Solar › Commercial
COMMERCIAL solar panels for shops, cafés and offices in South Devon
Solar for shops, cafés, launderettes and offices.
Get a quoteSolar for your business
What it is
We design and install solar panels, and battery storage where it suits, for shops, cafés, launderettes, offices and other business premises across South Devon, on pitched or flat roofs, planned around your opening hours.
Most businesses use the bulk of their electricity during the day, exactly when solar generates, so more of what you make is used on site straight away. That can significantly reduce your electricity costs, depending on your usage and tariff. See where the savings come from below.
From Ivybridge we fit solar for shops, cafés, offices and other businesses across Plymouth, the South Hams and South Devon.
Who it suits
- Shops and showrooms
- Launderettes and dry cleaners
- Cafés, restaurants and takeaways
- Offices and surgeries
- Holiday-let and hospitality businesses
- Any business with a suitable roof and daytime demand
Why it’s worth it
The benefits
Installed around your hours
Planned to keep disruption to your business to a minimum.
Daytime demand meets daytime generation
Your busiest hours line up with the hours your panels produce the most.
Reduced daytime import
Use your own electricity first and buy less from the grid at daytime rates.
The price you agree is the price you pay
You get a clear, itemised estimate, usually within 5 working days of the survey, and the price you agree is the price you pay.
Insurance-backed warranty
Our renewable installs come with a QANW (Quality Assured National Warranty) insurance-backed warranty.
Savings
Where the savings come from
The more of your generation you use during opening hours, the more you can save. Here’s where it typically goes.
We have seen return on investment, or payback, as low as two years for companies that were spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on energy. Every site is different, so we’ll work out the figures for yours.
Why business paybacks are so good
- Big roofs give us room to size the array to make the most of the sun.
- Scaffolding goes up once and the survey is done once. A home might take 10 or 20 panels; a commercial roof can take 100, 200 or even 500, so those fixed costs are spread across far more panels.
- With a ground mount, there’s no scaffolding and no roof survey at all.
Opening hours that match generation
Panels generate from morning to evening and peak around the middle of the day. Shops, cafés, offices and launderettes are open through those same hours, so your solar can power the business while it’s busy instead of being exported.
Washers and dryers
Electric washers and dryers in launderettes, salons, gyms and holiday-let laundries draw a lot of power, often for hours at a time. Running them in the day on your own solar means less of that load is bought from the grid.
Lighting
Lighting in shops, offices and cafés is on for most of the working day. Solar can cover a large part of that daytime demand, and a battery can help with lighting into the evening.
Chillers, fridges and freezers
Display chillers, fridges and freezers run all day and all night. Because they never really switch off, they soak up solar whenever it’s generating, and a battery can carry some of that load into the evening.
Coffee machines, ovens and kitchen equipment
Café and restaurant kitchens draw heavy loads through service. Daytime cooking, hot water and coffee machines can use your solar as it’s generated.
Reducing what you import in the day
Daytime is when many businesses pay the most for electricity. Every unit your panels supply during the day is one less unit imported, and any surplus can be exported or stored in a battery for later, depending on your system and connection.
Pricing
Request a site survey
No two commercial sites are alike. Roof size and type, supply capacity, three-phase power and how you use energy all shape the right system. One of our experienced engineers will review your energy bills, assess the site and give you a fully costed proposal with expected payback.
Quotes are always free.
What’s included
What a typical business install includes
Survey and usage review
Your roof, structure, supply and, ideally, your electricity bills or half-hourly data, so the system is sized to what you actually use.
Design and DNO approval
A system design plus the network operator application, which larger systems need before install.
Install around your hours
Panels, inverters and any battery fitted with minimal disruption, planned around your opening times where we can.
Handover
Commissioning, monitoring set up so you can see your generation, plus certificates and paperwork.
How it works
Four simple steps
- 1
Enquiry
Tell us about your property and what you’re after, online or on the phone.
- 2
Survey
We look at your roof or land, your usage and your supply, then send a clear estimate, usually within 5 working days.
- 3
Install
Our own team fits everything tidily: dust sheets down, clean as we go.
- 4
Handover & aftercare
We commission the system, show you the app and hand over your certificates and MCS paperwork, then call about a week later to check you’re happy.
Grid connections
Grid connections and paperwork, all handled
We have a strong working relationship with National Grid in the South West. We work with them to confirm how much your site can export and what size of solar, battery and inverter is approved for your property, whether that’s a home, business, industrial unit or farm. Every installation follows MCS, NICEIC and BS 7671 regulations. We handle the full process for you: National Grid applications, MCS registration, NICEIC certification, and your certificates and warranty documents at handover.
The technical bit: smaller systems are usually notified to the network operator after install (G98). Larger systems, which includes most commercial, industrial and farm systems, need approval before install (G99), and the network operator can set an export limit.
Rules & regulations
In plain English
A simple overview to help you plan. We check the details for your property at survey.
Planning permission
Many roof-mounted systems on commercial and agricultural buildings are permitted development, but there are conditions, and ground mounts, listed buildings and some conservation areas can need an application. We’ll flag anything to check with your council.
Roof structure
Panels, rails and any ballast add load to a roof. We check the structure and covering at survey and, where needed, recommend a structural engineer’s assessment before anything goes up.
FAQs
Common questions
Will solar cut my business’s electricity bills?
Yes, it can. How much depends on your opening hours, how much electricity you use and when, your tariff and the system we design. We’ll talk you through realistic figures at the survey.
Can commercial solar pay back quickly?
Yes, it can. We have seen return on investment, or payback, as low as two years for companies that were spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on energy. Every site is different, so we’ll work out the figures for yours.
Can solar go on a rented or leased unit?
Yes, often it can, with your landlord’s permission! We’re happy to supply the information your landlord needs to agree to the install.
Can you install without closing the business?
Yes, we plan around you! Most of the work happens on the roof, and we agree timings for any shutdowns, such as connecting the inverter, so disruption is kept to a minimum.
Is a battery worth it for a business?
Yes, it can be if you trade into the evening or have loads that run overnight! If most of your use is in the day, panels alone may do most of the work, and we’ll tell you honestly which suits.
Do you install flat roof systems?
Yes, we do! Many commercial buildings have flat roofs, and panels on angled frames can turn them into a generating asset. See flat roof solar.
Building new, or planning a bigger project? We can plan solar and battery storage in from the drawings stage, and manage larger commercial, industrial and farm projects from start to finish.
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“Ash and crew are professional, meticulous and responsive while providing a warm family feel, their service leaves one certain they've selected the best team for the job!” – Troy Thomas
Let’s look at your premises
A few quick questions and we’ll get back to you. No obligation.
Get a quote Call 01752 200496