Solar energy is no longer just about being green, it is also about being practical. Instead of relying on high tariffs, peak loads, and frequent power outages, companies are looking for ways to reduce their costs and make their energy use more sustainable.
One such example is business centers. The costs of lighting, air conditioning, and equipment make up a significant part of operating costs. So office buildings around the world are looking for ways to reduce consumption or find additional power sources that will not scare away huge electricity bills. One of these is their own solar station. But how realistic is it — let's figure it out together.
Rooftop solar station: savings or image?
First, this optimization of electricity costsA properly designed system can significantly reduce bills. During daytime hours, when the business center is most busy, the solar power plant can provide part of the energy consumption or cover it completely on sunny days.
Secondly, solar stations allow forecasting budgets. Stable generation means stable cost. You are not dependent on the electricity market, especially in conditions of its fluctuations. And provided there is a large solar station and storage for storing the generated energy, business centers can not only consume, but also transfer excess energy to the network. Thus, a solar station can become a potential source of additional income.
During daytime hours, when the business center is most busy, the solar power plant can provide part of the energy consumption or cover it completely on sunny days.
Finally, this is image component. The presence of a solar power plant is increasingly appearing on the checklists of international tenants. All over the world, new office buildings, business centers and other commercial buildings are being built using renewable energy technologies. According to the EU standard Solar Rooftop, all new non-residential and public buildings from 2027 must be built with the possibility of placing solar panels on the roof.
What are the installation restrictions? «the sun» and how are they treated in the world?
First of all, this is a limitation of the roof area. In most business centers, the roofs are already occupied by technical equipment: ventilation units, chillers, etc. Usually, these systems occupy the entire available area. They not only take up space, but also create a shadow, which critically affects the efficiency of solar panels.
However, there is a way out - special structures or canopies. All of this is already being implemented in Ukraine.
For example, in the Kyiv business center "ArtGarmat" our team installed the system on complex roofs occupied by ventilation units. To do this, we created metal support structures that allowed us to raise the panels above the level of technical equipment and avoid shading. At the same time, SolarEdge inverters were used, which allow each panel to operate autonomously. Kyiv business center Europassage installed a 150 kW rooftop solar power plant to cover 10–12% of the office space's electricity consumption.
Meanwhile, in Europe there are dozens of examples. For example, The Edge in Amsterdam is one of the smartest and greenest offices in the world, whose roof and southern facade are equipped with solar panels.
The Edge in Amsterdam is one of the smartest and greenest offices in the world
Thanks to smart design, the business center consumes 70% less electricity than average office buildings.
Another case - business center Powerhouse Brattørkaia in Norway, where the entire south-facing façade is covered with solar modules and the roof is raised at an angle to maximize insolation. Thanks to this approach, the building generates twice as much solar energy as it consumes.
CIS Tower in Manchester - an office building built over half a century ago underwent a major renovation in the early 2000s, during which the facade was covered with the largest vertical solar panel system in Europe at the time.
The facade of the CIS Tower in Manchester is covered with one of the largest vertical solar panel systems in Europe
These cases show the main point: there is always room for innovation. Constraints are just a starting point for creative engineering.
When there is not enough sun: when and why are guards needed?
Energy storage systems (storage) have become a logical continuation of the development of solar power plants. Sometimes even the most efficient solar stations cannot fully provide a business center with electricity without storage systems. Batteries allow you to accumulate excess energy generated during the day and use it during peak load hours or at night.
For some offices, peak consumption occurs not only during the daytime, but also in the evening - from 17:00 PM to 20:00 PM. This is when electricity is most expensive. The difference in tariffs between 13:00 PM and 19:00 PM can be five to ten times. Storage allows you to accumulate excess generation during the day and use it in the evening.
In cases of emergency shutdown or network disruptions, storage can act as a backup power source. For facilities where server rooms, client services, or critical IT infrastructures operate, this is a matter of business security.
Financial impact: will the investment pay off?
In business, every investment makes sense only when it returns. We calculate that 1 kW of installed solar power plant provides about 10 UAH of savings per year. A 000 kW plant is up to a million UAH every year. On average, the payback period for a properly designed system is from 100 to 2 years, depending on the system capacity and electricity tariffs. Then it starts working “in plus” for another 4 years. And this is without taking into account additional benefits, such as the possibility of selling excess energy to the system in the future.
Is it worth it or not?
Here everyone decides for themselves. A solar station is not a panacea. If you are not ready to invest and implement large-scale projects, the panels will not be able to completely replace the usual electricity supply. But even a small system paired with storage can reduce your energy bills by 30-50% and protect against outages. The main thing is to make a competent calculation and choose reliable equipment.
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