Commercial solar PV and battery storage
Commercial solar panels that pay for themselves.
We design, fund and install rooftop, ground mount and car park solar for UK businesses. Add battery storage and voltage optimisation and more of every kWh you generate goes straight to work on site.
Your roof could be your cheapest power supply.
Grid electricity for business still costs well over 20p per kWh. Power from your own panels costs a fraction of that once the system is paid for, and it keeps coming for 25 years or more.
We design each system around your roof, your load and your opening hours. Not the biggest system that fits, just the one that gives you the best return.
Daytime sites get the most back
Solar pays best where power is used while the sun is up. Factories, offices, hotels and schools use most of their electricity in daylight hours, so most of what the panels make replaces power you would have bought.
Easier planning for rooftop systems
Since December 2023, rooftop solar on business premises in England no longer needs planning permission just because it is over 1MW. Listed buildings and conservation areas still have extra rules, and we check these at survey.
Tax relief on the investment
Commercial solar counts as plant and machinery. Many businesses can claim the Annual Investment Allowance, which covers up to £1 million of qualifying spend in year one. Your accountant can confirm what applies to you.
Lower Scope 2 emissions
Every kWh you generate is one less from the grid. That shows up in your SECR and ESG reporting and in the carbon data your customers ask for.
Sources: GOV.UK permitted development changes 2023, HMRC capital allowances guidance. Not tax advice.
Solar built around your site, not a brochure.
Roof, ground or car park. With or without a battery. We look at where your power goes first, then size the system to match it.
Rooftop solar PV
Flat or pitched, metal or membrane. We check the roof structure and design an array that fits your load and your roof warranty. Most commercial rooftop systems are fitted in one to two weeks.
Ground mount solar
Got land next to the site? Ground arrays can be angled for the best output and are easy to reach for cleaning and maintenance.
Solar canopies
Turn a car park into generation with shade and shelter for staff and guests. A good fit if you plan to add EV charging.
Battery storage (BESS)
Store what you do not use at midday and use it in the evening or at peak rates. Batteries also help you stay inside your supply capacity.
Voltage optimisation
Cuts what the building draws in the first place, so your solar covers more of the load and you buy less from the grid.
How voltage optimisation works
Case studyA hotel roof on track to pay for itself in under three and a half years.
In May 2025 we fitted a 63.5kW rooftop system on Holiday Inn Stevenage, designed around the hotel's load and roof layout. It sits alongside voltage optimisation and KBR Refrigeration we had already installed on site.
Across all three technologies the hotel now saves over £27,500 and 27 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Read the full case studySectors we install commercial solar for.
The best returns come from sites with big roofs and steady daytime demand. These are the ones we see pay back fastest.
Best fitManufacturing and industrial
Large roofs and heavy daytime load. Shift work means almost every kWh the panels make gets used on site.
Industrial energy saving
ProvenHotels
Laundry, kitchens, HVAC and hot water run all day. Add a battery to carry solar into the evening check in rush.
Hotel energy saving
Strong fitCommercial buildings
Offices, retail parks and warehouses use most of their power in working hours, right when solar peaks.
Commercial energy saving
Good fitEducation
Schools and colleges run in daylight and have wide flat roofs. A battery or export deal covers the summer holidays.
Education energy savingNo capital budget? You can still go solar.
We help you pick the route that suits your balance sheet. That includes funded options with nothing to pay upfront, plus any grants your site qualifies for.
Solar PPA
A funder pays for the system. You buy the electricity it makes at a rate below your grid price, so you save from day one. Maintenance is covered by the funder for the length of the agreement.
Buy it outright
You own the system and keep every penny of the saving. Many businesses offset the cost against tax through capital allowances in the first year.
Finance or lease
Fixed monthly payments that are often lower than the saving on your bill. You end up owning the system at the end of the term.
We handle everything,
start to finish.
One team from the first survey to the day the panels switch on, and after that too.
Survey
We look at your half hourly data, your roof or land and the savings on offer.
Design
A system sized to your load, with generation and payback figures you can check.
Funding
Buy, finance or PPA. We line up the option that works for you, plus any grants.
Install
Fitted by accredited installers, with planning checks and the grid connection handled for you.
Monitor
Generation and savings tracked live in Pulse, so you can see the system earning its keep.
Make less power go further, then make your own.
Voltage optimisation brings the site supply down to the level your equipment needs, so the building simply uses less. Solar then covers a bigger share of what is left. Many of our clients fit both, and Pulse shows the saving from each one separately.
See how voltage optimisation worksSee what solar could save your business.
Change the numbers and the results update as you go. It is a guide only. For a proper figure we model your site from your own half hourly data, free.
Assumes about 6m² of roof per kWp, typical UK output for your region and a daytime use profile for your type of site. Payback uses an indicative installed price for the solar system only and does not include tax relief or battery costs. CO2 uses the UK government grid factor of 0.177kg per kWh.
Get my free solar assessmentCommercial solar PV, answered.
What is commercial solar PV?
Commercial solar PV means solar panels fitted on business premises to make electricity from daylight. The power is used on site first, which cuts what you buy from the grid. Anything you do not use can be stored in a battery or exported. We install commercial solar across the UK for manufacturing sites, hotels, offices, retail and schools.
How much can solar panels save my business?
It depends on your roof, your electricity use and when you use it. Most commercial systems cut electricity costs by 20 to 50 percent during daylight hours, and a battery stretches that into the evening. Try the calculator above for a guide, or send us your half hourly data for a free solar assessment.
What is a solar PPA?
A Power Purchase Agreement is a way to get solar with no upfront cost. A funder pays for and owns the system, and you buy the electricity it makes at a rate lower than your grid price. You save from day one and the funder looks after maintenance. We offer funded PPA options for eligible UK businesses.
How long does it take to pay back?
Most well sized commercial systems pay back in 4 to 6 years, and panels last 25 years or more. Sites that use most of their power in daylight pay back fastest. Our 63.5kW system at Holiday Inn Stevenage has a payback of 3 years and 5 months.
Do we need planning permission?
Often not. In England most rooftop solar on business premises is permitted development, and since December 2023 that no longer stops at 1MW. Listed buildings, conservation areas and ground mount systems can need permission. We check this during the survey and handle any application for you.
Can solar PV be combined with voltage optimisation?
Yes, and they work well together. Voltage optimisation lowers the total electricity your building uses. Solar then makes power on site to cover more of what is left. Many of our clients install both, and Pulse reports the saving from each.
How long does installation take?
Most commercial rooftop systems are installed in one to two weeks, depending on size and roof type. Before that we complete the survey, design and the grid connection application with your network operator. We plan the work so your business keeps running as normal.
Does solar work in the UK climate?
Yes. Panels make electricity from daylight, not just direct sun. Output is highest from spring to early autumn, but panels keep generating through winter. A typical UK system makes around 800 to 950 kWh a year for every kWp installed, depending on where you are.
Still weighing it up? Speak to one of our solar advisors for a free assessment.
