How your organization can best benefit from solar energy depends largely on the timing and cost of your existing energy loads, plus in some cases differing incentives for different types of solar energy systems.

Here are some key options to consider:

Electricity

Heat

Solar Cooling

Grid-connected or off-grid (for remote locations)

For direct use or for sale back to the grid, via net metering or a feed-in tariff

Fixed solid-state system or one that moves to track the sun (with higher output but higher maintenance requirements)

Battery backup

Process steam or only hot water

Space heating required or not

Storage in tanks or storage in a ground-source loop

Able to withstand freezing temperatures or not

Low-temperature freezing or only refrigeration

Process cooling or air conditioning (or both)

Need for cooling vs. need for dehumidification