As part of our partnership with edie, we've published a new guide to onsite solar for business.
What is onsite solar? How does it work? What type of business is onsite solar most suitable for? What are the costs and benefits of onsite solar? Our free guide provides answers to these key questions and more.
Writing for the new report, Graham Phillips, Head of Solar Sales for Centrica Business Solutions, explains how onsite solar can help your organisation relieve the impact of the energy cost crisis and deliver on your net zero goals. You can read his viewpoint below:
Rocketing energy prices and lower technology costs mean that investment in onsite solar is delivering faster payback than ever before.
Now is an ideal time to benefit from long-term cost savings and advance your net zero goals by generating 100% renewable power.
Lately, we've seen the return on investment for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects increase by a third. For one client we were predicting annual energy savings of £43,000 six months ago, but this has risen to £78,000 today. Of course, the bigger your onsite solar array – the higher the potential savings.
Typically, you'll achieve payback within 5-8 years, but this has the potential to improve should the cost of energy continue to provide uncertainty. Considering that solar PV systems have a 25+ year lifespan and are easy to maintain and operate, you can lock in to long-term energy cost savings and future-proof your sustainable energy needs, while protecting your business from continued market volatility.
You can make use of unused space on rooftops or spare land to site your solar panels. This can also supply additional future renewable power needs, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electric heat pumps in place of gas heating systems.
If budgets are tight, there's potential to access zero CAPEX funding options. Our single solar finance contract covers the complete costs of installing, operating and maintaining your solar asset on a performance-based cost model. Once a project is operational, you repay the investment via your realised energy savings. Power Purchase agreements may also be available.
We're installing 4,248 solar panels at the British Army's Defence School of Transport, which is the first of four pilot projects. Across all four sites, annual savings of £1 million and 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent are predicted.
As part of a £4.7 million energy upgrade at Hereford County Hospital, we're installing more than 300 rooftop solar panels, while we've also worked with partners to design and construct a cost-effective, large-scale solar PV system for The London Borough of Southwark.
Among many water companies that are using solar power to reach net zero, we're working with Affinity Water to generate nearly 1MWp of renewable energy by installing solar panels at its Chertsey production site.
Linking solar with battery storage systems can deliver even greater cost and carbon reduction by maximising solar utilisation and optimising energy use via peak power avoidance and Demand Side Response strategies, which can unlock flexibility revenues.
Solar battery storage also provides an uninterrupted clean power supply that can create carbon free back-up power to ensure resilience in the event of grid supply disruption.
Onsite solar installations can deliver immediate cost and carbon advantage, while achieving greater security over supply and energy prices. You can also get ahead of tighter environmental regulations and higher carbon taxes, while future-proofing your organisation to capitalise on the benefits of the electrification of transport and heating.
Sign up to receive regular updates on:
By submitting your details you agree to process your personal data by Centrica Business Solutions as described on the Privacy Policy. Centrica Business Solutions will send you a regular newsletter and other marketing material we believe is relevant. You will be able to opt out of communications from us at any time.
