Why Midlands businesses are choosing solar in 2026
Three macro pressures meet in 2026: commercial electricity prices remain 70% above the 2019 baseline, the carbon reporting net is widening (ESOS Phase 3 + SECR), and Full Expensing is locked in until at least 2026 with capex relief approaching 25% effective for higher-rate Corporation Tax payers. Solar capex now flows almost entirely through the P&L in year one.
For a 100kW system costing £85,000-£95,000 installed, a Corporation Tax-paying business sees a £21,000-£24,000 reduction in tax bills the same year. Annual electricity savings of £16,000-£19,000 (at current commercial rates) mean simple payback in 4-6 years — faster than almost any other commercial capex.
Commercial solar — what we install
Rooftop installations on factories, warehouses, hospitals, schools, offices, retail units, leisure centres — the most common pattern. We assess structural capacity, roof age and remaining warranty, and design systems that don't void your roof manufacturer warranty.
Solar carports on staff and customer car parks — turning under-used land into generation while adding shaded EV charging.
Ground-mounted arrays for businesses with available land (farms, industrial estates, depots). Up to 1MW under permitted development for agricultural uses; larger requires planning.
Mixed installations combining rooftop + carport + battery storage for sites with very large or very seasonal loads (cold stores, datacentres, leisure facilities).
How commercial solar feasibility works
Unlike domestic solar, where we can quote off photos in many cases, commercial solar starts with three datasets:
1. Half-hourly consumption data — your electricity supplier provides this on request. We profile your load against modelled PV generation to project actual self-consumption rates (typically 70-90% on industrial and commercial loads with daytime occupancy).
2. Roof structural survey — we instruct a structural engineer to confirm dead and live load capacity. Most modern steel-portal frames are fine; older brick-and-truss buildings sometimes need reinforcement.
3. Grid connection assessment — DNO G99 application for systems over 16A. For systems over 100kW, the DNO may require export limitation; we model with and without.
From these we produce a feasibility report with system size, capital cost, year-one to year-25 cash flow, Internal Rate of Return, and CO₂ reduction estimate. This is usually all the board needs to sign off.
Sectors we install commercial solar for
Manufacturing & factories — daytime operation, steady load, large flat roofs. Best-case payback (4-5 years).
Warehousing & logistics — large roofs, moderate consumption. Carports often added.
Schools, academies, colleges — match well to solar generation profile. Public-sector funding routes (Salix, Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme) available.
Healthcare (hospitals, GP practices, care homes) — high baseload, life-safety considerations require careful design.
Hospitality (hotels, pubs, restaurants) — strong evening peaks; battery often makes sense.
Offices & retail — straightforward generation/consumption match.
Farms & agriculture — see our separate agricultural solar service for grant-funded farm-specific schemes including FETF.
Data centres — niche, very high baseload, often combined with PPA arrangements.
Finance — capex, lease, or PPA
Capex (own outright): best ROI long-term. Full Expensing applies. No counterparty risk. Most businesses with available capital do this.
Lease / hire purchase: monthly payments over 5-7 years, broadly cash-flow neutral against electricity savings. Useful for businesses preserving capital.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): third-party owner installs and maintains the system; you buy the electricity at a fixed discount to grid (typically 30-50% off retail) for 15-25 years. Zero capex, zero risk, smaller savings.
We model all three in your feasibility report.