10 things to know about commercial solar panels
For most businesses, installing commercial solar panels is a great sustainable and commercial decision.
However, deciding to invest in technology that lasts 25+ years isn’t a simple decision. Read on to find out if getting commercial solar panels is right for your business, and what you need to know to get the most out of your installation.
1. Are solar panels right for my business?
There are two main factors to consider when deciding whether solar panels are right for your business.
Firstly, does your business premises consume a reasonable amount of electricity? For business consuming 10,000kWh per year or more, a commercial solar installation aligned with consumption could have a rapid payback period.
Secondly– do you have the roof space? Whether you have a classic apex shaped roof, or a more complex roof with skylights and chimneys, most commercial buildings have space for solar panels. However, certain smaller businesses, such as a corner shops, will see a much longer payback period.
2. How much carbon will I save by getting commercial solar panels?
Businesses across the UK are striving to reduce their carbon emissions – and getting a commercial solar installation is an impactful way to achieve this. On a 100kWp solar panel system (roughly 180 panels), you can expect to save 26 tonnes of carbon every year. For context, a typical household emits about 4 tonnes of carbon per year, so this is a substantial carbon saving.
There are also benefits for attracting and retaining customers and employees. Business and consumer customers are increasingly invested in the sustainability credentials of the companies they buy from. Showcasing that you’ve built your own solar is a great way to grow your customer base and engage your people.
Good Energy Solar installed solar arrays at SEA LIFE Scarborough and Great Yarmouth in 2024.
SEA LIFE Aquariums now save 31 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
3. How much do commercial solar panels cost?
There are several variables that go into the cost of a commercial solar system, including size, system design, hardware specification and grid upgrade requirements.
At Good Energy, our optimised commercial solar panel solutions cost between £800-£1200p/kWp installed. So, a 100kWp system would likely cost between £80k and £120k – with an initial design narrowing this margin.
There may be grants available to you to help with this upfront cost. These are often industry-specific, for example grants for agriculture or healthcare, or region specific.
4. How quickly will I get a return on investment from commercial solar panels?
Following a site survey, a quality solar panel installer will be able to give you a strong indication about how quickly you will see a return on investment from your solar panels, with detailed financial modelling.
At Good Energy Solar, we have designed hundreds of commercial solar panel systems. On average, our customers see a return on investment for their commercial solar panels in four years; with an average levelised cost of energy of 7p/kWh. That’s four years to pay off the total cost of your system, through energy savings and an export tariff, followed by 21 years of free (other than maintenance costs) zero-carbon electricity.
The minimum commercial solar payback period we have seen is just under three years, and some organisations with smaller roofs, complex designs or low onsite consumption can see payback of eight plus years.
We installed a 1034kWp solar array for indow and door manufacturer, Deceuninck. They are set to achieve a return on their upfront investment in 4-5 years, and annual savings on their electricity bills of £158,000.
5. How do I know which solar panel brand or system to choose?
Balancing solar panel cost, quality and safety is crucial for any organisation. The factor that influences this most is the type of system you choose to install – string (cheapest), micro-inverter (most expensive) or optimised. Cost is also influenced by the brand and specification of the solar panels you choose.
At Good Energy, we take a balanced view to cost and quality, by recommending our customers install optimised systems – providing quality, safe hardware that meets fire regulations; rapid payback and long-term savings.
6. Should I install a battery alongside my commercial solar panels?
Installing batteries alongside commercial solar panels is becoming increasingly popular.
Our typical battery installation for businesses is about 100kW (around 7 times bigger than a Tesla Powerwall 3). This provides a range of benefits including increased energy bill savings, earning potential from grid flexibility services and enhanced sustainability credentials (due to a higher match between energy consumption and on-site renewable generation).
Installing a battery can also help you to secure DNO approval for your installation, as you will be exporting less power back to the grid.
7. Should I sell my excess solar power to the grid?
Selling your excess solar power to the grid will help to reduce your solar panel payback period significantly – and will have been factored into financial modelling in your design.
Choosing a solar panel installer who is also an energy supplier means they can install your solar panels, arrange for the appropriate export meters and contracts to be set up, and then manage your regular export and REGO payments.
At Good Energy Solar, we offer our commercial solar install customers an enhanced export rate, as a thank you for choosing us.
8. How long does commercial solar panel design and installation take?
A commercial solar design and installation can be completed within two – six months of a customers’ initial quote. This depends on several factors, including any planning permission requirements, DNO approval, financing and team availability.
Once on-site, our highly experienced solar team can complete your solar installation within around 10 days.
9. How do I maintain my commercial solar panels?
Solar panels are relatively easy to maintain. We recommend that your solar panels are cleaned annually to ensure that they are operating at their optimum; and serviced regularly too.
At Good Energy Solar we lead on commercial solar installations with SolarEdge optimised systems. Businesses can monitor the performance of their solar panels remotely via the online monitoring platform or app. This enables them to understand how each panel is performing and identify any under-performance of specific panels, saving time and effort in roof-top investigations.
10. How long do commercial solar panels last?
Commercial solar panels come with a 25-year minimum life expectancy and many of our Feed-in-Tariff portfolio customers still have high-performing solar panels installed 20+ years ago. However, at some point, your solar panels will reach end of life.
The infrastructure to recycle solar panels has improved significantly over the past few years, as the industry moves to a whole lifecycle approach to solar. Solar panels are composed of materials such as glass, aluminium, and silicon, which can be separated and processed for recycling. The recycling process helps reduce waste and supports the sustainable production of new solar panels.
Good Energy was founded in 1999 and now has a quarter of a century of experience building renewable assets, buying exported electricity, supplying renewable power and maintaining a very high level of customer satisfaction.
Installing commercial solar panels is a smart investment for most UK businesses looking to reduce energy costs and improve sustainability. Good Energy’s commercial solar team are on hand to design and build the perfect solar solution for your business, and set you up for long term competitiveness by harnessing the power of the sun.
