Path-Q Solar
What system size is appropriate if my electricity consumption may fall after a business efficiency project?
Answer
Base the preferred size on a credible post-efficiency load forecast, while testing current-use and project-delay scenarios. If the project is uncertain or staged, a smaller initial system with a documented expansion path may be safer than sizing permanently for today’s higher consumption.
Key points
- Estimate the efficiency project's reduction by load type, operating hours, and implementation date.
- Separate committed savings from aspirational or unverified savings.
- Check whether the proposed system can be expanded without replacing major equipment.
- Evaluate both annual energy offset and demand-period performance.
What it depends on
- Expected efficiency savings and confidence in those savings
- Project timing and implementation scope
- Current load profile and business growth
- Roof, interconnection, inverter, and service constraints
Risks and trade-offs
- Sizing for current load can create excess production after efficiency improvements.
- Sizing only for forecast savings can underproduce if the project underperforms.
- Deferring solar may lose time or incur different costs, while oversizing may reduce utilization.
Information you may need
- Current bills and interval demand data
- Efficiency project specifications and savings estimate
- Implementation schedule and verification method
- Expansion constraints and business growth expectations
Your next step
What to do next
Compare current-load, verified-post-project, and project-delay cases, then request a design that states what expansion provisions are included.
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SQ02665