Increasing use of onsite solar energy
Maximizing self-consumption—using generated solar power onsite rather than exporting it—boosts financial returns when export rates are low. Operational changes, combined with energy storage and load controls, help align consumption with solar production.
Practical steps to increase self-consumption:
- Shift flexible loads (charging, HVAC, water heating) to daytime hours
- Implement energy management systems to autonomously start/stop equipment based on solar availability
- Use battery storage to store midday solar for use during peak demand periods
- Upgrade to energy-efficient equipment to better align baseline loads with solar generation
Implementation tips
- Conduct a load profile analysis to identify flexible loads and scheduling opportunities
- Start with low-cost measures like rescheduling non-critical processes
- Integrate controls and automation gradually and measure results
Combining operational changes with storage and intelligent controls can materially increase the percent of solar energy consumed onsite and improve overall project economics.