Can solar photovoltaics be installed on commercial buildings?

Better Buildings Alliance members’ highest priority for the Team was to help commercial building and owners navigate the decisions regarding installing solar photovoltaics (PV) on commercial buildings. This guide serves that purpose and is intended for anyone investigating the addition of PV to a single or multiple commercial buildings.

What are the best practices for extending the life of PV panels?

To extend the life of PV (Photovoltaic) panels in commercial rooftop solar systems, best practices include the use of high temperature-resistant membranes. When a standard membrane is utilized, self-adhered flexible PV arrays should be installed to a sacrificial layer of membrane. Documented compatibility between the roof membrane and the adhesive is critical.

Can solar PV help a commercial building?

For federal, state, and local buildings, you may have clean energy or sustainability targets that solar PV will help you to achieve ! For commercial buildings that lease floor space, your tenants may value the presence of solar PV, and you may be able to pass this value on through the lease price !

What should the layout of a PV system look like?

The layout of a PV system should consider how drains will be accessed for maintenance. Adhered PV arrays and ballasted PV systems can impede rooftop drainage. Designing the PV layout to accommodate drainage is most often specified by a solar designer, not the roof designer.

How does a PV system work in a commercial building?

In most commercial building applications, the output of the PV system is converted to AC electricity and consumed by the loads associated with the building or facility. When a facility’s electricity needs are lower than the PV system’s output, the excess AC electricity is typically sold back into the electric grid.

Will net metering reforms affect commercial PV systems?

This typically does not impact commercial systems because they are not sized such that power is exported back to the grid (i.e. the PV system output is less than the building’s baseload). However, if rate structures are changed as a result of net metering reforms, the economics of a solar PV system may be impacted.