The core decision.
WHAT EACH SUITS
- Grid: cheapest per unit where supply hours are adequate
- Solar with storage: daytime consumption, long-term cost reduction
- Generator: high power on demand, low purchase cost, high running cost
WHAT DETERMINES THE MIX
Your supply hours Your load pattern through the day Your capital available Your tolerance for interruption
WHY LOAD PATTERN MATTERS
A business consuming heavily at night benefits differently from one consuming in daylight.
WHAT SUITS A DAYTIME BUSINESS
Solar covering the working day, with modest storage.
WHAT SUITS A NIGHT OPERATION
Larger storage, or generator reliance.
WHAT SUITS A HIGH-POWER INTERMITTENT LOAD
A generator, because storage for it is prohibitively expensive.
WHAT EXAMPLES LOOK LIKE
Welding, industrial machinery, large refrigeration plant.
WHAT TO DO IF CAPITAL IS LIMITED
Reduce consumption, protect equipment, and add storage incrementally.
WHY INCREMENTALLY
Systems can be expanded if specified for it.
WHAT TO SPECIFY FOR EXPANSION
Inverter and controller capacity above current need Space and mounting for more panels Battery chemistry you can add to
WHAT TO AVOID
A system that cannot grow Committing everything to one source
WHAT MOST BUSINESSES END UP WITH
A combination, with the generator as last resort.
WHAT TO MEASURE AFTERWARDS
Generator hours, which is the test of whether it worked.
