How it Works

Solar electric panels are mounted in a sunny location facing south, southeast, or southwest. This location can be as versatile as each building requires but, due to size constraints on commercial lots, the roof is usually the best choice.

See the photo album page for some examples of commercial roof mounting methods, in addition to options for ground mounts (where applicable).

DC & AC Power
These solar electric, or photovoltaic (PV), panels create DC power when the sun shines on them. The DC power is then turned into usable AC power by an inverter, which can be mounted outdoors or indoors.

Once the power is in AC (alternating current) form, it can be backfed into a breaker box and either used within the business to power demands or it can be sent back to the power company, spinning the meter backwards. The solar power is always used in the situation of the demands inside the business provided first, then any extra being fed back into the grid. A standard commercial grid tie is designed without the use of batteries, which demand a higher maintenance factor, instead using the utility grid as, essentially, a better efficiency battery.