Why solar PV is the smartest business investment for achieving net zero
With fast installation, rapid payback and long-term financial gains, there’s never been a better time to invest in solar panels for your business.
Net zero: a business opportunity, not a barrier
Over 70% of UK businesses are now prioritising Net Zero goals, and almost two-thirds have committed to getting there by 2050. While those yet to set their ambition are at risk of being left behind, the majority are facing up to the significant task of neutralising their greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the challenge lies in fulfilling ESG commitments while operating costs are at an all-time high. Where to begin? How to slash emissions without creating added risk for your organisation and its balance book?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has flipped the script, creating an opportunity to boost your business resilience, slash operating costs and even open new revenue streams while moving towards Net Zero. Solar-equipped businesses deliver real emission reductions through clean, local energy generation, bolstering their reputation as champions of sustainability. Among all the carbon-cutting initiatives on offer, solar PV is difficult to beat when it comes to speed, integration, payback time and transparency, as well the co-benefits it delivers for the long-term health of your business.
Why invest in solar panels for your business?
Solar PV is the best option to support your existing operations
Net Zero is a revolution, but you don’t need to rebuild your business model to reap the benefits. In fact, solar is ready to supercharge your existing practices rather than complicate them.
Photovoltaic panel arrays are perfectly suited to the spaces that most businesses leave idle, and will turn your empty rooftops, car ports or other ‘dead zones’ into engines for growth. Another myth is that solar PV will increase your maintenance costs, but the opposite is true: not only will they increase your commercial property values, but solar panels protect roofs from weathering, extending their life while needing minimal attention themselves.
Every business needs energy to operate. Instead of relying on the grid for all your power and living at the mercy of volatile energy prices or global events, on-site solar allows you to generate your own, free electricity. Peak solar generation times match up with operational schedules for most commercial and industrial activities, helping you slash energy bills without changing a thing on the ground.
On-site solar also offers resiliency in case of disruption, protecting your critical processes and ensuring continuity during outages. Combine it with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and you can deliver further robustness, store power to meet surges in demand, or even sell excess power back to the grid at the most profitable times.
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.
Solar PV is fast, flexible and affordable
The day your solar panels switch on is the day your scope 1 and 2 emissions drop.
The capital investments required for solar are lower than ever, while payback times are now just four years on average. With the typical lifespan of a PV panel standing at 25+ years, you’re looking at an exceptional return on investment and decades of free electricity.
As for meeting ESG targets, the decarbonisation effect is instant. The day your solar panels switch on is the day your Scope 1 and 2 emissions drop. Not only that, but you’ll be able to predict (and showcase) exactly how much accumulated emissions will be avoided over the years to come.
That day is close at hand, too. Planning and approval for solar arrays is fast and straightforward, while installation itself is rapid and presents minimal disruption to your day-to-day activities.
Solar PV is a solution for businesses of every size. Whether you have a single facility or a thousand, solar solutions are infinitely scalable. They’re modular, too, allowing you to add or upgrade your infrastructure over time, in whatever way best suits your strategy and budget.
Net zero tomorrow: reputational and sustainable benefits today
When you become a solar-equipped business, you’re creating something. This is additionality: rather than just paying to put your name on someone else’s good work, you’re adding new renewable generation capacity to the world. On-site solar is a direct action that demonstrates your awareness of, and accountability for, the impact you have on the planet. This will not go unnoticed.
Solar is particularly good for your reputation. It’s a highly visible symbol of your commitment to sustainability, whether it’s seen by employees looking up each day or the customers and stakeholders you communicate with. It’s also the perfect foundation on which to build your sustainable future.
Solar infrastructure shrinks the cost and risk of larger undertakings – like fleet electrification – by supplying cheap and reliable renewable energy, bringing them into the realm of possibility much sooner. By making solar your first step to Net Zero, you’re making the second and third steps easier.
Find out for free if solar PV is right for your business
Reducing your impact on the planet doesn’t have to come at a cost to business. It’s clear that solar PV technology is an excellent investment for most organisations starting down the path towards Net Zero, but you might still wonder whether it’s right for you.
Desktop assessments are zero-cost and zero-risk, allowing you to quickly determine the costs, benefits and specifics of your personal solar powered future. Good Energy can work with you to explore the full range of options, providing individualised, no-obligation quotes along with specialist advice on storage, export and business integration.
