Commercial Solar Services for UK Businesses

A commercial solar project is more than panels on a roof. The right specification depends on system size, sector load profile, roof type, financing route, and the regulatory environment (G98 vs G99 grid connection, MEES compliance, listed-building consent). This index lists every commercial solar service we deliver — from the smallest 25 kW office rooftop install to 1 MW logistics-park ground-mount, plus the financing routes (cash + AIA, asset finance, PPA), add-ons (battery storage, EV charging), and ongoing services (maintenance, monitoring) that complete a working commercial PV asset.

The four service categories

System sizes (sub-50 kW through 1 MW+). Bands matter because they correspond to fundamentally different engineering, DNO, and financing realities. Only up to 16 A per phase are you a G98 notification (no DNO application — simple). Type-tested systems up to 17 kW per phase, roughly 50 kW three-phase, take the streamlined G99 fast-track. Above that you're into full G99 territory (formal application, 6-18 month process). Above 500 kW you're often into ANM curtailment or DNO reinforcement contributions. Each band has different per-kW pricing — small systems cost more per kW (£1,100-£1,200), large systems benefit from scale (£700-£850).

Finance routes. Three principal options. Cash plus 100% AIA tax relief gives the strongest IRR for profitable limited companies. Power Purchase Agreements deliver zero-capex installs where the funder owns the asset and you buy the electricity at a discount to grid retail. Asset finance bridges the gap — borrow against the capex, repay from the bill savings, own the system at term end.

Add-ons. Battery storage paired with solar lifts self-consumption percentage materially (typically +20-30 percentage points), shortening payback on sites with high evening loads. EV charging takes daytime solar generation and converts it into employee benefit + customer goodwill, often with OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme grant funding. Both add-ons are commonly bundled with the original PV install to amortise scaffolding, DNO process, and site mobilisation costs.

Ongoing services. A commercial solar system is a 25-30 year asset. Maintenance contracts cover annual inverter inspection, monitoring portal management, cleaning where required, and emergency call-out. Without active O&M, system performance degrades faster than the warranty curve predicts — typical 3-7% additional yield loss over 15 years on unmaintained systems.

What we don't try to be

We're not a domestic solar installer — we don't quote on 4kW family-home installs. We're not a window-cleaning add-on to a fascia-board firm. Every project we deliver is commercial-grade: MCS-certified, NICEIC-registered installation teams, PVSyst yield modelling on every quote, fixed-price proposals with full bill of materials, RCD-protected commissioning, monitoring portal handover, and IWA-backed 10-year workmanship warranty. Honest scope, honest cost, honest delivery.

How a commercial solar service engagement actually works

The standard delivery sequence on most commercial projects:

1. Desk feasibility (1 week). Half-hourly meter data analysis, roof drawing review, PVSyst yield modelling, indicative system size and capex. No site visit required. Output: a one-page proposal with system spec, projected savings, payback range and recommended financing route.
2. Site survey (1 day on site, 1 week reporting). Structural assessment of roof, electrical infrastructure review (existing supply, switchgear capacity, isolation routes), DNO pre-application engagement. Output: fixed-price proposal with full bill of materials, structural calculations, single line diagram.
3. Planning + DNO + finance (2-12 weeks). Planning application where required, G98 notification or G99 application, finance/PPA documentation. G98 sites move fast (4-6 weeks); G99 timing depends on DNO offer.
4. Installation (1-4 weeks on site). Scaffolding, mounting structure, panels, DC cabling, inverter, AC tie-in, commissioning.
5. Handover and monitoring activation. Customer training on monitoring portal, MCS certificate issue, EICR, AIA documentation pack for the accountant, warranty paperwork.
6. Year-one performance audit. Compare actual generation against PVSyst model. Adjust monitoring, verify SEG metering, finalise insurance-backed warranty certificates.
7. Ongoing O&M (if contracted). Annual visual inspection, electrical testing, monitoring portal management, weather-event response.

Why we publish per-system-size pricing

Most commercial solar suppliers quote on enquiry rather than publishing per-kW pricing. We publish the bands because the alternative — vague "from £X" anchors followed by per-project quotes — usually means the buyer ends up over-paying. Our published cost guide covers 25kW, 30kW, 50kW, 75kW, 100kW, 150kW, 200kW, 250kW, 300kW, 500kW+ and 1MW turnkey ranges with worked examples, AIA-adjusted net cost, and payback maths. Use those as your starting point, then narrow with the desk feasibility output.

Where finance route changes the project case

Cash + AIA is the strongest IRR for a profitable limited company because the 100% AIA effectively returns 25% of capex as tax relief in year one, plus you own the asset for its 25-year useful life. For a £100,000 install: gross capex £100k, AIA tax saving £25k, net effective cost £75k. Annual saving £20-22k. Payback 3.5-4 years net of tax relief.

PPA delivers zero-capex installation — the funder pays £100k of capex, owns the system, and sells you the electricity at a discount (typically 12-15p/kWh vs grid retail 26-32p/kWh). Day-one cash flow positive, no capex on your balance sheet, no asset to maintain. Best for businesses without the corporation tax position to absorb AIA, or where the capex would crowd out other investments.

Asset finance bridges the two — borrow £100k against the asset, repay over 5-7 years at typical 6-9% APR. Monthly finance payment usually below monthly bill savings, so cash flow positive from month one. After the finance term you own the system outright and continue to save for another 18-20 years.

Related guides

• Commercial solar panel costs UK 2026 — full pricing by system size
• Best commercial solar panel brands UK 2026 — Tier 1 comparison
• All UK commercial solar grants and funding routes
• Commercial solar by UK SME sector
• UK locations served
• Interactive commercial solar payback calculator
• 60+ Commercial Solar FAQs UK 2026