SHINE Partners | January 2022
The benefits of switching your commercial property to solar energy are extensive. Pursuing greener energy sources for your business can improve your brand’s image in consumers’ eyes, can save you money by reducing or eliminating your reliance on local power grids, and can save even more money through tax breaks and incentives, grant programs, preferential loans and more.
There is, however, one glaring caveat: solar energy can only be generated when the sun is shining.
“Yes, of course,” you say, “obviously.” Solar cells convert visible light from the sun into electrical energy. So, naturally, they wouldn’t work at night and would produce a lot less electricity on an exceptionally overcast day. If your system contains solar panels alone, any energy not used immediately during the day can be pumped back into the local grid, often with near-market-rate reimbursement from power companies. Even so, your property might still be left reliant on the power grid during off-peak hours in the evenings or at night.
Many systems in your building likely need electricity around the clock, even for commercial properties with standard daytime working hours. For example, emergency sprinklers and fire alarms, computer servers, air conditioning and safety lights are all common features of commercial buildings of any size, and all likely run 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
As a commercial property owner, your goal might be reaching net-zero – complete independence from unsustainable energy sources. Whether you set this goal for environmentally conscious reasons or simply to insulate your property from the flotsam and jetsam of commercially supplied electricity, the “day and night” dichotomy of solar panels presents a bit of a dilemma.
The solution, however, is as simple as could be: power banking.
Solar Power Banking
Power banking does precisely what it says on the tin. Energy produced during the day but not immediately used is first stored (or banked) by a system of rechargeable batteries. Typically lithium-ion cells, these batteries are compact, discreet, and can shore up the weakness of solar panels at night.
In many cases, solar power banks can store more than enough energy during the day to last your commercial property through several days of use. A reputable solar provider like SHINE Partners can configure your solar bank to meet your structure's specific off-peak energy needs.
SHINE Partners works with only high-quality battery manufacturers to give you an energy storage solution that is efficient, reliable, and built to last. Companies like Stem, Tesla, Sungrow, Samsung, CPS, Delta Power, and others help us provide energy storage solutions to meet your needs, including options that utilize either a shared inverter (direct current coupled) or a separate inverter (alternating current coupled). Whatever your unique storage needs, we’ll make it happen.
Rechargeable banks (batteries) for solar panel systems work just like the rechargeable batteries in your phone, digital camera, or power tools – just at a far larger scale. And like batteries for these systems, rechargeable solar banks are also subject to gradual deterioration. Even so, the lifespan of your batteries can be extended as long as possible through careful monitoring, regular checkups on your system’s health by SHINE Partners technicians, and an efficient relay between your solar panel system and the batteries themselves.
Solar Banks – Your Energy Insurance Policy
In addition to maximizing the immediate value of your commercial property solar power installation, a quality solar bank from SHINE Partners can insulate your property from events that may impact local utility grids. For example, in Texas in February 2021, a 100-year winter storm devastated energy infrastructure statewide, leaving millions of homes, small businesses, and larger commercial properties without power for days.
Should a similar situation occur in your area, your solar panels and power bank could keep your property up and running, completely independent from local energy suppliers.
Aside from simple peace of mind, the ability for your commercial property to go on, business-as-usual despite power outages can keep your property profitable even as buildings and businesses on all sides of you struggle.
Solar Banks – An Affordable Option
Solar power banks are often subject to the same wealth of financial options as their solar panel counterparts, and in fact, the two are usually wrapped up in one overall cost.
The federal government offers a blanket tax credit for any solar panel (and bank) installations, but your state or even local government may offer similar tax credits to take advantage of.
Solar power banks can also be financed by a third party, just like your solar panels. Whether you opt for a Power Purchase Agreement, an Energy Service Agreement, a lease, or a direct purchase option through cash, a private loan or a PACE loan, SHINE Partners can help you determine the best financing option for your solar panel and storage installation. Your solar installation is an investment in the future of your commercial property, so you should be able to feel excited about that future, not stressed over the initial financing.
SHINE Partners – Tested and Trusted
Let SHINE Partners show you the short-term and long-term savings made possible by a solar panel and bank system. Give us a call at 800-516-4452 or visit us at https://shine.partners.com and let us know you’re interested. We’re here to help commercial property owners just like you join the solar energy revolution and achieve your independence from unsustainable energy. With more than 30,000 solar panels installed, we have the expertise and excellence to give you the best possible energy solution.
