Guide to 50kW Commercial Solar System
50kW Solar Systems | Guide to Commercial Solar
The business case for installing a 50 kilowatt solar system has become overwhelming. Investing in a 50kW system to power your medium sized business with solar electricity will slash your power bills and dramatically boost your profits over the long term.Commercial solar power systems reduce your company’s carbon footprint and your business expenditure on energy bills. Making the switch to solar can therefore improve your sustainability, your brand and your financial projections.
The expected lifespan of a solar PV system is 25-30 years. It is therefore important to understand how to get the most out of your investment before you get your system installed.
There are a number of steps to maximising your Return On Investment (ROI) for a 50 kilowatt commercial solar system. Choosing high quality components from Clean Energy Council accredited installers while making use of government solar rebates will ensure you are bringing the most value to your business
In this comprehensive buyer’s guide to 50 kW commercial solar systems we will cover everything you need to know about investing in solar for your business.
- The price of 50kW solar systems
- The roof space needed for your 50 kw solar panels
- The amount of electricity your 50kW solar system will generate
- The value it will add to your business
- The payback period of your 50 kW solar system
What is the cost of a 50kW solar PV system?
The Changing Solar Market
Solar system prices have plummeted as competition in the solar market has increased. In conjunction with this price fall has been significant technological improvements that have led to more powerful, efficient and durable products. The amount of power you can generate from a commercial solar power system now is beyond what we could have imagined a decade ago.
This extra competition has not only resulted in falling product prices, but also in an explosion of choices on the market. Businesses can now customise their commercial solar pv system to their exact requirements of cost, efficiency, production and size.
For this reason, there is a wide range of prices that you will find for 50kW solar. Below we have provided a range to give you an idea of the size of investment for this type of commercial system. For a more exact figure, contact our specialists for a free quote.
Solar Product Prices
For commercial 50kW solar systems in Australia you will be looking at starting prices of $45,000 to $50,000 after rebate, excluding GST.
For higher quality components from top tier manufacturers with highly efficient inverters the prices will start from $55,000.
How much roof space is needed for 50kW solar panels?
The amount of roof space you have plays a crucial role in your selection of solar panels. Those with ample roof space have the luxury of choosing the panels that best suit their budget and efficiency goals. However, if your roof space is limited then you may need to buy more powerful panels to make the most of the space you have.
While some manufacturers and types of panels will differ slightly in dimensions, generally speaking the measurements of most solar panels are 1.6 metres x 1 metre. Most panels range between 275 watts and 350 watts. This leaves a decent amount of options in finding the perfect type of panels to suit your budget, goals and roof space.
Roof space needed to power a 50kW solar PV system with:
Below we have provided a guide to the surface area required for some of the most common panel sizes available on the solar market today. The calculations provided are rough estimates of the amount of roof space that would be needed to generate 50 kilowatts.
- 275-watt panels would require 182 solar panels = approximately 291.2m2
- 300-watt panels would require 167 solar panels = approximately 267.2m2
- 350-watt panels would require 143 solar panels = approximately 228.8m2
How much electricity will a 50kW solar pv system generate?
The amount of electricity that your 50kW commercial solar system will generate will depend on a variety of important factors. First and foremost is your geographic location. Where you are situated in the country will determine the amount of solar irradiation that your panels are exposed to. For this reason businesses in the Northern Territory and Queensland can expect to produce more solar energy than those in South Australia or Tasmania.
The time of year is another key consideration. Clearly you can expect to reap more electricity from your solar panels during summer than you will during winter. Longer days and less cloud coverage will all result in higher amounts of electricity produced.
Finally there are the numerous smaller factors that contribute to your overall power generation. The quality of the components in your system, such as the panels themselves and the inverter you choose will affect the efficiency of the system. Then there are the installation factors like the angle of the panels and whether they have been placed under any partial shading.
For these reasons we can not provide an exact figure on the amount of electricity that your 50kW solar system will generate. Instead we can provide you with an average that will give you an approximate average of what your solar system could produce each day.
For systems located in lower-yield locations such as Tasmania or South Australia, you can expect an average of 180-200kWh (kilowatt hours) per day. For higher-yield states like Queensland and Western Australia this goes up to 200-220kWh/day.
How much value can a 50kW solar pv system bring my business?
50 kilowatt solar power systems are suitable for medium to large sized businesses with energy usage under 500kW per day. Investing in this type of solar product will make you eligible for the government’s Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate. This will entitle you to a subsidy on the upfront cost of the system and will ultimately result in a greater return on your investment.
Offsetting 200kWh of electricity each day will dramatically cut your energy expenditure. This will result in cuts to your overhead costs and an increase in your net profits. Businesses with 50kW solar pv systems on average across Australia report energy bill savings of approximately $16,000 annually.
What is the payback period for a 50kW solar pv system?
Through offsetting your energy bill with solar energy and the tariffs paid from feeding electricity back into the grid, your system will eventually pay for itself. Once it has completed this payback period, your investment will become a positive cash-flow product for your business.
The average time for 50kW commercial solar systems to complete this payback period is 4 – 5 years. This will depend on the rate you pay for electricity, the rates of tariffs you receive from your energy provider and the amount you self-consume.
How can I improve the Return on Investment for my 50kW solar system?
There are many ways that you can boost the efficiency of your system and improve the Return on Investment (ROI). Below we have provided four such measures to improve the energy production of your system and the ultimate value of your investment. For more information on any of these concepts, visit our library of articles on our website.
Solar Rebates & Subsidies
State and federal government rebate programs are designed to incentivise the purchase of solar products for personal and commercial use. These subsidies can massively discount the upfront cost of your system, reducing the payback period and improving your overall returns.
Solar Inverters
The quality of your solar inverter will determine the efficiency of your system. Inverters are responsible for converting the energy generated by your panels into the energy you use everyday. The better your inverter, the more electricity you will reap from the solar you generate.
Solar Battery Storage
Solar battery storage is the best means of increasing the amount of solar electricity that you self-consume. Using the energy you generate yourself offers the highest value and thus the greatest returns. Instead of feeding excess energy back into the grid, you can hold onto it for consumption at your convenience.
Feed-in Tariff Rates (minimum feed-in tariff & time varying tariff)
If you don’t have a solar battery and you don’t consume 100% of the energy you generate, it’s important to understand your feed-in tariff (FIT) rates. Different energy providers have vastly different rates and means of measuring the energy you feed back into the grid. Do your due diligence and check out our article on FIT rates.
Getting Started
To learn more about any of the topics discussed, call our friendly specialists on 1300 076 527 .
For a free quote, request a quote on the contact form on our website.
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