteristics that make it suitable for different business needs and installation environments.

Monocrystalline: These are known for their high efficiency and sleek appearance, and are made from a single crystal structure. They tend to have the longest lifespan of the three options, and are ideal for businesses with limited roof space. Because of their durability, monocrystalline panels work well in a variety of weather conditions and climates.
Polycrystalline: These panels are made from multiple crystal structures which makes them less efficient that monocrystalline panels. However, they are more affordable, and present a great option for businesses that want a large number of solar panels installed.
Thin film: Thin-film panels are the most lightweight option of the three, and also the most flexible. This makes them suitable for buildings with unique architecture. They aren't as efficient as their crystalline counterparts, but they fit into spaces where the other two options can't. These include curved or uneven surfaces.

How to Choose the Right Solar Panels for Your Business

1. Efficiency

Efficiency is a critical measure of a solar panel's worth to your business. While panels with lower efficiency levels will save you money in short-term installation costs, they won't be able to produce the same amount of energy as their more expensive counterparts.

Choosing solar panels with efficiency ratings of over 20% will ultimately save you more money on electricity bills over the solar PV panels' lifespan.

Efficiency is especially important if you have limited roof space for your installation. You'll want panels that can overdeliver, generating as much electricity as possible per panel. If you have room for a large commercial solar panel system, you can get away with panels that have slightly lower efficiency ratings.

2. Durability

With 25+ year lifespans, solar panels are a long-term investment. You'll always want to invest in panels that are known for being able to withstand all weather conditions. This will save you a lot of money in the future, as you won't have to make premature replacements.

It's not just weather that you have to think about when assessing a panel's durability. Degrading cells can leave your solar system lacking in efficiency throughout its latter years in operation. This is where monocrystalline solar panels excel.

3. Manufacturer

There are a handful of solar panel manufacturers known for creating great-quality products. These companies offer long-lasting, efficient panels with great warranty options. When it comes to warranties, you'll ideally want to find one that covers at least a 25-year period.

While there are some lesser-known companies producing exceptional products, opting for a well-known reputable brand eliminates a lot of the risk associated with the investment.

solar panels in a row

Advantages of Installing Solar Panels for Businesses

Cost Savings:

With solar panels, you'll be producing your own electricity, which will significantly lower the amount you have to source from the grid. This will slash your monthly energy bills by hundreds of pounds, sometimes thousands depending on the size of your commercial solar system.

Sustainability:

Investing in a commercial solar system will reduce your carbon footprint, enhancing your company's status as a sustainable business. Solar energy doesn't rely on fossil fuels to generate power, meaning it won't cause any additional harm to the planet.

Energy Independence:

While you'd need a substantially-sized solar panel system to take your business completely off grid, installing solar energy will help you gain independence. Energy prices are constantly fluctuating, but by producing your own energy, you'll find this issue won't hit you particularly hard.

Incentives:

There are plenty of government incentives and potential tax breaks to encourage businesses to shift towards green energy. These make solar energy even more financially agreeable, and that's before you start making energy bill savings.

Future-Proofing

Renewable energy is clearly the future, and with the UK Government's intentions to become net zero by 2050, old forms of energy are being phased out. As demand for solar systems rockets, squeezing your installation in early will likely save you being on a waiting list or falling victim to rising demand costs.

Improved Brand Image

As well as the financial and environmental benefits on offer from solar panel installations, its also a great move for your company's PR. Environmentally-conscious customers gravitate towards businesses that demonstrate a willingness to do their bit for the planet.

Thinking about going solar? Check out our commercial solar installation case studies.

Choosing a Commercial Solar Panel Installer | Essex

There are plenty of solar panel installers around the Essex region. However, they're not all created equally. For an investment as large as a commercial solar panel installation, you don't want to be taking any risks with the company that you employ to do the job.

The first thing to look for is the company's credentials. Trustworthy companies will be Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified, which will ensure they provide reliable and safe renewable energy installations.

Trustmark, NAPIT, and RECC accreditations and memberships are also telltale signs that a company can provide you with a great quality commercial solar installation.

Lastly, take your gut feeling about a company into account. If they have the credentials but don't seem right to you when you get in contact with them, there's no harm in giving them a wide berth. A solar panel installation company should always be able to run you through the entire process and answer any questions you may have, including those about solar panel types. It's also handy if they offer servicing and solar panel maintenance plans.

As mentioned, this is a big job, so it's worth shopping around for a handful of quotes from different installation companies.

We Install Solar Panels for Businesses | Essex and the South East

Trust EPC Improvements to help your business switch to solar and save thousands

At EPC, we've been providing businesses with high-end solar panel installations for over 15 years. We're MCS Certified and Trustmark approved, so you can trust us to do an exceptional job, every time.

Our experts will design a bespoke system that suits your business' exact needs, fitting and arranging panels to generate the maximum electricity possible.