Solar energy is one of the primary sources of clean energy in the world today, giving us hope for a brighter future. This type of renewable energy provides a significant impact in managing climate change, as the process of producing electricity from solar panels emits no harmful substance in the air, unlike fossil fuels do.
In the Philippines, solar energy capacity jumped exponentially from 2011 with just two megawatts to 1,048 megawatts come 2020. With that recorded increase, the country ranked as the top developing country in Asia and the fifth worldwide in 2018 to utilize solar for electricity generation.
Undoubtedly, one can reap many benefits when switching to solar power. Apart from contributing to a greener way of living, it can also reduce your electricity bill and create sustainable development within the community.
If you’re planning to switch to solar, whether for personal or business use, there are two options you could start looking into: rooftop solar and community solar.
Rooftop Solar
As its name suggests, a rooftop solar system is a mini power plant situated on a roof. Commonly used in residential areas and commercial establishments, this setup requires a solar panel installation above a building to directly draw power from the sun and convert it to electricity to power the property.
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Accessibility
Since the panels need to be fixed in the property to generate electricity, one must be a realty owner to make the installation for rooftop solar power more seamless. The size and type of the roof are also important factors to consider, as your panels need to be placed on a widely unshaded area, ideally south-facing, for optimal solar energy production.
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Payment Model
With this traditional on-site option, you can either buy or lease your system.
Purchasing a solar panel system is an investment. Not only will you physically own all of the equipment necessary for energy generation, such as the solar panels and inverters, but you will also secure great environmental and financial perks within their 25+ years lifespan. In acquiring a system, you may pay upfront or monthly through a solar loan.
If you choose to rent solar power equipment instead, the payment methods may vary depending on the supplier, and the rates may fluctuate from time to time to match the demands in the market.
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Financial Benefits
While there are upfront and maintenance costs to prepare for in rooftop solar, this alternative offers a greater financial return. Knowing that going solar can lower your electricity bill, making the rooftop solar switch can result in maximum long-term savings for its user.
Moreover, having solar panels attached to your house or building can help increase the property’s value in the increasing greener real estate market.
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Logistics
Moving out of a rooftop solar-powered home means having to start the installation all over again in the new property. While it’s possible to transfer solar panels from one place to another, it would be quite taxing to make it happen.
So, if you’re eyeing rooftop solar, you should have a long-term plan of at least five years to stay in the place; otherwise, the return of your investment may not be worth it.
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Environmental Impact
A rooftop solar can offset your property’s significant dependency on harmful energy sources such as fossil fuels. Aside from that, it makes practical use of your home or enterprise’s otherwise vacant and unused roof space for a more environmentally impactful purpose.
Community Solar
In case your place is not a good fit for installing solar panels, you can still transition to a cleaner energy source through community solar. This method is a subscription to solar farms designed to cater to residential and commercial properties minus the installation hassle.
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Accessibility
Community solar allows renters and owners alike an opportunity to shift to solar energy without a space requirement or limit compared to rooftop solar.
With the power coming from solar gardens built and operated by a company, you’ll never have to think about searching for the right supplier, the installation of the material, and even the maintenance to keep your electricity running.
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Payment Model
This no-roof-needed solar energy option works like a subscription, where you pay your provider monthly for the electricity produced. There are also instances where a community solar farm sells a certain number of panels in the project to a subscriber, paid in full or through an installment loan.
This payment flexibility in community solar makes it a more convenient option for people who are only starting to go green but on a tight budget.
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Financial Benefits
Since a business handles and maintains community solar, you get to enjoy immediate savings from the lack of upfront and ongoing cost that comes with it. Furthermore, this route to solar power replaces your consumption with lower-priced energy coming from the community solar farm. Ultimately, this can save you 5-15% on your electricity bills in a year.
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Logistics
Signing up for community solar is a lot easier than installing a rooftop solar system. So, when you move houses or offices, keeping a green lifestyle is simpler with community solar. If you’re relocating within the same region, all it takes is a phone call to your provider to remain subscribed to their solar farm.
But in case you’re moving out of the area, canceling your contract or passing it onto the new owner of the space won’t be much of a hassle.
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Environmental Impact
Unlike the rooftop pick, community solar can supply clean energy to more properties and omit a greater reliance on harmful polluters in the market. Since it also demands a wider acreage to operate, a solar garden can also transform an underutilized land in the community into something with a better and more useful purpose.
Which is Better: Rooftop or Community?
Both rooftop and community solar make the perfect choice when switching to solar energy. However, pinpointing which one is better depends on your personal needs, space, and budget. Whichever you choose, consider it your notable contribution to creating a cleaner and greener future for all. However, it is important to note that community solar is not available in the country just yet.
Are you ready to go solar? SolarNRG can make it simple for you! Learn more about our solar solutions for rooftop and community solar installations and contact us today.
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