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Environmental sustainability is a top business priority for CEOs, ranking higher in importance than efficiency and productivity, according to a recent report from Gartner. It’s no surprise, then, that more and more U.S. businesses are turning to solar to combat climate change and energy reliability challenges. In fact, solar power has grown by an average of 24 percent every year in the past decade, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). li polymer battery pack
While solar clearly has advantages as a renewable energy source, its greatest potential for reducing emissions, lowering energy costs, improving operations, and more, lies in pairing solar power with energy storage.
This is how it works: Rooftop solar panels on a facility generate clean power during the day and the battery storage system, often made of lithium-ion batteries, collects the energy for future, strategic use. This powerful combination opens the door for facilities to realize additional benefits. Here are four:
Given all the benefits of solar integrated with batteries, facility managers might wonder how they can begin their transition. To maximize results, it’s recommended to first reduce the facility’s solar power needs. This can be achieved through steps like retrofitting facilities with LEDs, adding insulation and upgrading HVAC systems. At the outset of a project, it’s also critical to select a qualified electrical contractor who has experience with solar and energy storage systems to ensure a safe, effective and efficient installation. Reputable sources, such as the National Electrical Contractors Association’s (NECA) Find A Contractor tool and Powering Chicago’s Find a Contractor Tool, for those in the Chicagoland area, can identify qualified contractors with the right credentials, like NABCEP board certification for solar professionals, for your next project.
battery storage system Elbert Walters III is trained as an electrician at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip, Illinois, and now represents the electrical construction industry as the executive director of Powering Chicago.