Commercial Solar Panel Installation

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 a number of benefits to installing solar panels for business, including:

  • Significant, immediate reduction in your electricity bills
  • Fast system payback – 4-5 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
Solar Panels for business
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:

Initial Discussion

Initial Discussion

The first step is to discuss your particular situation and consider which buildings and land might be appropriate for solar panels.

This step can be carried out either on the phone or at your offices.

Energy Audit

We then look in detail at how much energy you consume, when you use it, how much it’s costing you, etc.

We ask for your recent energy bills and, if available, your half-hourly electricity profile.

Commercial Energy Audit
Commercial Solar Site Survey

Site Survey

Next, we carry out a site survey to analyse your roofs (dimensions, tilt, orientation), inspect roof coverings and internal structures, and assess your incoming electricity supply and distribution boards.

System Design & Proposal

Once we’ve gathered all of the preliminary data, we recreate your buildings in our solar CAD software, PV*SOL, and design a bespoke solar panel system.

We then package everything up into a comprehensive proposal.

System Design and Proposal
DNO Application for Solar Panels

DNO & Planning Applications

If you decide to go ahead, the next step is to apply to the local grid operator, the DNO, for advanced permission to connect your solar panel system to the grid and apply for planning permission, if required.

Pre-installation Preparation

Before we install, in close discussion with relevant people at your company, we finalise health and safety procedures, risk and method statements, any scaffolding and access required, and so on.

Pre-installation Preparation
Commercial Solar Panel System Installation

System Installation

Once all the permissions have been achieved, we install the system on the agreed dates.

Generally, there will be two engineer teams on site: electricians and roofing/ground-mount technicians.

Training & Handover Pack

When the system has been commissioned, we train relevant staff in emergency shut down procedures, how to check the solar generation meter, app functionality, and provide a comprehensive handover pack.

Training and Handover Pack
Solar Monitoring and After Care

Monitoring & After Care

Your solar panels will be linked up to an online monitoring portal, allowing both you and us to monitor solar generation and identify any issues that might arise.

We are always available for any kind of after care needs.

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
PPA
Power Purchase Agreement – 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. Just let us know what you prefer and we can send you representative payment examples.

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:

  • 13 years’ experience designing and installing renewable energy systems
  • Multi-award-winning solar PV installer
  • We employ all our own engineers – no sub-contractors
  • 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
Solar PV Infinity Energy Services

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:

Renewable Energy Guides

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. See our Commercial Battery Storage page for more details.

Solar Battery Storage
EV Chargers

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 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.

Electricity Tariffs
Commercial LED Lighting

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:

Solar PV Cleaning

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.
Solar PV Maintenance

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.
Air Conditioning Design

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.

Solar Converters
Solar PV

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.

Warranties Infinity Energy Services

Call 0800 909 8882

for more information, or contact us online

OUR    REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

VIEW OUR CASE STUDIES AND SEE WHY OUR SYSTEMS ARE THE REAL DEAL

SOLAR PV system for Novatech, Portsmouth

£52,297 electricity bill saving per year

Installation of a Solar PV system helps bring huge energy bill savings and an incredible return of investment.

Solar Panels

Solar PV installed

404.3 kWp
Energy Bill saving

Profit after 20 years

£1,101,356
Energy Bill saving

Energy bill saving per annum

£52,297
Payback period

Payback period

4.0 years

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SERVICE THAT’S FULLY SUPPORTED, ACCREDITED AND GUARANTEED