Assessing commercial solar site suitability
A commercial solar site assessment evaluates roof or ground space, structural capacity, shading, electrical capacity and economic viability. A thorough assessment ensures the system meets energy goals and fits operational constraints.
Key assessment steps
- Energy audit: Review historical utility bills to understand usage patterns, demand charges and opportunities for load shifting.
- Site survey: Inspect roof condition, area, orientation and obstructions, or evaluate ground space for arrays.
- Structural analysis: Confirm roof or supporting structures can handle panel weight and wind loads; obtain engineering signatures if needed.
- Shading analysis: Use tools to model shading from trees, neighboring buildings and roof equipment across seasons.
Electrical and interconnection review
- Metering and service capacity: Verify existing electrical service capacity and whether upgrades are required.
- Net metering and tariffs: Understand local utility policies, net metering rules and potential incentives.
- Interconnection timelines: Some utilities have longer queues and stricter technical requirements for commercial interconnection.
Financial analysis
- Estimate energy production with local irradiance data
- Model savings from bill reduction and demand charge mitigation
- Include incentives, tax benefits and accelerated depreciation in financial projections
Practical tips
- Engage experienced commercial installers to perform a feasibility study and site survey.
- Consider roof replacement or repairs before installation to avoid rework.
- Evaluate integrating storage or controls if demand charges or backup are important.
A comprehensive assessment helps ensure a successful commercial solar project that meets both operational needs and financial objectives.