Types of Solar Installations
Solar is a technology that can be used in a variety of ways. Solar panels can be installed almost anywhere, from a roof to a canopy above a parking lot, and even floating in the middle of a lake or pond. We divide solar into four categories to distinguish between the various types of solar panel systems that are available: residential, commercial & industrial, community solar, and utility-scale. The core technique is the same in all of these solar panel installations; the main differences are in size, location, price, and purpose.
Residential solar
A solar panel installation on a home can benefit homeowners in almost any location. Residential solar panel systems are often installed on the roofs of single-family residences, however ground-mounted, carport, or pergola installations are also conceivable. Residential solar panel systems deliver the electricity they generate directly to your home, and any excess is sent back to the grid via net metering to reduce your electricity cost.
Commercial and industrial solar
Have you ever sat in a window seat on a plane and gazed out the window at all the vacant, flat roof spaces on tall buildings? (No? Is it just us? Cool.) These structures, which are often commercial or industrial businesses, turn out to be ideal for solar. Commercial and industrial solar panel installations cover any sort of solar installed on a business, from small and medium enterprises to industrial facilities, with installations ranging from rooftops to parking lot canopies at shopping malls to large open fields on the property. Solar is a terrific alternative for businesses all around the country, and it may even be used to generate cash for some.
Utility-scale solar
The electricity that flows out of the outlets in your house and company is supplied by enormous power plants run by your electric utility. These power plants have traditionally relied on fossil fuels or nuclear energy to generate electricity; however, utilities are increasingly relying on large-scale development of renewable resources, notably solar and wind. Utility-scale solar panels are massive–often between 500 and 30,000 times larger than domestic solar panels–and sell their electricity directly to utilities, allowing them to effectively power tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
Community solar
Community solar is a large-scale solar farm installed in your area that you can subscribe to in order to purchase and benefit from the solar power generated there. Instead of being installed on site at your home or business, community solar is a large-scale solar farm installed in your area that you can then subscribe to in order to purchase and benefit from the solar power generated there.
