What is Commercial Solar?

Businesses across the UK – including factories, offices and education facilities – are increasingly realising the benefits of installing a Commercial Solar PV system to earn a significant tax-free income, make substantial savings on energy bills and improve green credentials.

A Commercial Solar system consists of Solar Panels which convert the sun’s light into electricity using Photovoltaic (PV) cells. Businesses can then take advantage of this generated energy by using it for free to power lighting, technology and machinery.

What are the benefits of Commercial Solar Power?

Commercial Solar Panels represent a secure, risk free and extremely profitable opportunity for Businesses of all sizes, with a Return on Investment typically around 12.7%.

Through the Government’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, Businesses will receive guaranteed payments for each unit of energy that the Solar PV Panels produce for the next 25 years, providing a lucrative tax-free income.

The Feed-in Tariff gives Businesses three ways to earn and save money, through the Generation Tariff, Export Tariff and Bill Savings:

The Generation Tariff pays between 8.5p and 16.8p for each unit, or kWh, of electricity that is used. These payments are secure, tax-free and last for 25 years from installation.

The Export Tariff pays an additional 3.1p for each unit of electricity that is not used and is exported back to the national grid. Most utility companies will assume that 50% of the energy generated is exported.

Substantial Bill Savings are also to be had, as the Green Energy produced by the Commercial Solar Panels can be used to power lighting, technology and machinery for free, reducing the need to buy the energy from the grid. As Businesses use up to 100% of the electricity generated, the Bill Savings are typically larger than those for domestic Solar Panels.

Feed-in Tariff rates for different Commercial Solar systems are shown in the table below:

Commercial Solar FIT rates * Generation Tariff Level (p/kWh) System Size

Over 4kWp up to 10kWp (existing and new property) 16.8 Over 10kWp up to 50kWp (existing and new property) 15.2 Over 50kWp up to 250kWp (existing and new property) 12.9 Over 250kWp up to 5MW (existing and new property) 8.5 Up to 5MW Standalone** 8.5

* Prices shown are in pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh).
** Standalone systems only feed electricity back into the grid.


Generating and using electricity, through Solar PV Panels, will also offer protection from rising energy costs and remains one of the most energy and cost efficient ways to cut CO² emissions, reduce your carbon footprint and boost green credentials.

How much does a Commercial Solar PV system cost?

Commercial Solar systems tend to range between 4kWp and 50kWp in size, although it is possible to install systems up to 5MW. Prices vary depending on system size, but typically cost between £11,000 for a 4kWp system and up to £100,000 for a 50kWp system.

Through Feed-in Tariff payments, Businesses can expect to recover the cost of installation in around 7 years and get a profitable Return on Investment of around 12.7%.

For example, a large Business with 240 square meters of roof space available may opt for a 30kWp Commercial Solar PV system, which would cost an estimated £60,000 to install. Through the Feed-in Tariff payments, the Business could expect to recuperate £7594 per year in Commercial Solar earnings and savings, recovering the cost of installation within 11 years and giving a huge return of £189,850 in income and savings over the 25 year FIT period.

The table below highlights estimated costs and savings for Solar PV systems suitable for Businesses - 10kWp, 25kWp and 50kWp - as well as the impressive Return on Investment:

Estimated Costs and Savings	System Size
	10kWp	25kWp	50kWp
Estimated System Cost (£)	20,000	50,000	100,000
Generation Tariff Income (£ per year)	8684	3300	6600
Export Tariff Income* (£ per year)	0	0	0
Electricity Bill Savings (£ per year)	1211	3029	6057
Total Income & Savings (£ per year)	2670	6329	12,657
Total Income & Savings over 25 years (£)	66,750	158,225	316,425
Return on Investment	13.4%	12.7%	12.7%

* Businesses typically use all the electricity generated and will instead receive the higher Generation Tariff payments

To discover how much your Business could earn and save through Commercial Solar Panels, fill in the Solar PV Feed in Tariff Calculator. If your Business is likely to use all of the energy it generates, select 0% for Estimated Export.

Which Businesses can benefit from Solar Panels?

To benefit from Solar Panels, a Business must:

• Have at least 32m² of roof space available for a 4kWp system.
• Have a 3 phase supply going into the building.
• Get permission from the District Network Operator before installation.
• Have a roof that is strong enough to support Solar Panels.
• Own the land or property where the Solar Panels are to be fitted.
• Have no restrictions, for example a listed building or a conservation area.
• Understand the typical upfront costs - approximately between £11,000 and £100,000.
• Have a roof which faces between South East and South West (via South).
• Have a roof which is not shaded by buildings, tall trees etc.

How can EnergyLink help?

If your business is ready to take advantage of the earnings and savings from Solar Panels, EnergyLink can arrange for you to receive a no-obligation survey and quote from an MCS accredited installer of large-scale Commercial Solar PV in your local area.

If the survey shows that your property is suitable, and you wish to have Commercial Solar Panels fitted, the allocated installer will arrange to carry out the work and assist with the Feed-in Tariffs.

EnergyLink’s Commercial Solar PV specialists are skilled at meeting the demands of large projects, which can vary greatly from standard domestic Solar systems.

You will be given a clear explanation of the initial costs involved as well as an accurate assessment of the projected Feed-in Tariff payments, Bill Savings and Return on Investment.

To receive your no-obligation survey and to start benefiting from Commercial Solar Panels, simply complete our online Application Form.