Renewable sources of energy have not only become an emerging market, but also the need of the hour. With India receiving 300 days of tropical sunshine, it comes as no surprise that India is one of the global leaders in generating alternative energy. Industries across sectors have recognized the potential of solar energy, and account for 87% of solar power generation. While there are many types of solar energy systems, one of the most popular type is rooftop systems.
Let’s understand the benefits and drawbacks of this system on a commercial scale. Advantages
With solar energy, there is no fear of fluctuating power costs. Unlike traditional electricity, which is generated by another company and is subject to price hikes, once the rooftop solar panel is installed, it is very easy to calculate the expenditure on electricity for a period of time. This number remains constant since the investment is already made and there are no additional charges that can be applied. Given that the rooftop is an owned asset, no further leasing or rentals are required from a space-allocation point of view. Therefore rooftop solar energy is a secure investment with guaranteed and consistent returns!
Secondly, even though there is an installation cost attached to solar panels, maintaining these panels is very cost and effort-effective. A solar panel can have a service life of over two decades if maintained properly, so the initial cost of the installation can be spread across twenty years for a more accurate annual cost. Again, due to the fact that the rooftop is easily and instantly accessible, and maintenance can be done with ease and without any delays.
Lastly, one of the biggest perks of having a rooftop solar panel is that it requires no additional space. There is no need to procure more land just to generate electricity since the sun will shine on the building anyway. By placing the system high on top of the roof, there will also be no loss in efficiency due to obstructions of sunlight from trees or other structures. This means the panels get the most amount of sunlight possible, every day and from every direction. Panels can also be oriented at different angles to map the journey of the sun across the sky, for optimum exposure throughout the day.
Disadvantages
While solar panels don’t create any pollution when generating energy, there is a debate that manufacturing, installation, and disposal of rooftop solar energy systems does create waste. To add to it, solar energy systems require a global network to transport and install different parts, raising the overall carbon footprint of the systems.
Before going for rooftop solar panels, one must also be conscious of the fact that once the rooftop solar panels are installed, the roof will not be available for any other applications. In the case of shared roof space, other stakeholders have to be involved in the decision as well.
Lastly, one must also consider the fact that additional reinforcements may be required on the roof to support the weight of the solar energy systems, without affecting the thermal and insulating properties of the rood. This adds additional cost and time to the project.
Embrace the future
In order to encourage the use of solar energy in India, the government is offering tax credits to those who install rooftop solar panels, especially for commercial purposes. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is willing to subsidize 30% of the installation costs for companies wanting to install rooftop solar panels, meaning solar energy just got even cheaper.
The move to solar energy for commercial consumption is the only way forward for long-term, sustainable business practices. Sterling and Wilson Solar have been market leaders in this field since 2011, and have operations in over 25 countries, spanning five continents. With 253 commercial solar projects under their belt, Sterling and Wilson have helped generate an aggregate of 10.8 GWp of clean, renewable electricity. For a consultation about your power needs, come to Sterling and Wilson Solar today.
Originally published at http://realestateandepc.wordpress.com on June 18, 2021.
