Commercial Solar PV systems are beautifully simple in operation.

They are noiseless, have no moving parts, and require very little maintenance. As a building owner you will realize the benefits of solar electricity without any significant changes to the operations of your business.

Solar PV cells convert sunlight into electricity through the "photovoltaic effect." They are made of semi-conducting materials including silicon, which is the second most abundant element on the planet. Solar PV technology has been commercially used since the 1950s in applications ranging from calculators to satellites. Now you can harness the power of the sun for your business.

Namasté Solar uses solar PV components from the highest quality manufacturers in the business. We will work with you to choose the components that meet your needs at the best value possible.

Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Systems

Virtually all commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed today are grid-tied, utility-interactive systems. This allows the utility grid to serve as the back-up power for your building. Rather than storing any excess electricity in batteries, your system will first feed any loads that are in use in your building.

In the event that the PV system generates energy beyond your buildings needs, the excess power would be sent back to the utility grid for general usage. A mechanism called “net metering” keeps track of how much electricity has been sent to the grid and creates a credit on your account called a "solar bank."

Any time your building needs more electricity than your system is producing, you will draw some or all of your electricity from the grid and spend some of the excess you have built up in your solar bank.

Namasté Solar uses solar PV components from the highest quality manufacturers in the business. We will work with you to choose the components that meet your needs at the best value possible.

Modules

SunPower modules provide the highest-efficiency available on the market today providing the greatest power density in space constrained situations. These high efficiency modules allow us to maximize your power production when the available space is limited. Kyocera manufactures high quality polycrystalline modules that provide a balance of efficiency and value. If space constraints are not an issue Kyocera may be the best choice for you. Similar to Kyocera, Sharp modules provide an optimal combination of efficiency and value.

Racking

The most common mounting approach for flat-roof commercial applications is a ballast-only, non-penetrating, low-profile racking system that allows us to install an entire solar PV array without any roof penetrations or connections to the roof. These systems are subject to a two-part engineering review from both the manufacturer, as well as a local structural engineer to confirm the appropriateness and safety of the ballasted approach.

Inverter

In addition to your commercial solar PV modules, we will install an inverter which converts the direct current (DC) electricity created by your modules to the alternating current (AC) electricity usable by your building. The type of inverter that will work best for your system is typically determined by the type of modules and the size of your system.

Net-metering

Finally, we will connect the system to your existing electrical service. Xcel Energy will then exchange your current analog or digital meter with a new digital net meter. Grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems interface seamlessly with the utility grid, supplying power to your building from the sun during the day and from the utility at night. Utilities offer a process called “net metering,” which allows the electric meter to move forward when electricity flows from the grid into the building and backward when power flows from the solar system back into the utility grid.

PV Production Meter

Additionally, many commercial grade PV systems also require that a “production” meter be installed in addition to the net meter. This second meter is specifically purposed to tabulate the amount of energy your PV system produces and is used by Xcel Energy to determine the amount of the performance-based Renewable Energy Credit payment that is owed.

Monitoring

We also offer a full suite of web-based system monitoring tools. Whether you need a display to demonstrate the PV system performance to the public in your lobby or you simply want to track your solar production from anywhere in the world, Namasté Solar has a solution for you.

Solar PV systems function optimally when oriented to the south and in full sun from at least 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day throughout the year. Oftentimes, it is possible to design around shading caused by rooftop units, equipment screens, parapet walls, vent stacks, or trees. Your commercial solar electric system can very likely be installed in a ballast-only fashion on the flat roof of your building. If it is determined that a ballast-only solution is not viable or desired, we can explore roof-connected options.

Perhaps your building has south-facing windows with significant sun exposure. If so, an awning solar electric system can be an excellent choice to provide the dual benefit of passive shading and active electricity generation. If not enough sunny roof or awning space is available but land is more abundant, a ground-mount solar electric system might be the best choice. If covered parking is desired, we can also consider solar PV carport systems that allow for shaded parking while actively generating electricity for your building. A Namasté Solar consultant will provide you with an honest and thorough assessment of the viability of your site and how to design your solar PV system to meet your priorities.