Questions worth asking before you commit.

We give UK SMEs an honest first-pass savings estimate for commercial solar, and we publish plain-English guides on the questions every buyer asks before signing. We don't install panels, sell quotes, or pass details on to installers. We're an independent information site funded by display ads, a single Featured Partner sponsorship, and the affiliate links you might click in our guides.

Generally yes, with caveats. Payback periods on south-facing UK commercial roofs are currently 7–9 years, driven by elevated electricity prices and lower install costs than a decade ago. Panels carry 25-year warranties, so the back half of the lifetime is essentially profit. The case is weakest for short leases, very shaded sites, or businesses with very low daytime consumption.

Most UK SME systems fall between 30 kWp and 150 kWp — roughly 60 to 300 panels, covering 200–800 m² of roof. Smaller offices might install 15–30 kWp; warehouses and agricultural buildings often go to 250 kWp or more if their consumption supports it.

No direct cash grant in 2026, but the full Annual Investment Allowance applies (100% first-year deduction up to £1m). Some local authorities run loan schemes worth checking. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays for electricity you export to the grid — rates vary by supplier and are worth comparing before you sign an export contract.

For most commercial roof-mount installations, no — they fall under permitted development. Listed buildings, conservation areas, and ground-mount arrays may require permission. Your installer will check before quoting.

From an installer directly. Use the MCS Certified directory (mcscertified.com) to find accredited installers in your area, or use one of the comparison platforms — we link to specific ones in the relevant guides. We deliberately don't run a comparison service ourselves because that's a different business with different incentives.

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