We talk a lot about the benefits of commercial solar and battery storage, but we also believe in putting that technology to work ourselves. At Colite Technologies headquarters, we designed and installed a 34-kW solar PV system paired with 40 kWh of battery storage to see firsthand how the technology could benefit our own business.
Today, our system offsets approximately 90% of our annual electricity usage and is projected to generate $6,600 in first-year utility savings. For us, the project has become more than a demonstration of what solar and storage can do, it has become part of how we manage energy at our own facility.
The Numbers Behind Our Headquarters System
- 34-kW commercial solar PV system
- 40-kWh battery energy storage system
- Approximately 90% annual energy offset
- Estimated $6,600 in first-year utility savings
- $158,000 in renewable energy incentives applied to the project
- 719 metric tons of CO₂ emissions avoided over the system’s lifespan
- Real-time monitoring of our system’s production and performance
How Solar Is Helping Us Reduce Energy Costs
One of the most noticeable benefits we’ve seen at Colite Technologies headquarters is how much of our electricity we can generate on-site. Instead of purchasing all of the electricity our facility needs from the utility, our solar array produces power for us during the day.
Our battery storage system gives us even more flexibility. When our solar array produces more electricity than we’re using, that energy can be stored and used later. This allows us to make better use of the energy our system generates instead of relying solely on when the sun is shining.
For our business, that’s an important distinction. We’re not just generating renewable energy; we’re also taking greater control over how we use it.
Why We Added Battery Storage
When we designed the system for Colite Technologies headquarters, we wanted to look beyond solar generation alone. Our facility doesn’t stop using electricity when solar production decreases, which is where battery storage can make a difference.
Our 40-kWh battery allows us to store available energy and use it when it’s more useful to our facility. That gives us greater flexibility in how we consume the energy our solar array produces and helps us get more value from the system as a whole.
From our experience, solar and battery storage work best when they’re considered together as part of an overall energy strategy.
What We’ve Learned from Monitoring Our System
Another benefit we appreciate at Colite Technologies headquarters is having real-time visibility into our system’s performance. Our monitoring capabilities allow us to see how much electricity we’re producing, how the system is performing, and whether everything is operating as expected.
Having that information readily available gives us a much better understanding of our own energy use. Instead of only looking at a utility bill at the end of the month, we can see what’s happening with our energy production and consumption as it happens.
It’s also a good reminder that installing solar isn’t the end of the process. Monitoring and understanding system performance are important parts of getting the most out of an investment over its lifetime.
The Financial Impact on Our Business
For us, the value of the Colite Technologies headquarters project extends beyond reducing our utility bill. We were also able to take advantage of $158,000 in renewable energy incentives, which helped reduce the overall cost of the project.
We’re projecting approximately $6,600 in first-year utility savings, with the potential for greater savings over time as utility electricity costs change.
Seeing these financial benefits at our own facility gives us a firsthand perspective when we’re helping other businesses evaluate their own solar investments. Every project is different, but understanding the relationship between system size, energy usage, utility costs, incentives, and battery storage is something we experience ourselves.
We’re Also Reducing Our Environmental Impact
The benefits of our system aren’t limited to our bottom line. Over its expected lifespan, our Colite Technologies headquarters system is projected to avoid approximately 719 metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
For us, that’s a meaningful part of the project. We’re able to reduce the amount of electricity we need to purchase from the grid while also lowering the environmental impact associated with our facility’s energy consumption. It’s one thing to explain the environmental benefits of solar to a customer. It’s another to see those benefits happening at our own building.
What Our Experience Can Show Other Businesses
Our experience at Colite Technologies headquarters has given us a firsthand look at what solar and battery storage can contribute to a commercial facility. We’re seeing the benefits through lower utility costs, a high level of energy offset, greater visibility into our energy use, and a measurable reduction in emissions.
Of course, no two businesses use energy in exactly the same way. System size, electricity consumption, roof space, utility rates, incentives, and operating schedules all play a role in determining what makes sense for a particular facility.
But for us, installing solar and battery storage at our own headquarters has reinforced something we already knew when properly designed around a facility’s needs, these technologies can become a valuable part of how a business manages energy.
And we’re proud to have our own system working every day at Colite Technologies headquarters.