Reducing your impact on the environment should be a priority for any modern business because it’s so important to the consumer. You also have a moral responsibility to be more eco-friendly so, even though it can incur added costs, you should start making changes right away. 

Some people consider using solar power to run their business but they are concerned about whether it is reliable enough. If you can run your business entirely on solar power, you can make a huge difference to your carbon emissions and save a lot of money at the same time, so it’s definitely worthwhile. However, some important considerations need to be made. So, is solar power reliable enough to run your business?

Assess Your Energy Needs 

Before you do anything else, you need to assess your energy needs. Businesses vary a lot, depending on the nature of their work. A small office with a team of 5, for example, can comfortably run on solar power with the right number of solar panels. Things would be more difficult for a big manufacturing company and solar power may not be adequate. If you carry out an energy audit of your business, you will have a much clearer idea of the number of solar panels you are likely to need. 

Reduce Energy Demands 

During your energy audit, you should think about ways to reduce your energy demands. If you are able to make upgrades to the building and reduce your overall energy burden, you will find it a lot easier to power your business with solar energy. Boosting insulation, increasing natural light, replacing equipment with energy efficient alternatives, and encouraging employees to be more energy-conscious are all great ways to reduce your energy demands. 

Have A Backup Power Supply 

The problem with solar is that it’s reliant on the weather, which is unpredictable. You can’t put the fate of your business in the hands of something so volatile, so you need a backup power supply. If you buy wholesale deep cycle batteries, you can store excess energy from hot days and use that to power the building when the weather isn’t so favorable. However, even that system isn’t foolproof, so you should still pay for a mains electric supply just in case you need it. Most of the time, you won’t, but it’s good to have as a fallback option. 

Consider Selling Surplus Energy 

In some cases, you may find that your solar panels provide more than enough power for your business and you generate a lot of surplus energy. This is a great position to be in because, in a lot of states, you can sell that energy back to the grid and earn some extra money on the side. By making this one change, you go from paying to power your business to earning extra money and powering your business for free. Just make sure that you have enough surplus energy to use as a backup for yourself. 

Solar power can be a good solution for your business but it is also quite unpredictable, so it’s important that you plan well and implement a backup plan.