Commercial Solar Panels in the UK: Guide (May 2025)

Commercial solar panels can be beneficial regardless of whether your company is large or small. Most businesses are active during the day, which means they are the perfect candidates for utilising solar panels and enjoying the cost savings that come with them. Let’s see if commercial solar panels are right for you.

Interested in commercial solar panels? We can help you get the best deal! Don’t waste hours contacting installers on your own. Simply fill out our 30-second form, and we’ll do the rest. We’ll connect you with up to 4 trusted solar panel installers near you for free, no-obligation quotes.

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Commercial solar panel installation can bring many benefits, such as high return on investment (ROI) and a reputation boost. This section gives a detailed overview:

On average, commercial solar panels cost between £16,000 and £60,000 for small to medium-sized businesses. Several factors influence the cost of solar panels, such as roof size, the amount of energy produced and the number of panels used. A general breakdown of the cost of commercial solar panels can be seen below, excluding VAT.

These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

Most small to medium-sized businesses use 30,000 - 50,000kWh of electricity each year, on average. Monthly, this can be 2,500kWh to 4,167kWh, but this can significantly vary by industry. For example, an office space will have different energy needs than a supermarket.  

Depending on where your business is located in the UK, your system size, and the cost per kilowatt (kW), the total costs can vary. You can begin by evaluating the cost to determine if solar panels are a feasible option for your business. 

Take a closer look at your utility bill and see how much energy you use each month, along with how much the utility company charges you per kW. If you operate a small business, you could get a price estimate by comparing the installation cost of solar panels and solar battery prices in the UK.

In addition, you may be eligible for tax relief if you have commercial solar panels installed. However, this is not possible for businesses that rely on solar energy for revenue generation, such as solar farms.

Solar panel system included the panels, inverters (for converting AC to DC), mounting system (for ground or roof), solar batteries (for energy storage), energy management system (monitors metres and controls) and additional components such as bird-proofing.  

In the table below, we have used percentages to represent the costs of different components relative to the total cost. Since prices vary depending on system size and energy needs, percentages can give a clear indication of where your investment will go.

When installing a solar panel system for your business, the main expenses are the panels and inverters. Installation costs may increase for larger systems, especially if additional time or workers are required. 

Annual solar panel maintenance costs typically range between £100 and £200, or you can do it yourself for free. Insurance may add £10–£20 per month to your home policy or a one-time specialised solar panel insurance fee of £400–£1,600, depending on the system size and coverage. Integrated monitoring systems can reduce maintenance frequency by enabling easy issue detection.

While it’s commonplace for homes, can businesses also benefit from solar panel grants and get free solar panels? Currently, the UK does not offer government grants for solar panels on commercial buildings. However, the UK government has applied 0% VAT on goods like solar panels and sustainable technologies, which can save on purchase costs. We've listed this alongside some other government incentives below.

Available grants are constantly updated, so staying informed is best. For this reason, we can find up to 4 free quotes from solar experts in your area who can assist you along the way. Avoid the hassle of spending days on research and comparisons on your own. Fill in our 30-second form, and we’ll do the rest.

Commercial solar panels have the potential to save anywhere from £4,595 to £11,895 annually for small to medium-sized businesses (20kW-50kW). 

Below is a breakdown of the potential solar panel savings by system size, which can help you understand the lifetime savings you can expect by opting for commercial solar panels for your business.

Based on average electricity consumption (kWh) according to Ofgem and estimated electricity generated per year (kWh). These costs are estimates. Get a local installer QUOTE now!

The break-even point becomes lower as the system size increases due to economies of scale. Larger systems produce more energy for less cost per unit, which increases the ROI significantly. 

Even though the initial fixed costs are high, the low marginal costs are almost zero after installation due to low running costs. This means that once the system is installed, every additional unit of output produced directly contributes to savings. 

There are many advantages of solar energy, such as cost, efficiency, and income potential. Below, we break down the 3 key advantages of using solar panels for your business.

As with most things, commercial solar installation has its disadvantages that are worth keeping in mind.

In some situations, you may need to obtain planning permission for solar panels before installing commercial solar panels. In many cases, the contracting company completing the installation may be willing to sort out these permissions on your behalf.

Always ask before signing any contracts so you know what to expect. Some regions require planning permission to install solar panels on flat roofs. You will need permission if your building or property site is designated as historical or part of a world heritage site.

If you reside in a conservation area and require additional assistance regarding solar panels, we have prepared a comprehensive guide specifically tailored for solar panels in conservation areas.

If you are in doubt, we highly recommend consulting a professional solar panel installer. There are many qualified installation companies across the UK, but finding the right one can take days of research, calling, or emailing. However, by filling in our 30-second form, you can be connected with up to 4 different vetted installers in no time.

Each installer will be able to help you with several things:

In a nutshell, we can easily confirm that commercial solar panels are worth it for business owners in the UK. This can seem surprising since their upfront costs may appear substantial, ranging from £16,000 to £60,000. However, with an ROI of 16% to 45% (depending on system size and energy use) and low maintenance costs, they quickly become cost-effective. 

Solar panels also provide energy independence and can mitigate the impact of fluctuating electricity prices, and when paired with a battery, they can serve as a backup during power outages. While the large investment and complex permissions may seem challenging, the long-term financial and environmental benefits make solar panels a valuable investment.

There are two ways to compare solar experts in your area. You can spend hours of your spare time searching for them alone, or you can simply fill out our 30-second form and let us do the hard work for you. We’ll connect you with up to 4 trusted installers in your area. Click below to get started!