{"id":8444,"date":"2026-08-03T13:17:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T12:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/?p=8444"},"modified":"2026-08-03T13:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T12:24:29","slug":"how-much-does-delaying-solar-actually-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/insights\/how-much-does-delaying-solar-actually-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How much does delaying solar actually cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Delaying investments in your business can often feel like the safer choice. No big hit to the budget, no project to manage, no disruption to \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d. That\u2019s why solar panels have sat in the “good idea, not this year” pile for many UK businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But doing nothing is a decision in itself. For UK businesses, average gas prices remain around twice as high<\/a> as they were at the beginning of 2021, while business electricity prices are more than 80% higher<\/a>. With global conflicts continuing to influence British bills, prices remain volatile with no guarantee they’ll fall in the near future.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we explain the drivers behind rising energy bills<\/a> and compare the cost<\/a> of installing solar panels and batteries now, versus delaying the decision. While the figures look at a 20-year period to reflect the lifetime value of solar, your savings could start from day one. Read on for the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes up a business energy bill?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Back in 2021, business electricity prices were around 50% lower than they are today. The increase since then has been driven by several factors: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rising non-commodity costs:<\/strong> And as of mid-2026, non-commodity charges (network costs, policy levies, balancing charges) now make up more than 60% of a typical business electricity bill<\/a>.  Several stepped up sharply this April, including Transmission network charges<\/a>, the Nuclear RAB levy<\/a> and the Energy Intensive Industry relief scheme<\/a> – highlighting that not every increase in electricity costs is driven by wholesale prices alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volatile wholesale energy prices: <\/strong>The UK\u2019s electricity costs are very closely linked with the price of gas<\/a> \u2013 which makes them vulnerable to geopolitical events around the globe. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Since 2021, the UK has experienced two major energy price shocks \u2013 the first caused by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2021 which resulted in targeted government support<\/a> for households and energy-intensive sectors. Just as many businesses were hoping for a return to energy cost stability, ongoing tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz in 2026 have led to further volatility and energy price pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, even if wholesale prices soften, total business electricity costs still have the potential to keep rising. The real question now isn\u2019t “Can we afford to install solar panels?”,<\/em> it’s “Can we afford to wait?<\/a>\u201d<\/em> and \u201cAre there smarter ways to help manage the capital costs?<\/a>\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What influence does installing solar and batteries have on an energy bill?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We often get asked how much impact installing solar and a battery can have on your bill. The answer is huge.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By optimising when you charge and discharge your battery you can dictate when you are drawing power from the grid.  In peak times (4 \u2013 7pm), energy is often much more expensive, so reducing your usage between these times can add up to some serious savings. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Combine that with savings from using solar power from your system, and potential earnings from any exported power, and you can have a significant impact on your annual bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing solar and storage can also open the door to reviewing the fixed charges you pay for your grid connection. If a battery consistently reduces your maximum imported power, it may be possible to apply to your network operator to reduce your Available Capacity limit and the associated fixed capacity fees, permanently lowering the fixed capacity fees tied to your connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe are extremely impressed by the expertise and commitment both to sustainability and to great service displayed by the installation team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Installing solar is easy. It\u2019s good for business and it\u2019s good for the planet. I really can\u2019t think of a reason not to do it.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Stevens, MD, bigHead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch the video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How much does it really cost to install solar panels? And how much to do nothing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’ve modelled an example of the financial impact of meeting your total electricity needs from the grid, versus using solar and batteries to combat rising energy costs, and create a shield against volatile energy cost pressures for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: A large manufacturer using 3.54 GWh of electricity every year choosing to install 1,050kWp of sola<\/em><\/strong>r or 2,365kWp solar + 788kWp battery storage.<\/em><\/strong> See the full data behind these graphs<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a worked example based on a typical manufacturing site. Capital investment figures are for illustration only and vary with specific customer requirements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This is a worked example based on a typical manufacturing site. Capital investment figures are for illustration only and vary with specific customer requirements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This is a worked example based on a typical manufacturing site. Capital investment figures are for illustration only and vary with specific customer requirements.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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Want to see a real world example?<\/h2> \n
\n \n \n See what Deceuninck saves <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
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