Large-scale industrial sites carry some of the biggest energy bills in UK business, and some of the biggest roofs. Start with a free assessment of your site and your bills.
Industrial estates often have long, low roofs that are quick and economical to build on
Business Solar UK assesses your industrial site and your half-hourly electricity data. Our installation partner Solar4Business then surveys, designs and installs a system sized to your operation, matched to:
Solar4Business works only with MCS-certified equipment and installation teams, so your system is built to the standard the Smart Export Guarantee and your funder require.
Industrial solar panels are suitable for a range of businesses, but they differ slightly from smaller commercial systems because they skew towards businesses with larger premises. Any business operating in the following sectors will likely have premises large enough to accommodate this type of larger solar array:
If you have a warehouse, manufacturing plant or distribution centre with a vast, unused roof space, installing an industrial solar array is usually a straightforward, high-value decision.
Generating part of your own daytime power reduces how exposed your bills are to the grid. Standard grid-connected solar switches off automatically in a power cut for safety - keeping critical loads running through an outage needs a battery system specifically designed for backup, which your installer can specify.
Most large-scale sites operating through daylight hours are a strong match for solar, which produces far more electricity during the day than at night. A battery can capture and store what you do not use for later.
Producing free, green energy on site puts your business in charge of its own bills, rather than at the mercy of supplier price rises and falls.
The UK is legally bound to Net Zero by 2050. A greener site strengthens your reputation with customers, consumers and the businesses you supply.
Not all the energy your system produces will be used on site the moment it is generated. A battery lets you store the surplus, and the Smart Export Guarantee lets you sell what you do not use back to the grid.
Investing in solar panels means investing in your business's future, and that means making a commitment. If you're happy with your current site, industrial solar panels are a sound choice. If you're planning to move premises in the next few years, it may be worth waiting until you move, so you get the most out of your solar panels and cover the upfront cost as quickly as possible - in some cases within a few years.
If you have the capital to invest in industrial solar panels right now, it is one of the lower-risk investments you can make for your business's future. Not every business has that capital to spare, but that does not mean the upfront cost needs to be as prohibitive as it first appears. See our four ways to pay below.
Because we look at a range of options for your site, it is difficult to give an exact final cost without an assessment. However, here are typical examples based on system sizes we commonly see ordered for warehouses, manufacturing plants and distribution centres.
| Premises | System size | System cost (from) |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouses | 100kW (202 panels, our package example) | £96,300 |
| Manufacturing plants | 240kW (460 panels, our package example) | £212,500 |
| Distribution centres | 500kW (920 panels, our package example) | £418,600 |
Figures match our own package examples below, so this table and the packages never disagree. Panel counts follow our sizing model (545W panels); your own quote depends on your roof condition, access and system design, confirmed at survey stage.
Tax relief on solar, in brief
The upfront cost might put off some business owners, but there are plenty of options open to you. One option is asset finance: providers are generally keen to lend against green assets, knowing the annual energy bill savings you make help cover your repayments.
It is also worth remembering that solar PV systems qualify for tax relief under the Annual Investment Allowance.
Yes. The Annual Investment Allowance lets you claim for a range of plant or machinery purchases, up to £1m a year, and industrial solar panels qualify. Solar PV is special-rate plant: above the AIA, you can claim a 50% first-year allowance, with the remaining balance carried forward at a 6% writing-down allowance.
Through the AIA, you deduct the cost of your industrial solar panel installation from your business's taxable profits. At the 25% main rate of corporation tax, a system costing £166,600, claimed in full under the AIA, would cut your corporation tax bill by £41,650 - bringing the effective cost down to around £124,950.
We provide bespoke system designs for every business, based upon your energy usage and rooftop availability. To give you an idea of the savings and cost of a system, below are some of our common system sizes.
For office buildings
25 yearsPays back in 6.2 yrs
For warehouse buildings
25 yearsPays back in 6.0 yrs
For manufacturing plants
25 yearsPays back in 5.8 yrs
For distribution centres
25 yearsPays back in 5.7 yrs
Illustrative examples, not live quotations. Equipment, warranties and prices are confirmed in your proposal. All savings are based upon a solar generation yield of 850kWh/kWp installed per annum, with usage of 71.43% of solar energy generated, assuming a 24p/kWh electricity import rate (close to the DESNZ Q1 2026 UK non-domestic average of 24.14p/kWh). Savings may change year on year dependent upon weather conditions, energy prices and system degradation in line with warrantied output.
Solar PV brands featured in our system examples
Business Solar UK exists to make a large, complex investment simple.
We assess your roof and your bills rather than pushing a single quote, and Solar4Business designs and installs every system its team recommends.
