Commercial Solar Isn’t Just kWh — It’s kW (Demand Charges)
Residential solar is mostly about reducing energy (kWh). Commercial solar is different: many businesses pay a big part of their bill based on the single highest spike of power (kW) each month. That charge is called a demand charge.
That’s why modern commercial solar projects are increasingly solar + battery. Batteries can shave peaks, flatten spikes, and keep your demand charges under control— so the savings show up where commercial bills actually hurt.
Quick start
Call 1-310-373-3169 or email [email protected].
Lower operating costs
Reduce electricity spend and protect margins—especially for businesses with large HVAC, refrigeration, or process loads.
Demand charge control
Battery systems can reduce monthly peak kW. In many commercial tariffs, this is where the money is.
Resilience & uptime
Ride-through outages, protect critical systems, and keep operations stable when the grid isn’t.
How commercial electric bills work (the simple version)
1) Energy charge (kWh)
You pay for how much energy you use over time. Solar reduces this by generating kWh behind the meter.
2) Demand charge (kW)
You pay for your highest power spike. One short spike can set your demand charge for the month.
Why batteries matter: shaving kW demand charges
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can discharge during peaks to cap your facility’s maximum kW. That means your bill can drop in two places at once: energy charges and demand charges.
Peak shaving
Batteries discharge during your peak moments—HVAC ramp, kitchen rush, motor starts, refrigeration cycles—so the meter doesn’t see the spike.
Load shifting
Charge when power is cheaper (or when solar is abundant), discharge when power is expensive.
Solar smoothing
Cloud events cause short drops in PV output. Batteries smooth those events so demand doesn’t jump.
Backup power
Keep critical loads alive: IT, lighting, controls, refrigeration, medical equipment, communications.
Power quality support
Where applicable, storage can help stabilize sensitive loads and reduce nuisance issues.
Future flexibility
Storage prepares you for changing tariffs, TOU shifts, and increased electrification (heat pumps, EV fleets, etc.).
How ABC Solar designs commercial solar + battery projects
Commercial projects win or lose at the design table. Here’s what we do before we build.
1) Energy audit
We identify “big hitters” (HVAC, refrigeration, process loads) and quick efficiency wins that reduce system size and cost.
2) Interval data modeling
We analyze interval usage to see peaks and define the demand-charge strategy—then size the battery accordingly.
3) PV design
We engineer roof/ground/parking solutions, structural attachment, and production modeling for your site.
4) BESS design
We design the battery for peak shaving, TOU shifting, and resilience—based on your operational priorities.
5) Permitting + interconnection
Plans, engineering, and utility coordination—done with inspection success in mind.
6) Build + commission
Install, test, commission, and verify performance. Monitoring is configured so you can see results.
Who benefits most from commercial solar + BESS?
Retail & restaurants
Lunch/dinner peaks, HVAC load, kitchen equipment—battery peak shaving often pays.
Cold storage & refrigeration
Compressors create spikes. Storage can reduce demand costs and improve resilience.
Office & multi-tenant
HVAC ramps and occupancy swings create peaks. Solar covers daytime energy; batteries cap the peaks.
Warehouses & light industrial
Forklift charging, motors, and lighting loads—especially with electrification trends.
Schools, churches, nonprofits
Cost reduction plus resilience for critical services and community support.
EV fleet charging
Fleet charging can explode demand. BESS can cap peaks and reduce utility upgrades.
Commercial project photos (legacy gallery)
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Get a commercial proposal that targets demand charges
We’ll start with your interval data (or utility bills), model the load profile, identify peak events, and design a solar + battery system that reduces both kWh energy costs and kW demand charges.