As the global focus on sustainability intensifies, businesses are increasingly turning to renewable energy solutions like solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to meet their environmental goals, while also reducing their ever-increasing energy costs.
For employees within organisations, such as operations, facility, property and sustainability managers, starting this journey can feel like a daunting task. However, with the right guidance and support, embracing solar energy can be a smooth and rewarding journey.
Here are five essential tips to help you kickstart your solar initiative:
1. Find the Right Partner
Choosing the right Solar PV partner is key.
When doing your research, look for a trusted partner with a solid track record.
Don’t settle for second-best – go with a team that’s as committed to your success as you are. They will be able to do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to technical and commercial evaluation, alongside supporting you with the complex internal discussions associated with such a project.
There are plenty of companies that can deliver this at a low price, but when it comes to an energy generation asset that can produce renewable energy for 30+ years, it’s worth choosing your partner carefully, as a cheaper initial price can sometimes lead to expensive mistakes in the long-term.
2. Get to Know Your Business
It’s worth collating some basic information on your business’s energy usage. So, as a starting point, get your latest electricity bills and 12 months of your half-hourly data – creating a spreadsheet that is broken into 365 days and 48 half-hourly cells with your energy usage every half an hour.
Usually, whoever buys your energy, or your energy supplier, can provide you with this. Also, if you have site diagrams, these can be useful, they’re not needed at the outset.
Have a think about where solar could be placed on your site too – such as the roof or available ground within your boundary. But don’t let this stop you from starting your conversations with a partner – they can support you with this.
3. How Are You Going to Fund It?
Do you think you’ll be able to the get the available capital to fund it yourself or is that unlikely?
If you answered with the latter, then you can explore financing options like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This is where a solar partner will fund the project, and the ongoing maintenance and operation costs, and you just buy the energy that is generated from the panels. This is also at a more reduced price than from the grid – and you get all the carbon benefit.
With the right financial strategy, solar power becomes a smart investment, not a drain on your bottom line.
4. Have Those Internal Discussions
Different departments and functions within your business will have their own reasons as to why solar could be a good move for the organisation.
Finance will be motivated by the savings. Operations will want to know how it impacts the property or site operations. Your energy and sustainability team will be interested in the reduction of your carbon footprint. And your C-suite will likely want to explore all of these.
Choosing the right partner will help you provide them with all the information they need and will even join in with those discussions.
5. Is It a Non-Starter?
No one wants to waste their time, so it’s worth working out quickly whether this can’t go ahead.
There may be practical reasons such as your roof being too weak, or your lease is ending in three years, and you plan to move out. It might be that you don’t have the budget to buy it, but your board also won’t commit to a long-term contract for a PPA (15 years+). Alternatively, you could have a parent company overseas that isn’t supportive of this kind of project.
There are lots of reasons why these projects can’t go ahead, but it’s worth understanding this during the early stages, so no time or financial resource is wasted.
By following these five key tips, you can start to navigate the complexities of solar energy adoption in your business with confidence and clarity.
Embracing solar power not only contributes to a more sustainable future but also positions your business as a leader in environmental stewardship and innovation.
Ready to embark on your solar journey?
Reach out to a trusted solar solutions provider like Shawton Energy – contact us here – dedicated to empowering businesses with reliable and cost-effective solar solutions all through a fully funded model.
Find out more about some of the clients we’ve helped to date or click here to download our brochure – Unlocking Solar Energy for Your Business.
