Although they’re very similar to each other, commercial and residential solar panels differ from each other in a few important ways. Here’s what you should know about the primary differences between commercial and residential solar panels.
Commercial Solar Panels
Commercial solar panels are large solar cultivation systems used by large businesses, corporate campuses, or other large industrial sites that need to produce a lot of energy for operations. They are commonly distributed near a generation point. In other words, commercial or industrial solar panels are almost always connected to a nearby electric grid; this means business owners can use a benefit known as net metering, which allows them to send any unused electricity back to the grid. In exchange, commercial property owners receive electricity bill credits for distributed generation.
Residential Solar Panels
Unlike commercial solar panels, residential solar panels are sun-powered energy systems only meant to service the primary residence on which they reside. These typically take the form of arrays of rooftop solar panels, or in rarer cases, the Tesla Solar Roof.
Residential solar panels have become more appealing for their exceptional financial benefits and sustainability. Consumers can also invest in community solar farms that allow them to own a portion of ground-mounted solar panels.
– Learn More About the Future of Solar Energy in Texas! –
Differences
The most substantial difference between commercial and residential solar panels is their size. For comparison, the average residential solar panel system is about 8 kilowatts (KW). Meanwhile, depending on the facility’s needs, a commercial solar panel system can be several megawatts (MW) in size. Residential solar panels are typically smaller since they power a home for fewer people. Commercial solar panels are wider, higher in number, and generate power for more people.
Similarities
Although they differ in size and expected power output, there are several details that residential and commercial solar panels share. They’re both installed similarly, particularly with a bolted racking system. Granted, because many commercial solar panels are installed on a flat roof, installers may use a non-penetrating ballast. Overall, commercial and residential solar panels share two important similarities: sustainability and financial benefits.
Sunshine Renewable Solutions is a residential and commercial solar company – happy to help you with your solar needs. Learn more about the growing Texas solar market, and contact us to learn more about what solar panels can do for your business or home!
