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On the Bright Side

Nov 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mike Pile, President, Mike Pile Partners, a Solar Consultancy

Sidebar: Solar Electric Market Segments

A working knowledge of photovoltaic (PV) applications is essential in evaluating the optimal point of entry for electrical contractors. SolarBuzz, an international solar energy research and consulting company based in San Francisco, parses the space into several segments based on surface application:

Commercial flat roof — Commercial flat roof applications represent the lion's share of megawatts installed and possibly the biggest opportunity for contractors to expand their businesses. Warehouses and big box retailers have sizable roofs and significant energy bills.

Sloped roof — Sloped roofs (generally residential) account for most of the installations; however, they represent a significantly smaller portion of power generated. This may be a good entry point for many contractors to cut their teeth, but keep in mind that competition from established solar integrators is fierce.

Carport and shade structures — One of the newer applications appearing across the sunbelt are shade structures for parking lots. Business can offer staff and visitors a shaded space while generating power. This end of the business is primarily an engineering and design challenge; therefore, contractors may best be served by forming a relationship with firms in those fields.

Ground mount fixed or tracker — Agricultural applications, brown fields, empty lots, and otherwise underutilized land represent almost endless opportunities for PV installations. The engineering requirements are generally less onerous with a ground application, but transmission of generated power becomes somewhat more involved.

Building integrated — Building integrated solar represents the latest in technology as manufacturers are developing alternatives to silicon-based solar cells. Although prices are generally less, these technologies have some concerns: They are not as efficient as silicon-based PV, and their durability is still unproven.

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