Most commercial premises, particularly Industrial or manufacturing facilities tend to have large energy bills and large areas of roof space. Solar lends itself perfectly to this scenario.

Commercial energy costs

Utilities can be a big expense for businesses with ever changing energy tariffs. Day rates, night rates, on and off-peak tariffs and tying into long term contracts to ensure energy security. By installing commercial solar, you take control of your energy bills by generating your own power.

Reduce costs = Increase profit.

Energy usage

Whilst installation of commercial solar will provide you with a free energy source, it’s also good practice to assess how you’re currently using your power. If energy savings can be made, its less to generate/purchase from the grid.

There’s lots of small changes that make big differences such as switching to LED lighting, installing motion sensor lights and encouraging the workforce to be more environmentally conscious.

Installing commercial solar panels

The process of installing panels onto your business has 4 stages:

1 Survey & Design

An assessment of your property will establish the most suitable installation for the business’ requirements. This will assess current energy usage, available installation space and other factors surrounding solar installation.

2 Consent & Notification

Once the initial design is complete, permission is sought from the relevant parties such as planning, grid connection and where relevant, landlords.

3 Installation

Solar Installation comprises two parts, mechanical and electrical. First is the installation of the mounting frame and solar panels onto the roof. The latter being the connection to the properties electrical supply.

4 Monitoring & Maintenance

Following installation, the system can be monitored remotely to check the performance of the solar array and re-set any potential errors. Whilst solar is a virtually maintenance free technology, periodic inspection is recommended to ensure the system is operating at peak performance.

Additional benefits of commercial solar

In addition to the above, there are other benefits to be considered when installing solar PV.

• Super-deduction and special rate first year capital allowances could offer a tax benefit on your solar installation. Your accountant will be able to advise on the ins and outs of this as the rates are business specific.
• In showing that you are taking strides towards reducing our business’s carbon emissions, you are effectively making your product greener. Green credentials are a great way to give your business an edge on your competitors.
• Last but not least, peace of mind. By installing commercial solar, you can be rest assured that you are providing your business with a clean, green future 💚

Solar PV is a great addition to any home or business. By installing solar, you are harvesting the power of the sun and producing your own green electricity. Solar installation will not only reduce your carbon footprint but also reduce your energy costs.

We’ve put together a quick guide of the solar installation process from start to finish to provide you with everything you need to know.
Design
During the design stage, your property is assessed to check suitability and establish an appropriate array size. This process includes assessment of your property, power consumption, electricity supply and budget. From a desk-based assessment, we can establish how many panels can be installed, provide an estimate of the yield and an indicative cost for installation.

When assessing a property, some of the main things we will consider are roof orientation and slope, roof type, shading and electrical connection. These are all factors that will impact the installation and ultimately the predicted yield.

Grid Connection

Where a system exceeds 3.68kW single phase or 11.04kW three phase, a G99 application must be made to the distribution network operator (DNO) to gain permission to connect. The DNO will assess your current connection and the wider network to establish if any re-enforcement works would be required to allow the solar connection.

Planning Permission

Whilst most roof mounted systems fall under permitted development, you should always check with your local planning authority if a planning application is required. Where planning isn’t required, you may wish to obtain a permitted development certificate. For ground mount solar over 9m2, planning permission will be required. More information about solar planning permission can be found on the planning portal.

Solar Installation Process

Once all design and consents are completed, the solar installation process can begin:

Access – Suitable scaffolding and netting (where required) is installed, checked and ticketed prior to installation.

Mounting – The relevant mounting system is installed to the manufactures specification.

Panels – Once the mounting frame is complete, panels are secured using solar clamps. The panels are connected into strings on the reverse of the panels as they’re installed.

Electrical – Inverters are installed and cable strings from the panels connected.

Commission & Testing – Once all hardware is installed, the system is tested and commissioned to ensure it is working correctly.

Certification – An electrical certificate is produced along with an MCS Certificate (<50kW). The DNO is then post-notified of the installation and registered as a Small Scale Embedded Generator (SSEG).

Selling your power

Once the system is operational, excess power may be eligible for smart export guarantee (SEG) payments. The array can be registered with your energy provider or the highest bidding competitor. To register, all commissioning documents and certification will be required. These payments are often made monthly and so provide you with a revenue from your installation.

If storage is installed on site, you may be able to register for a smart tariff meaning you can sell power back to the grid during peak demand and charge your battery when rates are lower.

Monitoring

Following installation, the solar array can be monitored remotely through the inverter. These online platforms vary by manufacturer however will all provide live-data on the performance of the system.

Aftercare

Solar PV requires minimal maintenance following installation however periodic inspections are recommended. Considerations should be made for any future building works and pruning of any large foliage that may cause shading upon the roof.

Where the array is located in a particularly dusty area or close to trees, they should also be cleaned regularly to ensure they continue to generate at peak performance.

Conclusion

Solar has numerous benefits from the obvious saving on your electricity bill through to the green credentials you can boast to your friends and clients about. We understand that solar is an investment and that it’s important to know the full details before taking the leap.

A well designed, planned and installed system will provide you with a revenue stream for your home or business for years to come.

Our team are on hand to help you through this, step by step. Contact Us | Contractors | Thompsons Limited Blackpool

Thompsons Contracts are proud to support Brian House Children’s hospice.

This inspirational charity provides care and support for local children with complex needs and life-limiting conditions. They have an amazing facility here in Blackpool as well as an outreach team working in the community.

Earlier this year, our team donned their trainers and ran the Blackpool Beaverbrooks 10K, raising over £3,400.

More recently, we were excited and extremely proud to sponsor Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool 2024.

The parade started on the 13^th April this year and ran for 8 week with over 70 Elmer sculptures being installed throughout Blackpool. Visitors were able to download an app to help them find all the herd and track which ones they’d seen.

Marking the end of the parade, a farewell event was held in Blackpool Tower where all the herd gathered for people to come and say their farewells. Following this, all the Elmer sculptures were auctioned and whisked off to their new forever homes.

Whilst the final amount raised hasn’t yet been released, the auction alone raised a whopping £143,550 for this amazing charity! We’re extremely proud to have been part of this event and support this local project.