What are the Components of a Commercial Solar System?

Solar systems are employed in residences, businesses, and even automobiles, featuring several inconspicuous components.

Opting for solar energy entails more than acknowledging solar panels; a comprehensive understanding of your solar system’s various parts is crucial for proper maintenance. This knowledge becomes particularly vital when contemplating the installation of solar electricity.

For business proprietors engaging in professional commercial solar installation services, it’s essential to grasp the intricacies of their solar system’s functionality. With this understanding, one can enhance the specification and organization of the system, ensuring a more effective and efficient operation of each component.

1. Solar Panels

The most visible component of a solar system is the solar panels, a familiar sight on rooftops indicating a commitment to solar energy. These panels harness the sun’s energy, converting it into direct current (DC) electricity by stimulating electrons within solar cells. It’s crucial to install and maintain these panels carefully, considering system performance over time, component durability, installation process, and associated warranties. Prioritizing long-term savings over initial costs is a wise approach.

2. Inverter

After capturing DC electricity, solar panels send it to the solar inverter, which is vital in converting it into usable alternating current (AC) electricity. 

There are two main types of inverters: 

• String inverters
• Microinverters 

String inverters are situated on the building’s side, and microinverters are attached to each solar panel. Choosing the right inverter system is essential; consulting with a solar specialist can provide further guidance.

3. Racking

Racking, or mounting, is the third crucial part, securing solar panels to the roof. Solar Earth employs high-quality racking to ensure both stability and peace of mind. While some businesses may prioritize quantity over quality in installations, Solar Earth takes the time to guarantee proper procedures, ensuring the system’s performance, safety, and the protection of your family.

4. Batteries

The energy harvested during daylight hours holds immense potential, and solar batteries serve as the key to unlocking its full utility, particularly during nighttime when solar systems aren’t actively generating power. These batteries are pivotal in empowering businesses that operate around the clock, ensuring uninterrupted operations throughout the night.

For systems that produce surplus energy, solar batteries offer a valuable means of storage, providing a reservoir of power for future use. Considering a hybrid solar power configuration from the outset is essential for optimizing this capability, as it allows seamless integration of battery storage into the system.

Integrating batteries into a grid-tied system post-installation can be complex, highlighting the importance of planning for storage needs from the beginning. While grid-tied systems can draw power from the grid at night, off-grid setups necessitate the inclusion of solar batteries to meet evening power demands. Batteries prove indispensable for remote residences, small-scale solar setups, vehicles, and off-grid cabins.

Investing in battery technology is a prudent choice for those heavily reliant on nighttime energy consumption. Although the initial installation costs may be higher, the long-term benefits of reduced grid dependency and lower electricity expenses make it a worthwhile investment.

Understanding feed-in tariffs offered by utility companies is crucial, as they compensate solar owners for contributing excess energy to the grid. However, storing surplus energy in batteries means preceding this compensation, highlighting the need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits.

While batteries constitute a significant expense in solar power systems, their versatility and long-term cost savings make them a valuable asset, particularly as advancements in battery technology continue to enhance efficiency and affordability.

Various options exist in the market for solar batteries, 

• Lithium-ion
• Lead-acid
• Flow
• Nickel-cadmium

With lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries being the most prevalent. Sealed AGM batteries and flooded lead-acid batteries offer distinct advantages within the lead-acid category. Each battery type presents unique pros and cons, with lithium-ion batteries gaining popularity due to their low maintenance requirements and superior energy storage capabilities.

In summary, solar batteries represent a crucial component in maximizing the efficiency and reliability of solar energy systems, offering a pathway to greater energy autonomy and sustainability in the long run.

5. Electrical Panel

Solar panels connect to the electrical panel, functioning as a switchboard that directs power to circuits throughout the building. This enables solar-generated electricity to power various aspects of a business.

6. Power Grid

Excess energy can be sent to the grid when solar panels produce more electricity than needed. At the same time, energy is drawn from the grid during periods of low production or high demand. The electric meter tracks incoming and outgoing electricity, allowing businesses to reduce monthly energy costs.

7. Sun Energy

The sun, the ultimate source of energy, powers every solar system. Solar panels, through the photovoltaic effect, transform solar energy into electricity. Silicon cells within the panels absorb sunlight, setting electrons in motion to generate an electric current. Solar panels can produce electricity even on cloudy days, showcasing their resilience and efficiency in capturing sunlight.