As recreational and medicinal marijuana use becomes increasingly legal and destigmatized worldwide, many growers of cannabis are prioritizing ways to make their operations more efficient.
Large-scale indoor marijuana cultivation puts a tremendous strain on the energy grid, requiring power-hungry equipment such as indoor lighting, irrigation, fans, humidifiers and more, often running around the clock. Marijuana growers have markedly higher electricity needs than standard homes and businesses. For example, the light intensity in some indoor facilities is similar to hospital operating rooms, which are 500 times greater than recommended reading light levels.
Solar panels, therefore, can be a valuable investment for marijuana growers. Though solar energy can represent a significant upfront investment for your business, it can pay for itself in both the short-term
and the long run by allowing you to reduce or even eliminate some of your energy consumption.
In general, the more energy you use, the more you can expect to benefit from switching to solar. The most important question is obviously how much your cannabis growing facility consumes in KWh per year. In order to determine that you need to take a close look at your hydro bill, or (if you are a new business) carefully estimate your individual energy loads: lighting, irrigation, fans, humidifiers, etc. Based on this information your solar panels installer would be able to size your system properly and pick the right equipment. As with any investment this significant, doing your homework and weighing the pros and cons of various manufacturers or installers can help you save hundreds of dollars. Different governments or municipalities may also provide rebates or subsidies that can help reduce your initial cost.
Advantages of Installing Solar Panels for Your Marijuana Operation
These days, many people are trying to become more conscious consumers. Advertising the fact that you are using eco-friendly solar power to grow your plants can set you apart from your competition and help give people who are concerned about our planet a reason to buy from you. If you are worried about growing cannabis with solar energy in an area that sees more clouds than sun, you can rest assured that your panels will continue to work for you even on overcast days. How efficient are solar panels at converting the sun’s rays into usable energy? Most solar panels are between 15 and 20% efficient, though it’s possible to find solar panels with an efficiency rating as high as around 23%.
If you are interested to learn more or would like to get a free quote for your solar panels system, please fill out a request form on our website, and we will get back to you within 24 hours!
