Real Projects, Real Numbers

UK Commercial Solar Case Studies

Every install we deliver is PVSyst-modelled at proposal stage and audited against actual generation in year one. Below is a selection of recent UK SME projects with the actual numbers.

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These are real-world examples of how solar panels for businesses perform across the UK — from a 65 kW care-home rooftop to an 850 kW food-production plant. Every project is PVSyst-modelled at proposal and audited against actual generation in year one, so the savings and payback figures below reflect engineered numbers, not sales estimates.

Use them as a benchmark for your own site. If you want the underlying numbers for a system your size, see our 100kW solar system cost breakdown, the full commercial solar cost guide, or compare routes in business solar panels. For sector-specific economics, jump to warehouses, factories, hotels or schools — or check whether the maths works for you in are commercial solar panels worth it?

75 kW install on a Bristol marketing agency office

A 45-person digital marketing agency operating from a converted warehouse near Bristol. Existing electricity bill £18,000/year, rising fast. Founders wanted client-visible sustainability commitment.

System
75 kW (138 panels, 1 inverter)
Annual saving
£14,500
Payback
6.5 years
Generation
68,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Asset finance over 6 years — cash-flow positive month one. Lobby display shown to all visitors. Featured in three client pitch decks within first year.

180 kW install on a Manchester light-industrial unit

Family-owned plastics manufacturer in a 1990s industrial estate unit. Electricity spend £58,000/year. Asked for a fast-payback no-fuss design.

System
182 kW (335 panels)
Annual saving
£42,000
Payback
5.8 years
Generation
168,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Self-funded with AIA tax relief. 76% self-consumption. Owner used the install to win a Tier-1 supply contract requiring renewable energy disclosure.

320 kW install on a Cambridge Science Park R&D facility

A 280-employee biotech company operating a 24/7 wet lab and pilot manufacturing line at Cambridge Science Park. Pre-install electricity spend £215,000/year. Required Scope 2 reduction for FTSE 100 customer requirements.

System
320 kW (590 panels)
Annual saving
£68,000
Payback
5.4 years
Generation
290,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

AIA + asset finance over 7 years. 96% self-consumption thanks to lab baseload. Used to retain £8.5m supply contract requiring renewable energy disclosure.

180 kW install on a West Yorkshire 3PL warehouse

A regional 3PL operator with a 6,000 sqm warehouse outside Leeds. £62,000/year electricity spend driven by LED lighting, EV chargers for fleet, and refrigerated zones. Owner-occupied with 12-year remaining lease term.

System
182 kW (335 panels)
Annual saving
£42,000
Payback
5.8 years
Generation
168,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Self-funded with AIA tax relief. 76% self-consumption. Owner used the install to win a Tier-1 supply contract requiring renewable energy disclosure.

90 kW install on a Cardiff Bay creative agency office

A 60-person digital marketing agency in a converted warehouse near Cardiff Bay. Existing electricity bill £24,000/year. Founders wanted client-visible sustainability commitment for ESG-mandated clients.

System
90 kW (167 panels)
Annual saving
£17,500
Payback
6.7 years
Generation
82,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Asset finance over 7 years — cash-flow positive month one. Lobby display shown to all visitors. Featured in three client pitch decks within first year.

550 kW ground-mount install on a Lincolnshire agricultural processor

A family-run vegetable processing and packing facility outside Spalding. Electricity spend £165,000/year. Significant unused field area adjacent to packhouse. PV economics complicated by seasonal load (peaks in harvest October-March).

System
550 kW ground-mount (1,015 panels)
Annual saving
£105,000
Payback
5.7 years
Generation
525,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Combined planning permission and DNO connection. AIA + 7-year asset finance. 65% self-consumption (lower self-consumption than rooftop due to seasonal load profile, but offset by larger array making PVSyst yield superior).

125 kW install on a Brighton seafront hotel

A 78-room independent hotel on the Brighton seafront. Listed building (Grade II) with rear roof installation possible. £58,000/year electricity spend. Strong daytime baseload from kitchens, hot water, and HVAC.

System
125 kW (231 panels, rear roof only)
Annual saving
£26,500
Payback
7.1 years
Generation
110,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Conservation Officer pre-application consultation. Black-on-black panels chosen for visual minimisation. PPA route chosen — zero capex, immediate savings. Featured in Trip Advisor reviews as a sustainability differentiator.

720 kW install on a Coventry automotive Tier-1 supplier

A 240-employee precision-machining facility in Coventry supplying Jaguar Land Rover. £412,000/year electricity spend on 2-shift operation. JLR Net Zero supply chain mandate required Scope 2 reduction by 2027.

