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Do you do commercial and residential?
Right now, Melink Solar is focused on commercial-sized projects only. However, our pre-engineered Ingrid system is 2kW and is perfect for a home, farm or small business. For more information on how to get the system, contact Nick Magnani at nmagnan@melinkcorp.com.
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How expensive is solar?
Solar PV systems are a mature technology and over the past few years the cost of materials has decreased dramatically. Since each system is customized to the location, a general cost cannot be given. Melink works closely with its clients and national financial institutions to develop solar PPAs for organizations who qualify.
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How long do solar PV systems work?
Solar panels are warranted to last 25 years but we recommend the inverters to be changed at year 15. The solar panel will be operating at 80%.
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What kind of incentives can I get?
There are local, state and federal tax credits and rebates for commercial installation along with accelerated depreciation schedules for commercial facilities. We can help you determine if solar is cost-effective for your application and you can find other information about state incentives on the DSIRE website.
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Will solar energy work in my area?
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has put together a group of maps showing the amount of solar available for the United States. See how the U.S. fares against Spain and Germany, two leaders in solar PV systems in the world today with a comparison map.
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What happens when it snows?
Sun can penetrate light snow and the panels will heat up with the sun's rays to melt the snow. Heavier snow can be removed with a squeegee or panel-safe pole.
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How do you clean the solar PV system?
For most systems, average rainfall is enough to clean solar panels. However, if you live in a particularly dry or dusty area, you may find that hosing the system off with water only, anywhere from once a month to every 6-8 months, is sufficient.
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What if the electricity goes out, will I still have power?
Most commercial solar PV systems are tied to the grid and will shut down when there is a power outage. The reason for this is the safety of any line workers fixing the electrical system when down. If the power goes out, the solar PV system will send energy back to the grid, making lines "live" and very dangerous for line workers.
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What are the advantages of using solar over other renewable energy sources?
Melink uses its corporate headquarters campus as a laboratory (link to Melink lab) to test different kinds of renewable energy and energy offsets. We have found that because solar has no moving parts and the modules last 25 years, it is one of the best renewable sources for generating energy. Geothermal and solar thermal are very good as energy offsets (they do not generate electricity, but instead reduce our need for energy and have very good ROIs).
Solar PV systems can often be easily expanded as your energy needs change, require little to no maintenance and are durable in the elements. The payback period is less than the 25 year lifespan of the panels and with the cost of energy rising, the return on investment is reducing all the time).
In addition, companies can rely less on energy companies and dirty fossil fuels to provide them with energy. Solar PV is good for the environment and a safe way to provide your facility with energy. Even at our corporate campus in Ohio, solar has helped us go net-zero energy.
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What are the disadvantages of using solar?
Most of the time, the upfront costs of investing in a solar PV system is the biggest hurdle for companies. However, local, state and federal incentives and financial programs such as power purchase agreements make investing in solar much more cost-effective.
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What is a power purchase agreement (PPA)?
A PPA is a contract between two parties, one that sells the energy from the solar PV system and one who buys. Often, the one who buys provides the location for the solar PV system and has the option at a future date to purchase the system outright. The advantage is there is no upfront cash outlay for the organization providing the location and purchasing the energy.
A great example of a solar PPA is the one with Melink's customer, The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Contact us to learn more.
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