Commercial Blog

No UK hotel of ordinary density runs on solar power alone, and the reason is storeys rather than sunshine. Roof area per bedroom is the binding constraint: a two-storey country house hotel has twice the roof per bedroom of a four-storey city hotel, so it can cover roughly twice as much of its electricity. Realistic figures run from about a tenth of annual electricity on a tall urban building to about half on a low, sprawling site.

Across Spirit Energy's 23-site rollout for B&M Care Homes, internal rate of return ranges from 19 to 30 percent, and payback periods run from three to six years. That spread is not a sign of inconsistent work. It is what happens when the same design team and the same installation standard are applied to buildings that each have a different roof, a different daytime load, and a different grid connection.

A commercial solar array does not stop generating after 25 years. The average panel degrades by around 0.5% each year, so a system installed on day one is typically still producing roughly 87% of its original output twenty five years later. The real planning question for a Finance Director or Operations Manager is not whether the array survives that long.  It is what happens to those panels, and what the business is required to do, once they are retired.

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) currently require commercial properties in England and Wales to hold an EPC rating of E or higher to be let on a new or existing tenancy. That has been the law since 1 April 2023. Properties below E are unlettable unless a valid exemption is registered.

TL;DR
Care homes have one of the most consistent and unavoidable energy profiles of any building in the UK. Heating runs all day. Lighting runs all night. Medical equipment does not pause. Staff are on site around the clock. There is no quiet period where you can simply switch things off and wait for cheaper rates.

TL;DR
The UK Government has announced up to £1 billion of investment into community and local energy projects under its “Local Power Plan”, delivered via Great British Energy. The stated aim is to help communities and local authorities own and benefit from clean power projects, with funding expected to be delivered through grants and loans, and further scheme detail due later. (GOV.UK)

Solar Skin for Commercial Projects: Branding, Planning and Aesthetics in One Solution

Solar technology has long been valued for its ability to reduce operational costs and support sustainability targets. But as more businesses seek to integrate solar without compromising visual impact or site design, aesthetics are becoming an increasingly important consideration. That’s where Solar Skin comes in.

With rising energy costs and growing environmental pressure, UK farmers need practical solutions to cut expenses and meet sustainability goals. The government’s Improving Farm Productivity Grant, administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), offers a direct route for farmers to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and improve their bottom line.

Solar panels are a long term investment and it's prudent to keep the system in good working order. Like a car needs an MOT, or a boiler an annual service, a much larger investment the size of a solar array is definitely worth checking periodically to ensure everything is ticking over. There are several reasons for doing this, read on for why you should get your panels serviced and cleaned regularly.

In these uncertain times, there’s a renewed focus on jettisoning expensive fossil fuels and strengthening the UK’s energy independence. By investing in the right technology, companies can support this trend and reduce their energy bills.

Low Carbon Workspaces wants to aid businesses in this transition and is offering grants of up to £5,000 to invest in carbon-saving upgrades. This could be a grant for solar panels, battery storage, insulation or lighting.

Grants are available for SMEs based in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, ranging from £1,000 - £5,000 to cover up to a third of the cost of energy improvements. The scheme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.