- Introduction
- The Vision
- The Challenge
- The Process
- The Outcome
- Conclusion
Introduction
Every solar journey starts with a vision. Some people picture powering a remote cabin, others dream of running their business without fuel. Some want to light up a remote location or power a small shop. Others go much deeper, like telecom equipment on a mountaintop that needs constant power to transmit signals, or operations in oil fields that demand reliable energy. I’ve even worked with people who own their own islands and need to power their home, or even multiple buildings, while others just want to cover the bare necessities. And for many, the goal is simply the peace of mind that comes with reliable power.
The question I hear most often is: is my vision even possible?
That’s exactly where education plays such an important role. By learning about the options and matching them with real-world needs, people often discover that solar isn’t as complicated, or as out of reach, as it first seems.
The Vision
When people first think about solar, they bring their own ideas to the table. It could be something simple like lights and a fridge in a cabin, or something big like running an entire operation on renewable energy. Other times, it’s a business solution, where an employee is given the task to find a way, however or whatever it takes, to make it happen.
But no matter where the vision starts, the first step is always understanding what’s actually needed to bring it to life. That means asking the right questions: will the system be outdoors and exposed to rain or snow? Will it need to handle subzero temperatures in the winter? Or will it be installed indoors in a confined space, like a boiler room, under or inside a bus, or in the small compartments of a camper trailer where heat has little chance to escape? I’ve also seen systems mounted up high on cellular towers where wind, ice, and weather put the equipment to the test.
These factors matter because they directly affect what type of equipment can be used, the brand we choose, and how the system must be designed to perform safely and reliably.
The Challenge
As an example, recently, we were approached by a team running a food truck business. At first glance, a truck might not sound like it would use much power, but this first one alone consumes about three times more energy than a typical cabin system I’ve designed. And all of that power needs to fit into a very confined space. Cooktops and fridges can use a lot of power especially running 12 hours a day every single day.
Right now, the owners are spending thousands of dollars every month on propane to fuel the onboard generators, along with additional fuel and maintenance costs, just to keep the trucks running seven days a week.
The biggest hurdle? Space. Unlike a cabin or a building, there’s very limited room to install a hybrid inverter and a proper bank of lithium batteries. Making that vision work requires careful planning, creativity, and a willingness to explore every possible solution.
The Process
Right now, we’re still in the design stage. We have a plan, but like most projects, we’ve already had a few versions. Each one gets better, but they also become more complex. That’s the nature of working with new technology and balancing all the options on the table. It’s part challenging, but it’s also part exciting.
This is where education plays such an important role, not just for us as the designers and installers, but also for the owners. They have specific criteria in mind and a clear vision of what they want to achieve. Our goal is to guide them toward that final vision in the best way possible, safely, reliably, and properly. This usually takes time, in the end we want a successful result in the best way possible.
By reviewing photos, conducting video calls, and next coming up, visiting the trucks in person, we’re able to explore all the possibilities, weigh the options, and plan a system that fits the confined spaces while still delivering the power the business needs. Each truck is different and unique, which adds to the challenge, but it also allows us to customize the solution specifically to each one. Each step helps refine the plan and ensures that the solution we design is both practical and achievable.
The Outcome
The more we worked through the details, the more the food truck team realized their idea wasn’t just a dream, it was achievable. What started as a “maybe” turned into a clear plan for a system that will save them money and give them the freedom they were hoping for.
The next step is to take a closer look not just at the first truck, but at the entire fleet. The goal is to move forward and eventually have all of their trucks running quietly and clean. We’ll also be adding solar panels on the roofs to provide that extra boost of power during daylight hours.
Once we’ve assessed all the trucks, we’ll begin with the main one as the starting point. From there, I’ll continue to share updates, and I look forward to writing a follow-up article as this venture unfolds.
Conclusion
Whether it’s a food truck, a cabin, or a home, the process is the same: start with a vision, ask the right questions, and explore the possibilities. Solar solutions often turn out to be much more attainable than most people expect, and the journey from idea to reality is where the real value lies.
As I often say, when it comes to solar power, everything is achievable, you can make ice in a desert, and you can power appliances as far away from the grid as you can get.
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