Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers to common questions about factory solar installations
How much can solar save my factory?
Typical UK factories save 40-70% on electricity costs with solar. A 500kW system generating 450,000kWh annually saves £60,000-90,000 per year at current industrial rates. Exact savings depend on energy consumption patterns, roof space, and self-consumption rates. 24/7 operations see 40-50% savings, while day-shift manufacturers achieve 60-70% reductions.
What's the typical ROI for factory solar?
Average ROI is 3-5 years for UK factory solar installations. Enhanced Capital Allowances providing 100% first-year tax relief reduce effective payback to 2.5-4 years. Factors affecting ROI include system size (larger systems have better economics), energy consumption patterns, and available roof space. Energy-intensive manufacturers with day-shift operations see fastest returns.
Will installation disrupt production?
Zero production disruption guaranteed. Factory solar installations are completed entirely on rooftops with no impact on manufacturing operations below. We schedule work during shutdown periods, weekends, or planned maintenance windows. Electrical connections are made outside production hours. Typical 500kW system installation takes 2-5 days with no factory downtime required.
What size system does my factory need?
System size depends on three factors: available roof space (typically 6-8m² per kW), annual energy consumption, and peak demand. A factory using 1,000,000kWh annually benefits from a 400-600kW system. We conduct free energy assessments analyzing half-hourly consumption data, roof surveys, and load profiles to recommend optimal system sizing for maximum ROI.
Are there grants for factory solar?
Yes. Enhanced Capital Allowances provide 100% first-year tax deduction on solar investments, reducing effective cost by 19-25% for profitable companies. Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) offers grants up to £30 million for decarbonization projects. Local Enterprise Partnerships and regional growth funds provide additional manufacturing energy efficiency grants. We handle all grant applications and ECA claims.
How does battery storage work for 24/7 operations?
Battery storage extends solar utilization beyond daylight hours, crucial for 24/7 manufacturers. Systems sized at 0.5-2MWh capture excess daytime generation for evening shift usage, increasing self-consumption from 40% to 65-75%. Batteries also provide demand charge reduction, grid outage protection, and future revenue opportunities through grid services. Typical payback is 7-10 years with 25-year lifespan.
What's the maintenance requirement?
Factory solar requires minimal maintenance. Annual inspections check panel cleanliness, electrical connections, and inverter performance (£500-1,500/year for 500kW systems). Panels are self-cleaning in UK weather. We provide real-time monitoring detecting performance issues immediately. Inverters have 10-15 year warranties with replacement cost factored into ROI calculations. Total maintenance costs are 1-2% of system value annually.
Can solar power our heavy machinery?
Yes. Solar powers all factory equipment including heavy machinery, welding equipment, CNC machines, injection molding, and process heating. Systems are grid-connected providing stable power supply with solar offsetting consumption during daylight hours. For equipment requiring high instantaneous loads, inverters are sized appropriately. Integration with existing electrical systems is seamless with no equipment modifications needed.
How long does installation take?
Timeline: Energy assessment and design (2-3 weeks), DNO application and planning (4-8 weeks for G99/G100), installation (2-5 days for typical 500kW system), commissioning and testing (1 day). Total project duration is 8-14 weeks from contract to energization. Large systems over 1MW may require 12-16 weeks. All work scheduled around production requirements with zero manufacturing disruption.
What happens during grid outages?
Standard grid-connected solar systems shut down during outages for safety (anti-islanding protection). However, systems with battery storage and backup functionality can provide power during outages, crucial for cold chain, clean rooms, and continuous processes. We design backup systems protecting critical loads during grid failures. Alternatively, solar can include manual or automatic transfer switches maintaining essential operations.
