Incorporating commercial solar power into your business offers several advantages. Firstly, it helps to reduce your electricity costs by producing energy from the sun, decreasing your reliance on conventional energy sources. Opting for solar power can lead to substantial savings on energy bills in the long run. In addition, highlighting your dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility can boost your brand reputation and attract customers who prioritise eco-friendliness.

In certain areas, you might qualify for government incentives or tax benefits that can make investing in commercial solar power even more attractive.

The ROI for commercial solar power systems varies depending on the size of the system, your energy usage, local solar resources, and financing options. On average, commercial solar power systems give a return on investment within 3 to 7 years. However, note that solar panels typically have a 25 to 40 years lifespan, which means you can enjoy free or significantly reduced electricity costs for many years after the initial payback period. Investing in solar power is a long-term strategy offering substantial financial benefits.

Absolutely! Commercial solar power systems can meet the energy needs of businesses of all sizes. The power output of your system depends on the installation’s size, the panels’ orientation and tilt, shading, and local weather conditions. Our solar energy experts can help assess your business’s energy requirements and design a system that maximises energy generation. 

By accurately sizing your solar power system, you can generate enough clean energy to cover a significant part, if not all, of your business’s electricity needs, making you more self-sufficient and lessening reliance on the grid.

When your commercial solar power system generates more electricity than your business needs, the excess energy flows back into the grid. You can use net metering or feed-in tariff schemes. Net metering allows you to export surplus electricity to the grid and receive credits that offset the cost of energy pulled from the grid when your solar panels aren’t producing enough power. Feed-in tariff schemes provide a fixed payment for each electricity unit you export to the grid. These tools ensure you can fully benefit from your solar system’s excess energy.

Commercial solar power systems are minimal maintenance, but regular upkeep is still necessary for optimal performance and longevity. You should schedule periodic inspections by a qualified solar technician to check for any issues, such as loose connections, soiling, or shading. 

Cleaning the panels is occasionally required to remove dirt, bird droppings and other debris that could reduce efficiency. Additionally, monitoring your system’s performance with the data provided by monitoring equipment is fundamental. To make the most of your commercial solar power system, it’s important to address maintenance concerns quickly to keep your solar panels in good condition. This will maximise efficiency and increase the lifespan of your system.

Business premises and community buildings are usually exempt from needing planning permission. It’s possible to install ground-mounted systems under ‘permitted development’, but specific rules must be followed to be exempt.

• Commercial solar panels need to be fitted to minimise the building and general area’s appearance.
• Installing solar panels on a flat roof must be positioned below 1m from the highest point.
• Roof-mounted installations are not allowed to stick out more than 200mm from the roof’s surface.
• A ground-mounted solar installation must not exceed 9m2.
• For safety reasons, we must install roof-mounted solar panels more than 1m away from the edge of the roof or wall joint.
• In areas designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, solar panels cannot be installed on a wall or roof slope that faces a road.
• You will need planning permission for solar panels on a historic building or site. 
• The local planning authorities also require prior approval for any solar PV system greater than 50kW. 

Most businesses work during the daytime, so they will likely consume all the energy their solar panels generate. However, this is only sometimes the case. A solar battery is viable if your rooftop is large enough to generate more electricity than your company uses and your work operates outside the usual 9-5. It all depends on your energy requirements.

With the UK’s commitment to reaching Net Zero, new schemes and grants are constantly arising to promote using technologies like Solar PV. Current grants and incentives for commercial solar panels include:

Low Carbon Workspaces Grant 

This grant helps businesses lower their carbon emissions and energy bills by paying up to £5,000 to invest in carbon-saving upgrades. This could refer to installing solar panels, battery storage, insulation, or LED lighting. Grants are currently available for Small to Medium Enterprises in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire, and Northamptonshire.

Power Purchase Agreement

A Solar PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) enables an investor to cover the cost of installing and maintaining Solar PV at a commercial site. This means the business doesn’t need to pay any upfront fees but can still purchase Solar electricity from the investor at a more affordable rate than the National Grid offers.

Solar energy could be an ideal solution if your business has a sizeable roof or land area and plans to stay on the property for over ten years. It’s preferable that the company owns the property or has a long-term lease.

Tarven Limited are expert commercial Solar PV Installers covering the southeast. If you are interested in talking to a professional consultant contact us today!