Renewable energy generation

The best practice solution is always to generate your own renewable electricity on site.

One of the most common forms of renewable energy is solar Photovoltaic (PV). This is where panels are mounted on a building’s roof supplying electricity for business operations and reducing energy bills.

Solar energy is a sustainable, reliable and cost-effective way to power a building, and is ideal for businesses that want to reduce both their energy costs and carbon emissions as part of their transition to net zero. Many businesses also choose solar power as a way to clearly demonstrate their green credentials.

There are already around two gigawatts worth of rooftop solar systems installed on the roofs of businesses across the UK, with around 250,000 hectares of southfacing rooftop space still available, so there is still plenty of potential for more commercial and industrial rooftop solar systems.

When a business owns a solar panel system, it should (if the grid allows) be able to sell any excess energy back to the grid, creating an income stream and further reducing operating costs.

When combined with a battery, a solar power system is also able to store surplus solar energy, allowing you to use solar energy outside of daylight hours.

On-site solar generation is also a great way to power electric vehicles (EVs) with renewable energy, as they are likely to be parked up (and therefore able to charge) during peak daylight hours. In the future, batteries in EVs may also be able to store and release power into the national electricity system - this is known as ‘vehicle to grid’.

Supporting innovation in battery storage, as well as upgrading the grid for more feed-in supply, will mean that any energy generated outside of business hours can still be used to maximum effect.

Solar batteries allow businesses to store and use solar electricity when needed, rather than only when the panels are supplying it, and operate independently from the National Grid. This means that renewable energy can be used outside of daylight hours, helping you to avoid peak energy costs, as well as giving access to electricity during power shortages.

Solar battery storage is not yet commercially viable in all situations, as battery prices are still falling, and a feasibility study is always recommended at an appropriate level of detail based on the scale of the proposed system before purchase.

Technological innovation is also increasing the sustainability of manufacturing processes, so we hope to see battery storage becoming a more feasible and sustainable option for many businesses in the future.