Factories combine large roofs with high daytime demand from process loads, lighting and climate control - a strong match for commercial solar. Start with a free assessment of your roof and your bills.
Factory roofs are usually large and open, ideal for a productive system
Factories are surprisingly well adapted to solar panels. With plenty of roof space and high energy demands, your factory is a strong candidate for a large solar system that can reduce your reliance on the National Grid and cut your energy bills year after year.
These savings mean your solar panels will eventually pay for themselves. Here is why more factories are going solar.
Consumers and supply-chain partners increasingly favour businesses that operate more sustainably. Taking responsibility for how you generate power strengthens your green credentials with the customers who matter most.
A power cut can be operation-ending for a factory. Generating part of your own daytime electricity reduces your exposure to grid price rises - though standard grid-connected solar switches off automatically in an outage for safety. Keeping the site running through a power cut needs a battery system specifically designed for backup, which your installer can specify.
Energy is one of the biggest overheads a factory carries. Solar cuts that overhead by producing power on site, so you are less exposed to price swings.
Not every factory covers all of its energy needs from solar, but many cover a large share of it. Every kWh you generate is a kWh you no longer pay for.
The higher your energy use, the more you stand to save. As a heavy daytime user, a factory typically saves more in cash terms than most other sectors.
Working with Business Solar UK is straightforward. You tell us about your factory and your energy needs, and Business Solar UK assesses your roof and your electricity data.
Our installation partner Solar4Business then surveys your site, designs a system to match your demand, and manages the installation and commissioning.
We model buying outright, hire purchase and a fully funded power purchase agreement side by side, so you can see the real cost and saving of each route before you commit to anything.
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
There are plenty of reasons to invest in commercial solar panels for a factory.
Large roofs, heavy daytime demand and rising energy costs combine to make factories one of the sectors that benefits most from a bespoke solar system.
To get started, get a free assessment of your factory roof and bills. We model buying outright, hire purchase and a fully funded PPA side by side.
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 roof 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.
Explore the project
Using school roof space to generate power where it is needed throughout the day.
Explore the project
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
It depends on your annual energy use, the output of the panels in your system, your available roof space, and how much of your demand you want solar to cover. As an illustrative example, our 100kW package uses 202 panels - see the packages below for other sizes. Your assessment gives you a recommendation based on your own factory.
It depends on the system you need. A 100kW system, similar to our warehouse-scale package, starts from around £96,300, with a modelled saving of roughly £16,042 a year at 24p/kWh, close to the Q1 2026 average. Larger or smaller factories cost proportionately more or less; see the packages below or get your free assessment for figures based on your own bills.
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 and conservation areas have extra rules, and ground-mounted arrays are treated differently. Scotland and Wales have similar rights.
Yes. Solar still cuts your daytime energy costs even if you run shifts around the clock, and a battery can store surplus daytime generation for use later. Outside daylight hours, or when demand outstrips generation, you draw the rest from the grid as normal.
Your assessment measures the usable roof area around rooflights, vents, plant and any structural obstructions before a system is sized, so the figures you receive already account for them.
Often, yes, subject to the spare capacity of your inverter and the roof space you add. Solar4Business can confirm what is possible at the survey stage.
Save massively on your electricity bills when you invest in solar.