System
720 kW (1,330 panels, profiled steel roof)
Annual saving
£186,000
Payback
4.8 years
Generation
684,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

IETF Phase 3 grant £198,000 (28% intensity). 84% self-consumption from 2-shift baseload. AIA tax relief on residual capex. Retained Tier-1 status on JLR programme worth £3.4m/yr.

480 kW install on a Stoke-on-Trent ceramics manufacturer

A heritage ceramics manufacturer at Etruria. 180 staff, two kilns + drying tunnels running 24/5. Electricity spend £298,000/year. SIC 23 eligible for IETF, but planning constraints due to Stoke-on-Trent industrial heritage conservation area.

System
480 kW (888 panels, ground-mount + rooftop combined)
Annual saving
£118,000
Payback
5.2 years
Generation
430,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

IETF deployment grant £142,000 combined with electric-dryer replacement. Combined project total carbon reduction 312 tCO2/yr. Conservation officer pre-app secured rooftop consent within 8 weeks.

210 kW install on a Glasgow self-storage facility

A 4-storey self-storage operator near Glasgow Airport. Low electricity demand (£18,000/yr) but large flat roof (3,200 sqm). Owner saw the asset as a renewable revenue play rather than a bill-reduction play.

System
210 kW (388 panels, flat roof ballasted)
Annual saving
£24,000 (incl. £19k SEG export revenue)
Payback
6.4 years
Generation
180,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Octopus Outgoing fixed-rate SEG contract (12p/kWh as at July 2026; supplier rates move on ~30 days notice). Low self-consumption (24%) made this an export-dominated play. Roof asset uplift estimated £180k on independent valuation.

850 kW install on a Liverpool food production plant

A ready-meal manufacturer near Liverpool Port supplying UK supermarkets. 320 staff, 24/7 operation. £685,000/year electricity (mainly refrigeration + cooking + sterilisation). SIC 10 eligible for IETF.

System
850 kW (1,575 panels, profiled steel + canopy)
Annual saving
£218,000
Payback
4.9 years
Generation
765,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

IETF Phase 3 deployment grant £224,000 (29% intensity). Combined with battery storage 500 kWh (Tesla Powerpack). 92% self-consumption due to 24/7 refrigeration baseload. Total carbon reduction 156 tCO2/yr.

95 kW install on a Manchester Trafford Park engineering firm

A 48-staff precision metalwork firm at Trafford Park. £52,000/year electricity. Pre-2000 building required asbestos-cement roof replacement first.

System
95 kW (176 panels, post-asbestos replacement)
Annual saving
£23,500
Payback
6.1 years
Generation
88,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Combined roof replacement (£64k) + PV install (£87k) on single scaffolding event. AIA covered 25% of combined capex. Asbestos waste managed under HSE-compliant pathway. Roof structural calc verified for 25-year PV life.

420 kW PSDS-funded install on a Bristol secondary school

A multi-academy trust secondary school in Bristol. 1,400 pupils. £165,000/year electricity. Salix PSDS Phase 3b application combined solar + LED retrofit + air-source heat pump.

System
420 kW (778 panels, 4 roof sections)
Annual saving
£94,000 (modelled, year 1)
Payback
0 years
Generation
378,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Salix PSDS 100% grant funded £1.4m combined-measure project. Solar share £580k. Carbon savings 252 tCO2/yr verified at year-one audit. Combined project lifted school EPC from D to A.

180 kW install on a Reading data centre

A 4 MW colocation data centre near Reading. £2.1m/year electricity. Tenant Scope 3 reduction mandate. Limited roof space; ground-mount on adjacent unused car park area.

System
180 kW solar canopy carport over 64-space car park
Annual saving
£46,000
Payback
6.8 years
Generation
162,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Solar carport + 22 EV charging points combined deployment. Sustainability reporting line item in colocation contract. Local council fast-track planning (Reading 2030 net zero target). OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme £8,400 grant.

65 kW install on a Norwich care home

A 60-bed residential care home in Norwich. £38,000/year electricity (heavy laundry + 24/7 baseload). CQC-registered. Owner family planned to hold the property for 20+ years.

System
65 kW (120 panels, single roof + slim battery 30 kWh)
Annual saving
£15,500
Payback
6.4 years
Generation
58,000 kWh/yr

Key Outcome

Combined PV + 30 kWh battery storage. 91% self-consumption thanks to overnight resident load smoothed by battery. CQC notification managed pre-install. No resident disruption during 5-day rooftop install programme.

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