With COP21 not far behind us and an election on the horizon, climate change and renewable energy continue to be front and center issues on the world stage. Conversely, while electricity rates across the country continue to increase, solar panels have become more affordable and viable than ever. Yet, at a time when green technology is expanding, one question still remains – why aren’t more commercial building professionals investing in clean energy projects?
Battling complex climates
Within the corporate climate, choosing when and how to go solar is a big decision for many companies. Solar installations require committed, experienced partners capable of providing a seamless process from conception to Operations and Maintenance. Unfortunately, more often than not, strong project support at the start diminishes down the line once a project is up and running, where it is needed to ensure a system’s long-term health. To take the first step, building officials and facility managers need assurance that they are working with a qualified company that will stand by their installation for years to come.
Environmentally speaking, a region’s climate can also be a major hurdle. Typically, a solar system’s central inverters are designed to protect against snow. A pioneer in the solar industry since 1975, Panasonic’s rich history of solar project development includes systems constructed in areas prone to heavy snow and aggressive winds. These extreme elements caused precipitation to enter into the central inverters, resulting in serious problems. The challenge here was sourcing and developing an inverter that could flourish in these harsh climates.
O&M in action
When it comes to complex climates, from a corporate or environmental perspective, the value of comprehensive O&M comes into play. With the full O&M package – NOC and maintenance services, operations and asset management, total system protection, expert technical guidance and guarantees – solar adopters are able to maximize return on investment, optimize system performance and minimize operating costs while controlling long-term costs. A full EPC vendor delivering O&M services for highest performance energy generation and ROI, Panasonic provides a sense of comprehensive quality assurance, all backed by an $11 billion balance sheet.
For those projects under the onslaught of severe weather, the Panasonic O&M team went to the source, conducting a root cause analysis with the inverter manufacturer. Working together, Panasonic and the inverter manufacturer identified the necessary design modifications, prototyped an innovative snow shield design, and deployed it as a retrofit
This is just one example of how Panasonic works with its industry-leading Engineering and Development teams of more than 100 employees across the country to ensure project success and keep each installation thriving. When an issue does arise, the Panasonic O&M planning and scheduling team dispatches a technician, optimizing their time onsite to ensure a fast, reliable and cost-effective solution is put into place. With these practices at hand, solar systems are set for success for decades to come.
To learn more about Panasonic O&M services, please visit www.panasonic.com/energysolutions.
Related Stories
Cultural Facilities | Feb 25, 2015
Bjarke Ingels designs geodesic dome for energy production, community use
A new building in Uppsala, Sweden, will serve as a power plant during the winter and a venue for shows, festivals, and music events during the warm months.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 18, 2015
Make It Right unveils six designs for affordable housing complex
BNIM is among the six firms involved in the project.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015
ASHRAE, USGBC, IES consider biomass requirements in green building standard
The proposal would add biomass to approved renewables.
Green | Feb 4, 2015
Illinois leads top 10 states for LEED green building
Collectively, 1,662 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the top 10 states in 2014, representing 251.7 million sf of real estate.
| Jan 14, 2015
Winners of the 2014 Architecture at Zero competition announced
The competition challenged design teams to create zero-net-energy buildings for the Jack London Gateway project site in Oakland, Calif.
| Jan 7, 2015
Department of Energy seeks public input on definition for zero-energy buildings
A broadly accepted market definition of zero-energy buildings is foundational to efforts by governments, utilities, or private entities to recognize or incentivize zero energy buildings.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2015
NIBS report: Small commercial buildings offer huge energy efficiency retrofit opportunities
The report identifies several barriers to investment in such retrofits, such as the costs and complexity associated with relatively small loan sizes, and issues many small-building owners have in understanding and trusting predicted retrofit outcomes.
| Dec 28, 2014
Using energy modeling to increase project value [AIA course]
This course, worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW, explores how to increase project value through energy modeling, as well as how to conduct quick payback and net present value studies to identify which energy strategies are most viable for the project.
| Dec 19, 2014
Zaha Hadid unveils dune-shaped HQ for Emirati environmental management company
Zaha Hadid Architects released designs for the new headquarters of Emirati environmental management company Bee’ah, revealing a structure that references the shape and motion of a sand dune.
| Dec 17, 2014
USGBC announces 2014 Best of Green Schools honorees
Houston's Monarch School was named the K-12 school of the year, and Western Michigan University was honored as the top higher-ed institution, based on environmental programs and education efforts.