How can solar panels help my business?
A modern, commercial solar panel installation will instantly reduce your annual electricity bills – and for the long term.
There are many benefits to installing solar panels for business, including:
- Significant, immediate reduction in your electricity bills
- Fast system payback: 3-5 years is the norm
- Hardware with long warranties, typically 20-40 years
- Clear improvement in company carbon footprint
- Sell excess energy back to the grid
Infinity Energy Services is a multi-award-winning commercial solar panel installation company with a consultative approach to specifying solar panel systems for each client, ensuring a bespoke design matching your exact needs.
Commercial solar panel installation – our approach from start to finish
Introduction
The key to a successful commercial solar panel installation is taking the time to understand the customer’s needs in full, carefully designing a robust system that matches the requirements, and then installing to a very high spec – and on time. Below is our step-by-step approach to all of our solar and battery projects:
What’s the best way to finance commercial solar panels?
Although solar panels have come down in cost dramatically over the last 10 years, a commercial solar panel installation still represents an important investment. Fortunately, there are now a variety of ways to finance solar arrays to match your company’s balance sheet, P&L, and new equipment financing policies. Here is a summary of some of the popular approaches:
PAYMENT OPTION | EXPLANATION | BENEFITS | CONSIDERATIONS |
Pay Upfront | Pay for the whole system in one go from company reserves | You own the system and benefit fully from zero-cost solar electricity | You need to pay for the full system cost as soon as the installation is complete |
Loan / Finance | Spread the cost of payments via a loan or other finance product | You own the system and benefit fully from zero-cost solar electricity | You won’t feel the financial benefits fully until the loan has been paid off |
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | Pay no installation costs and get electricity at a lower rate | You don’t need to pay anything and benefit from cheaper electricity | You don’t own the system and won't get zero-cost solar electricity |
You can either organise your own payment method, or we can link you up with specialist solar financing and PPA partners. Please phone us on 0800 909 8882 to go through your options.
Sectors We Support
Solar panels make sense for nearly all UK businesses – assuming suitable roofs or land are available – though they tend to appeal to certain sectors more than others. Here is a list of business sectors where solar installations are currently very popular:
- Agriculture and Farming: Utilising solar panels to power various operations such as grain stores, poultry sheds, irrigation systems, farm machinery, and greenhouse heating can lead to substantial cost savings.
- Manufacturing: Due to high energy demands, manufacturers can significantly reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint by installing solar panels on factory roofs or unused land.
- Retail: Large retail stores and shopping centres with vast roof spaces are ideal candidates for solar energy, helping to reduce electricity costs.
- Warehousing and Distribution: Warehouses and logistics companies can install solar panels on their extensive roof areas to cut down on electricity costs, especially in facilities that operate around the clock.
- Hospitality: Hotels, resorts, and restaurants can use solar energy for heating, lighting, and powering electronic devices, thus enhancing their green credentials while reducing energy expenses for the long term.
- Real Estate and Housing Developments: Incorporating solar panels into new residential and commercial developments can increase property values and appeal to environmentally conscious buyers or tenants.
- Technology and Data Centres: The tech sector, particularly data centres, can benefit from solar panels due to their enormous energy consumption, helping to mitigate operational costs and environmental impact.
- Transport and Logistics: Companies in the transport sector can use solar panels at their depots to power their internal operations, as well as charge electric vehicles at ultra-low cost.
- Entertainment and Leisure: Cinemas, amusement parks, and leisure centres with large electricity demands can install solar panels to power operations, contributing to sustainability goals.
- Food and Beverage Production: Breweries, wineries, and food processing plants can harness solar energy to power production processes, refrigeration, and lighting, reducing energy costs.
Why choose Infinity Energy Services?
Founded in 2011, we have been helping businesses save money and lower their emissions for over a decade. We are a ‘safe pair of hands’ for your solar project:
- Over a decade designing and installing renewable energy systems
- Multi-award-winning solar PV installer
- We offer a turn-key service, from start to finish, plus after-care
- MCS-approved for the installation of solar panels
- Excellent references – ask to speak to previous clients
Renewable Energy Guides
UK businesses are bombarded nowadays with information and promotions about saving money on energy, reducing their carbon footprint, switching energy supplier, and so on. It’s often hard to see the wood for the trees.
We’re writing a dedicated set of guides for businesses to help explain – in simple terms – how all of the renewable energy technologies fit together and what you should do. Here is a selection that are relevant for commercial solar panels:
What other technologies complement solar panels for business?
When you get solar panels, it opens up a world of new opportunities:
Commercial Battery Storage
Unless you are a very high energy user, you probably won’t consume all of the solar electricity you generate. Surplus solar electricity will be exported to the grid.
However, if you install a battery storage system, you can capture a good chunk of that surplus solar electricity. Energy stored in the battery will then automatically discharge, as and when you need it.
We install all the various battery makes and models available in the UK, including the Tesla Powerwall. Tesla gave us a Performance Excellence Award in 2023 for our high installation standards and we are now an officially certified Tesla Premium Installer. See our Commercial Battery Storage page for more details.
