Path-Q Solar
Should a small business size solar for its peak daytime load or its total daily consumption?
Answer
Usually neither measure alone is sufficient: size solar from interval energy consumption and the value of energy at each time, while checking peak demand separately. Total daily consumption affects how much energy the system can offset, but peak demand may affect equipment sizing and demand charges without requiring the system to match the entire peak.
Key points
- Interval load data shows when energy is used and how much solar can be consumed directly.
- Peak demand and demand charges may make load management or storage valuable even when total energy use is moderate.
- Roof area, export treatment, operating hours, seasonal loads, and future business growth can limit the practical system size.
What it depends on
- Hourly or sub-hourly load profile
- Demand-charge structure and export treatment
- Available installation area and solar resource
- Business operating schedule and expected load changes
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing only to total annual consumption can produce excess exports or fail to address costly demand periods.
- Sizing to the single highest peak can oversize the system because that peak may be brief or unusual.
- A larger system may have diminishing value if exported energy is compensated below the avoided purchase price.
Information you may need
- At least one year of interval electricity data
- Bills showing energy charges, demand charges, and fixed charges
- Operating schedule and planned load growth
- Roof, ground, or carport area available for solar
Your next step
What to do next
Compare a provider's production model against the business's interval load profile and evaluate solar, storage, and load-management options together.
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