Many commercial businesses are turning to generators for power supply or are enduring Eskom load-shedding because the assumption is that solar is too expensive or cannot provide the power needed or generators are the easy way out.
Assumptions about options often need to be corrected! For and industrial operation, a positive business case for a solar solution is achievable. The days when Solar was too expensive, or battery storage was too expensive are over.
Small to medium size businesses using between 100 kWh and 1000 kWh per day, or less, are perfect for Solar. Yes, there are vital questions and constraints. Are you finding roof space for panels or securing the capital? Will cash flows be negative initially? Will solar be able to generate the required power?
Technology is available to answer these questions quickly today! At Solar Complete www.solarccomplete.co.za, we assist the customer in measuring consumption, use an advanced and accurate solar production tool to indicate accurate projections for solar production and provide a model to show the expected return on investment for a Solar solution. To see a production model example, click here Production Model
Let us take an actual example. A retail store consumes 350 kWh per day. Eskom cost per kWh is R 3.50, including Vat, So the monthly Eskom Bill is R 36 750. On top of this, the customer runs a 100 kVA generator for 2 hours daily. The generator uses 20 litres per hour for a total of 1200 litres per month. The total Diesel Bill is R 24 000. The total cost for this customer to deliver power to his store is R 60 750 per month.
Solar Complete measured consumption and produced a model using internationally accepted technology. Consumption indicates that, on average, 152 solar panels of 560 watts each are sufficient to produce 350 kWh daily.
Powering the solution is a 100-kW inverter and a battery bank with 119 kWh storage for overnight consumption. Financing this solution over seven years at 13% interest costs
R 35 000 monthly.
Because Eskom costs escalate at 15% per annum compounded and will continue to do so, the customer will save more than R 5 million during the next ten years. What is more, the customer will save money in the first year. There is no cash flow penalty!
Click here to view financial Model Financial Model.
The Bottom Line is that Solar is cheaper and more effective than an Eskom and generator combination.
A solar Solution For businesses hampered by load-shedding is even more optimistic since the cost of production interruptions and other indirect expenses improves the justification.
For an assessment, evaluation and quotation, contact Solar Complete at www.solarcomplete.co.za