As a general electrical contractor in Edmonton, our team of electricians split their time between projects such as solar PV systems, EV charger installations, electrical construction or service upgrades. This recent project for Bee-Clean is a good example of the types of commercial projects we work on. Bee-Clean’s headquarters are located in an old Edmonton warehouse-style commercial space, and the company’s leadership team wanted to add solar.
Key Issues
The client wanted to lower their carbon footprint and offset their yearly energy consumption by adding solar. The building had a favourable flat roof for installation but an old electrical service, which needed to be upgraded to a 3 phase service in order to accommodate electricity generated from solar.
Solution
We installed a 60kW commercial system in an East / West orientation in an effort to achieve the best possible energy production. We also installed a SMA Tri-Power String Inverter, which converts solar energy into electricity that is compatible with the electrical service upgrade. Lastly, we provided an SMA Site Energy Meter so the client could observe the performance of their system in real-time.
Products Installed
Modules: Jinko Solar modules 405 W Number of Panels Installed: 150 panels Supporting Products: SMA tri-power string inverter, site energy meter
Project Length
Design: 3 weeks Build: 3 weeks Service Upgrade: 1 week Approval of design: 2 months Energization: depending on your jurisdiction, a system can take up to 45 days.
Bonus points:
If your commercial or residential property requires a 3 Phase service upgrade, it is important to apply well in advance to avoid delays. Here’s a link to learn more about new connections with Epcor. Commercial solar projects like this one often qualify for funding through the Alberta Energy Savings for Businesses program. When BLDG Electric maps out new projects with our clients, an important component is looking methodically at tax, grants and funding incentives. Currently, many of the costs for implementing a new system can be offset by accessing government programs, but acting on incentives quickly is absolutely essential because government programs don’t have unlimited capacity. The overarching planning point for commercial solar is looking at total system optimization:
- Generating enough power to offset energy use.
- Producing energy credits towards to grid to potentially produce revenue.
- Accessing additional value through the Alberta Carbon Credit program.
If you are interested in adding a commercial solar system to your property, contact us here or call us at (780) 328-6491.
