Solar for manufacturing businesses
Electricity is a production input for a manufacturer, not an overhead. When it moves, margin moves with it. On-site generation is one of the few ways to take part of that cost out of the market's hands.
Why manufacturers look at this first
Most industrial sites have two things that make solar work: a substantial roof or yard area, and a heavy, consistent daytime load. Plant runs during the day. So does a solar array. That overlap is what turns generation into genuine saving rather than exported units.
It is why solar for factories tends to stack up better than for most other commercial buildings. A factory roof is usually large, largely flat and unshaded, and the machinery underneath it draws heavily during exactly the hours the array is producing.
For energy-intensive operations the exposure is not only the unit rate. It is the volatility. Fixing a supply contract buys you one to three years of certainty at whatever the market will offer on the day you sign. A funded solar agreement fixes a portion of your supply for far longer.
What it changes commercially
- Typical reductions of up to 30% on electricity bills, subject to system size against your actual demand.
- A long-term fixed rate on the generated portion, which makes forecasting less of a guess.
- No capital outlay under a funded agreement, so nothing competes with plant investment for the same budget.
- A measurable Scope 2 reduction, which is increasingly asked for by the customers you supply as they work on their own Scope 3 figures.
Roof, ground or car park
Roof is the usual starting point, but it is not the only option. Where roof area is limited, constrained by plant, or not structurally suitable, ground mount on unused land and solar carports over parking are both worth assessing. What matters is total available area with decent orientation and little shading.
Grid connection
On larger arrays the local network can be the limiting factor rather than the roof. A connection application may be needed depending on system size and what your site already draws. This is normal, it is handled by the funding partner as part of the process, and it is one of the things we would flag early rather than late.
Where we work
We arrange industrial and commercial solar PV for manufacturers across England, Scotland and Wales, from single-site engineering firms and independent factories to multi-site groups. Location affects expected annual yield to a degree, since southern sites generate somewhat more than northern ones, but it rarely decides whether a project is viable. Roof area, daytime demand and your current unit rate matter more.
How we work
We are an introducer. We assess the site, model the numbers and handle the commercial side, then introduce you to an accredited funding and installation partner who designs, installs and maintains the system. There is no cost to you for our involvement, at any stage.
Related reading
- Solar for warehouses and distribution centres
- Solar for schools and academies
- Solar for care homes
- What is a solar Power Purchase Agreement?
- Common questions about fully funded commercial solar
The first step
A free desktop assessment. We use your site address and a recent electricity bill to model what your roof could produce and what it could be worth. No site visit, no cost, no obligation.
Common questions
Our roof has plant and services all over it. Is that a problem?
Not necessarily. Usable area is assessed around existing plant, roof lights and access routes. It reduces the achievable array size rather than ruling the site out, and we would tell you what is realistic before anything is committed.
Do we have to stop production during installation?
Rooftop work is generally carried out without interrupting production. Connection works require a short planned shutdown, which is scheduled with you well in advance.
What if we already have solar?
Existing arrays are not a blocker. Additional capacity, battery storage or a review of what your current system is actually delivering can all be looked at separately.