A business operating across multiple shifts may use electricity through periods when solar generation is unavailable. The design discussion should distinguish total consumption from the portion that coincides with daylight.
Break down the operating schedule
Provide shift times, shutdown periods and major equipment used in each shift. If detailed metering is available, share it with the design team. Otherwise, prepare a clear operational description and identify which assumptions would benefit from further measurement.
Evaluate each proposed function
Ask how the installation is expected to serve daytime demand and how the business will supply evening or overnight loads. Storage and backup should be discussed as explicit design choices with stated limits. A large annual consumption figure alone does not establish the right array or battery size.
Show the demand that continues after sunset
A facility with three shifts may have a useful daytime solar contribution while retaining substantial night consumption. Split the daily profile by shift and identify which machinery operates in each. Ask for separate discussion of daytime generation, storage and other supply arrangements. A daily energy total can hide the need for substantial power at times when panels are not generating.
Your practical checklist
- Record load differences between shifts
- Identify periods of low site activity
- Ask for separate generation and storage assumptions
Can an array sized to annual consumption remove all grid use?
Annual energy balance does not establish supply at every hour. Timing, storage and system limits still matter.
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