Vetted Commercial Partner
Butterfly Eco
Commercial solar PV, LED lighting and EV charging specialists. Zero-capital Solar as a Service, direct Capex, and sector-specific delivery for businesses, schools and care homes.
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Enterprise & Industrial Clean Energy
Commercial Solar Panels UK: Is Your Site Ready?
For estate, finance and facilities teams: explore whether rooftop solar suits your buildings before comparing installation and funding proposals. The value depends on when you use electricity, roof condition, grid approval and how long you control the site.
Electricity use
Do your half-hourly loads align with solar output?
Roof and tenure
Will the roof and property rights support the project term?
Grid and funding
What export is allowed, and who will own the system?
Commercial Feasibility Portal
Request a Commercial Solar Feasibility Review
Share your commercial site and energy requirements with Butterfly Eco for review and follow-up.
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Enterprise Compliance
Vetted UK Commercial EPC Installation Network
Our commercial installation partners are rigorously vetted and accredited to the UK's highest technical, electrical, and site-safety standards:
CHAS Elite
SSIP Acclaimed
SafeContractor
SSIP Member
NICEIC Approved
Commercial Contractor
ISO 9001 / 14001
Quality & Environment
Solar Energy UK
Corporate Member
MCS Certified
Microgeneration Standards
Industry insights
Commercial solar, from the people who work in it
Practical perspectives on building suitability, project sizing and comparing installation proposals.
Matt Acraman · 4 min read
Is Your Commercial Building Roof Suitable for Solar Panels? →
Matt Acraman · 6 min read
Commercial Solar Installation Quotes: What Should Your Business Compare? →
Matt Acraman · 4 min read
Solar Panels for Small Businesses: When Does a Smaller System Make Sense? →
Our current contributor, Matt Acraman, leads commercial solar partner Butterfly Eco. Meet the authors →
Start with the decisions
Four questions before a commercial solar installation
Compare the same roof, energy use and grid assumptions across every finance route. Explore the decisions that can change a quote.
How should we pay? CAPEX vs leasing vs PPA →
Compare upfront cash, ownership, maintenance and leaving the building.
Can we connect? G99 and G100 →
Understand inverter capacity, export limits and network approval.
Who carries the risk? On-site PPA guide →
Check metering, price increases, roof rights and termination.
Who claims relief? Solar AIA guide →
Separate the equipment quote from the tax claim and check ownership.
What a site assessment needs to establish
1. Load and bills
Bring half-hourly import data, tariff details and operating hours to estimate on-site use.
2. Roof and permissions
Check structure, roof life, insurer requirements, lease and landlord consent.
3. Grid and design
Specify inverter AC capacity and storage; confirm the DNO route and export limit.
4. Comparable proposals
Review ownership, costs, contract exit and tax advice for each funding structure.
Planning requirements vary by nation and site. In England, Class J has conditions and some roof equipment requires prior approval; a planning determination period is not a DNO approval timetable.
Market Dynamics & Economics
Where commercial solar can help — and when it may not
On-site solar can reduce grid imports when production coincides with demand. Actual bill impact depends on your tariff structure, fixed charges, export rights and generation forecast. A shaded or ageing roof, short lease or constrained connection can change the decision.
£
Lower purchased electricity, if loads align
Model self-consumption from half-hourly demand, including weekends and seasonal downtime. The grid bill will not disappear; test fixed charges and any export curtailment.
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Potential tax relief, subject to eligibility
Eligible buyers may claim AIA within the shared £1m ceiling; solar panels are special-rate assets, not eligible for 100% full expensing. Ask an accountant to review the claim.
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A property decision as well as an energy decision
Confirm roof condition, landlord consent and insurer requirements early. For leased or multi-let sites, allocate roof access, repairs and electricity use in writing.
Sector Specialisations
Commercial Solar Solutions Tailored by Industry
Each commercial vertical operates on distinct electrical baseloads, structural roof membranes, and operational constraints. Explore your sector:
Warehouses & Logistics Hubs
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Manufacturing Plants & Factories
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Farms & Agricultural Buildings
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Cold Storage & Food Processing
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Care Homes & Healthcare Facilities
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Schools, Academies & Multi-Academy Trusts
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Hotels, Resorts & Leisure Centres
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Commercial Landlords & Property Portfolios
Review your site’s roof, electricity use, network connection and tenure before comparing proposals.
Conditional tax illustration
What could an eligible AIA claim change?
Assumes the buyer owns qualifying solar plant, has unused AIA headroom and taxable profits, and pays tax at an illustrative 25% marginal rate. This is not a reduction in the installation invoice or a guaranteed tax saving.
Illustrative qualifying spend
£250,000
Possible AIA deduction
£250,000
Illustrative tax difference
£62,500
Test your own AIA assumptions
Enter only expenditure your adviser considers qualifying. AIA headroom is shared across eligible expenditure for the relevant period; this simple illustration does not calculate your corporation tax return.
Possible AIA deduction £250,000
Deduction matched against current profits £250,000
Illustrative current-period tax difference £62,500
Illustration assumes a constant rate only. Corporation tax bands, marginal relief, losses, group arrangements and timing can change the actual tax difference. A deduction exceeding current taxable profits is not shown as an immediate cash saving. Ask your tax adviser to check the claim and any remaining special-rate relief.
