Whether it pays.
WHAT THE CALCULATION IS
System cost, against what it saves over its life.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
Your current cost per unit, from all sources combined.
WHY COMBINED
Solar displaces your most expensive source, not the cheapest.
WHAT TO CALCULATE
Units the system will produce annually Value of those units at your current cost System cost, including installation Battery replacement over the life
WHY BATTERY REPLACEMENT MATTERS
It is the largest recurring cost and it is frequently omitted from projections.
WHAT PAYBACK PERIOD MEANS
How long before savings equal the investment.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Years, not months.
WHAT MAKES PAYBACK SHORTER
High current energy cost Heavy daytime consumption Reliable sunlight Long equipment life
WHY DAYTIME CONSUMPTION MATTERS
Solar produces during the day; consuming it directly is more efficient than storing it.
WHAT THAT IMPLIES
Businesses operating in daylight benefit most.
WHAT TO BE SCEPTICAL OF
Projections assuming optimistic sunlight hours Projections omitting battery replacement Savings calculated against grid tariffs rather than your actual mix
WHAT TO ASK ANY SUPPLIER FOR
The assumptions, in writing.
WHAT TO DO WITH TWO QUOTATIONS
Compare the assumptions, not only the price.
