Commercial Solar Panel Installers Hull

Solar PV panels are made from layers of semiconducting material, usually silicon, which generates electricity when exposed to daylight. PV cells don’t need direct sunlight and still generate on cloudy days, although output increases with the strength of the sun. Each panel is typically rated at 400W or more, and a large commercial system can be made up of hundreds of panels.

Inverters convert the direct current (DC) produced by the panels into alternating current (AC), which feeds straight into your building’s electrical supply. Any electricity you don’t use can be stored in a battery for later or exported to the grid – and you can be paid for exports through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) or an export agreement with your energy supplier.

Once you’ve invested in the initial installation, running costs are low and you’ll benefit from your own solar electricity for the lifespan of your PV panels, which should be 25 years or more. We fit Tier 1 panels backed by a 12-year product warranty and a 25-year performance guarantee. Inverters usually need replacing once during that time, typically after 10 to 15 years.

Every site is different. Your savings depend on the size of your system, which way your panels face, how much of the solar power you use on site and the price you pay for grid electricity. As most businesses are busiest during daylight hours, commercial systems typically use a high proportion of their solar power on site – which is where the biggest savings come from.

As an illustration, a 100kW system on a typical East Yorkshire warehouse roof could generate around 85,000kWh a year. If 80% of that is used on site, replacing grid electricity at around 24p per kWh, and the rest is exported at 5p per kWh, that’s worth roughly £17,000 a year. With an installed cost of around £80,000 (excluding VAT), the system would pay for itself in around five years – before any tax relief – and keep generating for 20 years or more after that.

We’ll give you a detailed generation and savings forecast based on your site and your actual energy use, so you can make your decision with confidence.

In most cases, yes. Solar panels count as plant and machinery, so most businesses can deduct the full cost from their taxable profits in the year of purchase through the Annual Investment Allowance (currently up to £1 million a year). This can significantly reduce the real cost of your system and shorten the payback period. The right approach depends on how your business is set up, so we recommend checking with your accountant.

Many commercial buildings are well suited to solar. We install on pitched roofs and on the profiled metal roofs typical of industrial units and warehouses. South-facing roofs produce the most power overall, but east–west layouts can suit businesses well because they spread generation across the working day. Even if you have a flat roof or one with a shallow angle, we can add an angled mounting system to optimise the amount of power you can generate.

Before we design your system, we survey your site to check the roof’s condition and orientation, any shading and the capacity of your electrical supply, and arrange a structural assessment where needed. If your roof is fragile, nearing the end of its life or may contain asbestos, we’ll tell you upfront and help you plan the right solution. Where you have spare land, a ground-mounted system may also be an option.

Often not. In England, rooftop solar on commercial buildings usually counts as permitted development, so you won’t need a full planning application. Systems over 50kW need ‘prior approval’ from your local council, which looks at the design, appearance and any glare, and councils have 56 days to decide. Listed buildings and ground-mounted systems follow different rules. We’ll check what applies to your site and help with any applications.

Yes. Most commercial solar systems need approval from your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) before they can be connected – in Hull and East Yorkshire, that’s Northern Powergrid. We prepare and submit the G99 application, liaise with the DNO on your behalf and build approval timescales into your project plan. If the local network has limited capacity, we can design your system to work within it, for example by limiting how much power is exported.

It depends on the size of the system and your site. Smaller commercial systems can often be installed in a few days, while larger projects may take a few weeks. We agree a clear programme with you before work starts and plan around your operations – including any short shutdown needed to connect the system – to keep disruption to a minimum. DNO approval must be in place before we can connect, so we start that process early.

Very little, but regular checks will protect your investment. To ensure your system can perform at an optimum level, we recommend an annual inspection and electrical test, plus periodic cleaning – especially on low-pitched roofs, where rain won’t wash the panels as effectively. You can monitor its performance from your phone or computer, so you know it’s functioning properly. We can carry out these inspections and tests for you, so your system stays safe and productive.

With over 20 years’ industry experience, we’re an established electrical and solar PV contractor based in Hull.

Our expert engineers work with businesses throughout Hull, East Yorkshire and the Humber region, and we also quote for and carry out large commercial solar panel installations anywhere in the UK.