Solar panels normally enter the special-rate category. AIA has a shared £1m ceiling subject to eligibility and accounting period; unused costs may have other relief depending on claimant and asset. Ask your tax adviser to check fixtures, financing and timing.
Check commercial solar capital allowances → Finance decision table
CAPEX vs leasing vs an on-site PPA
Compare contract obligations alongside site-specific generation and half-hourly demand. Leasing and hire purchase can have different outcomes; none of these columns is a tax or savings promise.
| Decision point | Direct CAPEX | Equipment lease / hire purchase | Funded PPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Buyer funds the quote | Deposit and scheduled payments; amount varies | Funder may pay installation; host buys power |
| Asset and control | Buyer owns and controls the array | Title and end-of-term rights depend on agreement | Funder typically owns; host grants roof access |
| Maintenance | Buyer budgets for operation and repair | Allocation depends on contract and service plan | Confirm funder duties, exclusions and response times |
| Accounting and tax | Check AIA headroom and special-rate eligibility | Ownership, fixtures and reporting need advice | No host AIA on funder-owned array; assess lease elements |
| Contract length | No finance term; equipment still needs upkeep | Finance term and residual value as agreed | Energy and roof-rights term as agreed |
| Exit and roof ownership | Check property and tenant consents | Review early settlement and removal rights | Review sale, buy-out, roof works and removal |
Make the numbers comparable
Ask every proposer to use the same half-hourly load, generation and export assumption over the same contract term. Put these separate cash flows on a year-by-year sheet:
- Owned: initial installed cost, avoided import charges, permitted export receipts, operations and replacement costs; assess tax separately.
- Financed or leased: deposit, scheduled payments, interest, service costs, residual/transfer terms and early-exit fees; check who receives generation and export value.
- PPA: metered billable kWh × contracted tariff each year, plus fixed/minimum charges and indexation; check who receives export value.
Do not subtract lease payments from an outright-purchase payback and call the result a lease return. For a first pass, test the PPA offer and test the AIA assumptions separately.
Ask for like-for-like quotes with the same site inputs. Read the full finance comparison →
Grid connection decision path
From AC capacity to connection approval
G100 export limitation is not a substitute for G99 approval. Programme and costs depend on the site and network operator; Northern Ireland uses separate NIE Networks routes.
Solar and battery inverters → site switchgearRecord total AC capacity, existing generation and protection settings for the connection application.
Building load ↔ point of connectionThe building uses some generation; a G100 export limiter, if accepted, monitors power crossing the agreed boundary.
Import/export meter ↔ DNO networkThe DNO agrees the connection and export limit. A limiter constrains export; it does not change inverter AC capacity or waive G99.
- 1
Define the system
List PV and battery inverter AC capacities, phase arrangement, existing generation and half-hourly site demand.
- 2
Choose the route
Confirm G98 or G99 with the network operator; assess a G100 export limit if the proposed export is constrained.
- 3
Submit and assess
Provide the single-line diagram, equipment and protection details. Allow for questions and a site-specific network assessment.
- 4
Review the offer
Check agreed export, any reinforcement, curtailment, charges and conditions before committing to the final design.
- 5
Test and hand over
Commission protection and any export limiter; complete required witness testing and retain the network approval and as-built settings.
Executive Governance
Frequently Asked Questions
Key legal, financial, and technical considerations for corporate clean energy procurement
Is our commercial roof suitable for solar panels?
Start with roof condition, remaining life, structural loading, shading, fire and insurer requirements, access and building ownership. A site assessment is needed before assuming a particular system size or price.
How do we estimate commercial solar savings?
Compare expected half-hourly generation with actual half-hourly electricity use and the import charges it could avoid. Include weekends, maintenance, roof works and any DNO export constraint; generic payback claims are not a site forecast.
Should we buy a system, lease it or use a PPA?
Compare upfront cash, asset ownership, maintenance, indexation, tax eligibility, contract length and early exit using the same site data. The right route depends on your capital budget, roof rights and signed terms.
Do we need a DNO grid-connection application?
The route depends on inverter AC capacity, existing generation, storage topology and local network conditions. Many commercial arrays need G99 approval before installation; a G100 export limiter does not replace that approval. Northern Ireland uses separate NIE Networks routes.
Can a tenant install commercial solar?
Potentially, if the lease, landlord and any lender permit the installation, roof access and removal arrangements. Confirm the remaining tenure and who pays for roof works before choosing ownership or a funded PPA.
Start with a commercial site assessment
Tell us about your building, electricity use and tenure to begin exploring the right questions for a site-specific proposal. Grid approval and financing remain subject to assessment.
Commercial Solar Guides & Tools
Recommended
On-site PPA contract and scenario guide
Check who owns the array, what is metered and how the proposed payments compare with avoidable grid charges.
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Commercial Solar Finance Options: CAPEX vs Leasing vs PPA
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Butterfly Eco Commercial Solar | UK Partner Profile
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Matt Acraman — Commercial Solar Author
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