Get your free solar assessmentThe right route depends on your cash position, your lease and how much power you use in daylight. Your free assessment models each one against your own bills, starting with what you can save before a single panel goes up.
Review your electricity tariff whilst planning your solar installation
Best for: Any business on an out-of-contract or uncompetitive tariff
Ask about this route
Pay upfront, keep every pound of the saving
Best for: Profitable businesses with cash or an existing facility, and a long lease or freehold
Ask about this route
Spread the cost, with ownership at the end of the agreement
Best for: Businesses that want ownership without tying up working capital
Ask about this route
Fully funded. You just buy cheaper electricity
Best for: Sites with a large roof and daytime demand that want savings with no capital or maintenance
Ask about this routeFinance and fully funded options are subject to eligibility, survey and contract terms. Savings, repayments and tax relief depend on your circumstances.
When it comes to commercial solar, there are a few ways to purchase your system. We’ll help to guide you through your options.
Using the Annual Investment Allowance, you can deduct the cost of your system against corporation tax.
Spread the cost with asset financing and use your bill savings to pay off your annual loan repayments.
Purchase your system outright, for the best return on investment.
Or pay nothing upfront with a solar power purchase agreement. See all four ways to pay.
Get a forecast based on your building, tariff and daytime electricity use.
We will check if you qualify for any incentives or grants.
Your assessment uses your postcode to check local solar yield, planning rules and the grid connection.
Prefer to talk first? Call 0113 834 0644 or email [email protected].
Your installation is managed by Solar4BusinessInstallation services described below are delivered by our partner Solar4Business.
Our expert in-house team will advise you on how to best save money through a bespoke business solar installation.
A few questions about your business and your solar energy needs.
A solar package tailored to your business needs, with every way to pay modelled.
Solar4Business surveys your site and installs your system, and we check any grants or incentives available to you.
You start saving on energy bills from the day your system is switched on.
See the range of buildings featured in Solar4Business’s published installation projects, from manufacturing sites to schools.
Commercial solar at industrial scale. A large manufacturing roof put to work generating electricity on site.
Explore the project
Rooftop generation alongside the demands of a busy manufacturing operation.
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Using school roof space to generate power where it is needed throughout the day.
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A bespoke rooftop installation designed around a business headquarters.
Explore the projectBusiness Solar UK helps you assess your options and introduces you to Solar4Business. Their team surveys your premises, designs the system and manages the installation.
Solar4Business displays the accreditation marks below on its website. Ask for the current certificates, the contracting company’s details and the warranties that apply to your proposed installation.
Founder and CEO, Pharaoh Capital. Founder of Solar4Business and INICIO.
Over ten years in the energy sector. Grant founded Solar4Business, who install every Business Solar UK system, and INICIO, which funds commercial solar with no upfront cost. Institute of Directors Young Director of the Year, 2020.
Reviews are of Solar4Business, who carry out every installation for Business Solar UK. Rating as at 22 September 2026.
"All went well with the initial enquiry, report draft and install. We were kept up to date with install dates and the guys on site were tidy and professional... There has been a marked reduction in our electricity costs which was the reason for the install."
"Steve and his team were extremely professional, installing over 900 panels for our Academy."
"We have a commercial property and 48 solar panels have been fitted. The team of installers were extremely professional and helpful."
"A great installation. Steve and the team did a great job. Would not hesitate to recommend this company."
Brands using solar power
This differs for every installation, because every site is a different size, with different access and requirements. Solar4Business will confirm a schedule for your site once your system is designed, but most industrial installs take multiple days to a few weeks.
Industrial solar panels typically carry a 25-year performance warranty, and modern panels can keep generating for up to 40 years with proper maintenance. Output does gradually reduce over that time, in line with the warrantied degradation curve.
In most cases, no. In England, rooftop solar on non-domestic buildings is usually permitted development with no size cap, provided panels sit no more than 1m above a flat roof or 0.2m from a pitched roof, and are set back 1m from the edges. Listed buildings, conservation areas and ground-mounted arrays have extra rules. Scotland and Wales have similar rights. Your free assessment will flag anything that needs a closer look.
Many industrial systems can add a battery to increase how much of your own generation you use on site, and to store surplus for export. Battery cost and sizing are confirmed as part of your system design.
Larger systems need approval from your local network operator before connection. Solar4Business applies for this on your behalf as part of the design and installation process.
Yes. Solar still cuts your daytime energy costs under continuous or shift-pattern operation, and a battery can store surplus generation for use outside daylight hours. You draw the rest from the grid as you would today.
Save massively on your electricity bills when you invest in solar.
