How can on-site solar PV & energy storage improve sustainability?

To achieve sustainability goals while meeting the increasing electricity demands of electrification, organizations are pairing on-site solar PV generation with on-site energy storage. These systems, which are considered as “behind-the-meter” (BTM) systems, allow facilities to maximize the benefits of on-site renewable generation.

Do solar systems need to be located onsite?

These systems need not be located onsite. For more information, refer to National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) A Guide to Community Shared Solar: Utility, Private, and Nonprofit Project Development2. PV systems produce energy by converting photons into direct current (DC) electricity.

What are the benefits of an on-site solar PV system?

For the scenario represented in the graph, an on-site solar PV system allows the facility to reduce the amount of electricity drawn from the grid during the middle of the day. Increasing the amount of solar PV production on-site can provide additional cost and emission reductions and resiliency benefits for facilities.

Should solar PV production be reduced on-site?

Increasing the amount of solar PV production on-site can provide additional cost and emission reductions and resiliency benefits for facilities. However, the additional generation that can result from larger systems during peak daylight hours must be exported or managed through curtailment on-site.

Can on-site storage be used alongside solar PV?

If a utility restricts the exports from a facility to the grid, the use of on-site storage alongside solar PV can provide a solution to avoid costly infrastructure upgrades, thus increasing the feasibility of larger on-site PV installations.

Who can use onsite PV?

This could include building energy managers, facility managers, and property managers in a variety of sectors, including retail, food service, healthcare, higher education, and the public sector. Not every building and region is suitable for onsite PV.