EV Charging for business
When you’re generating your own free-of-charge solar electricity – day after day – why not divert some of it to charge your staff’s electric cars or vans?
Electric vehicles largely powered by solar panels represent ultra-low-cost motoring. Your fleet manager will see significant reductions in overall annual fleet costs.
We can install EV chargers at your offices, depots and warehouses. We can also put in chargers at your employees’ homes and recommend clever billing solutions to centralise all charging costs in one place.
Electricity Tariffs
Once you start decarbonising your electricity supply and vehicle fleet, choosing the correct electricity tariff becomes crucial.
An export tariff, for example, will reward you for any solar electricity that goes to the grid. There are also tariffs that allow you to charge your battery storage with cheap, off-peak electricity. And if you go down the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) route to fund your solar panels, then you will have a fixed cost for all of the electricity you use.
Get in touch to find out the kind of tariff that makes most sense for your company.
LED Lighting
You may already have LED lighting installed across all of your business sites. If not, LED lighting can save you a small fortune in energy costs.
They are relatively inexpensive, very robust, and benefit from a fast payback period. If you have solar panels, a lot of your lighting will be powered for free.
See our Commercial LED Lighting page for further details.
Solar Panel Maintenance
Maintaining and servicing commercial solar panel installations is crucial for ensuring optimal performance, maximising energy production, and prolonging the system’s lifespan. Here are some best practices for maintaining and servicing commercial solar panel systems – all services we can provide:
Regular Cleaning
- Dust, pollen, bird droppings, and other debris can accumulate on solar panels, reducing their efficiency. Depending on the location, periodic cleaning, using water and a soft brush or cloth, can help maintain performance.
- In rainier climates, natural rainfall might suffice to keep panels clean. However, in arid or dusty areas, more frequent manual cleaning may be needed.
Routine Inspections
- Conduct regular visual inspections to check for any obvious signs of damage, such as cracks or discoloration on the panels.
- Check mounting structures for signs of corrosion or loosening.
- Inspect wiring and connections for any signs of wear, fraying, or damage.
Monitoring Systems
- All of our commercial installations come with monitoring systems that provide real-time data on the system’s performance. Any sudden drops in energy production can indicate an issue.
- We can set up alerts or notifications for any system anomalies.
Inverter Maintenance
The inverter is a critical component that converts the direct current (DC) produced by the solar panels to alternating current (AC) for use in commercial buildings.
Inverters typically have a shorter lifespan than panels, so it’s important to monitor their performance and be prepared for eventual replacement. We always suggest long product warranties on inverters for peace of mind.
Professional Maintenance
Schedule regular maintenance visits – we can carry this out for you. We perform detailed inspections, including testing electrical connections, measuring system output, and checking the overall health of the system.
Vegetation Management
Ensure that any growing trees or vegetation don’t shade the panels, as shading can significantly reduce energy production.
Regularly trim trees and bushes to prevent shading and keep a clear path for sunlight.
Tightening and Torquing
Over time, the mechanical fastenings of solar panels and mounting systems can become loose due to temperature fluctuations and wind. Periodically check and tighten any loose components – we can do this for you at a routine inspection.
Update Software
If your system uses software for monitoring or inverter operation, we can ensure it’s updated to the latest version to benefit from performance enhancements or bug fixes.
Keep Records
Maintain a log of all maintenance activities, inspections, and any issues or repairs. This can be helpful for warranty claims and for tracking system performance over time.
Review Warranties
Familiarise yourself with the warranties of your solar components. Knowing the terms can help if a component underperforms or fails, but we will help organise any repairs or replacements that may be necessary.
Regular maintenance will not only help in maximising energy output, but also in identifying potential issues before they become major problems, thus saving costs in the long run.
OUR 
REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
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Professional & reliable
Everyone in the company was knowledgable and professional - they clearly know what they are doing! The whole process from start to finish was very smooth with each stage explained in advance and all dates and times were kept to. I would have no hesitation in recommending Infinity Energy Services.
Steve
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Highly recommended
Every member of the team was helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. All questions were answered and quotes updated no matter how many questions were asked. The installation team were clean, neat and professional. Could not have wished for a better company to deal with. Highly recommended.
Adrian Perkins
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Infinity Energy - expert and professional
Infinity Energy were a great company to deal with. They provided regular updates, and discussed delivery of the units prior to installation. Their installers were efficient and expert and installed the units inside of one day. They left the office clean and tidy and took away all the boxes. The system is working very well and the company's specification of what we needed for heating/cooling seems to have been accurate.
Markys Cain
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Totally efficient and pleasant service…
Totally efficient and pleasant service from all involved at Infinity Energy Service from the first phone call of enquiry to completion of the installation. The Electrical Installers Sam & Joe were very professional and carried out their work to what I consider a very high standard.
Guest
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Lovely company to deal with
Infinity Energy were a lovely company to deal with. From the outset, they explained what the process was, what work would be done when - we had to rearrange a few dates, but this was done quickly and efficiently.
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