Type of Solar Projects

There are four types of solar energy projects. These projects can range from small housing initiatives to those catering to the energy needs of large factories, or expanses of land where thousands of panels are installed to provide public services. For further details, you can refer to our article below.

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” – Thomas Edison

Residential Solar

Residential solar refers to solar panels that provide the electrical energy consumed by a home. The panels can be installed on the homeowner’s roof, in the backyard, or on the roof of another structure on the property, such as a detached garage. Approximately 8 to 20 panels are used for one house in residential projects. The panels used are usually small-sized, and Full Black panels are preferred for their exterior appearance.

Commercial Solar

Commercial solar projects are designed to fulfill the energy needs of commercial enterprises. These businesses can vary in size, ranging from a small gas station to a large manufacturing plant or the headquarters of a multinational corporation, and the solar projects can include a dozen panels or several thousand panels. Similar to residential solar projects, the panels in commercial projects are typically installed on the roofs of commercial buildings but can also be ground-mounted adjacent to or near the facility. In both residential and commercial solar projects, the panels are installed on the homeowner’s or business’s property and supply power exclusively to the home or business. Larger panels are usually preferred to maximize power output in the given space.

Utility-Scale Project

Utility-scale solar PV projects generally refer to solar power plants installed on a large scale and covering extensive areas. These projects encompass solar power plants with a significant electricity generation capacity, typically integrated into the electricity grid.

• These projects typically boast a megawatt (MW) or gigawatt (GW) energy generation capacity.
• They can be installed on expansive plots of land or rooftops.
• Large solar power plants play a crucial role in achieving carbon footprint reduction goals, contributing to sustainable energy production.
• Utility-scale solar PV projects represent a pivotal facet of solar energy applications, significantly impacting energy infrastructure and fostering clean, sustainable energy production. Such projects are commonly overseen by large energy companies, investors, or energy developers.

Community Solar

Community solar projects are initiatives that empower individuals or businesses to engage in solar energy usage through community partnerships, providing an avenue for participation even when installing or maintaining solar systems on individual properties is not feasible. The primary characteristics of community solar projects include:

• Facilitating the collaboration of people in shared solar projects, where all participants collectively enjoy the benefits of solar power generation.
• Varied in scale, community solar projects can be small-scale (e.g., installed on the roof of an apartment building) or large-scale (e.g., capable of meeting the energy needs of an entire village or neighborhood). The project’s size is determined by the number of participants and the overall energy demand.

• Gaining significance as a model to promote energy democratization and widespread adoption of solar energy, community solar projects encourage heightened participation from local communities in both energy production and consumption.