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On our calculation, a 4 kWp system without a battery is worth around £523 to £603 a year on a south-facing roof and £435 to £495 on an east-facing roof, if you buy your electricity from the supplier that pays you 12p per kWh for exports. At an export rate open to anyone (about 4p), a south-facing roof is worth around £299 to £333. That's bill savings plus Smart Export Guarantee payments, for a household using 2,500 kWh a year at the October to December 2026 price cap.
See how we calculated
Through us you get quotes from several installers, so you can choose the one that suits you best.
Answers to the most common questions.
Not always, but more often than domestic systems. Permitted development rights cover some rooftop commercial arrays, but ground-mounted systems, listed buildings and sites in conservation areas usually require a formal planning application. Check with your local planning authority early. The answer affects both your timeline and your installed cost.
For a well-sited domestic system on a south-facing roof, our calculation puts payback at about 11 to 16 years if you also buy your electricity from the supplier that pays 12p per kWh for exports, and about 20 to 28 years at an open export rate of about 4p; east-facing or shaded roofs take longer. Commercial sites with high daytime consumption and low export can see faster payback, because more generated power displaces expensive grid electricity directly. Any quote you receive should show the assumptions behind its payback figure, including system size, usage profile and the tariff rates used.
Once your system is MCS-certified and live, you can apply to a licensed supplier for a Smart Export Guarantee tariff on surplus power you export. Suppliers with at least 150,000 domestic customers are required to offer one. Rates are set by the supplier and must be above zero, but they vary widely. Comparing tariffs before committing to a supplier can meaningfully affect your long-term return, so ask each installer which SEG suppliers they recommend.
The zero-rate VAT position that applies to residential solar does not extend to ordinary commercial buildings; it covers residential accommodation (including blocks of flats, care homes, student accommodation and self-catering holiday lets) and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose. The 0% zero-rated VAT on installing energy-saving materials runs to 31 March 2027 for qualifying installations. Eligibility depends on the nature of the building and its end use. Confirm the VAT treatment that applies to your specific project with your installer and, if needed, your accountant.
Ask for current MCS certification and evidence of comparable commercial projects completed. On warranties, keep three things separate: the panel product warranty (length varies by manufacturer, so check the term on each quote), the inverter warranty (typically 5 to 15 years), and the installer's own workmanship guarantee. All three should be confirmed in writing before you sign any contract.
For commercial solar panels, where capital outlay, roof complexity and grid-connection requirements are greater than a domestic install, collecting at least three detailed proposals gives you a much clearer picture of what a fair price and a thorough scope of work look like. Fill out one form and relevant, MCS-certified installers will get in touch with personal quotes for your site. There is no fee and no obligation to proceed.
Many businesses request a single quote and sign on the spot, missing real differences in system sizing, panel warranties and long-term yield. Commercial solar panels are a significant capital decision, and the proposal you accept will shape your energy costs for decades.
This page helps you understand what drives price and payback, what to check in a quote, and how to request offers from several vetted, MCS-certified installers who contact you directly with proposals tailored to your building and consumption.
Below is a comparison of what each type is like.
Panels sit on a flat commercial roof inside weighted frames. No fixings pierce the roof, so the membrane stays intact and install crews can work fast across large areas.
Panels clamp onto rails fixed to a sloped roof. The natural pitch and compass bearing can line up close to solar south, which lifts annual yield. The roof's angle does much of the orientation work for you.
A steel frame sits on open land next to the building. The installer sets the exact tilt and bearing, free from any roof constraint. Access for cleaning and checks is straightforward.
Panels form the roof of a canopy over a car park. The structure generates power while giving shade and weather cover to vehicles below. It puts land that is already paved to dual use.
Fill out one short form and several vetted, MCS-certified installers will contact you directly with proposals matched to your site, your roof and your consumption. Each offer is based on your specific details, so you can weigh up system size, cost and warranty terms on real numbers rather than headline claims.
The service is free to use and carries no obligation. Compare the offers you receive, ask the questions that matter, and choose the installer whose proposal fits your business. Request your quotes today.
Commercial arrays span a wide range of kWp ratings. Cost rises broadly in line with panel count, but larger systems often achieve a lower cost per kWp because fixed design and labour costs are spread across more panels. Size the system to your actual consumption, not the largest roof space available.
A clear, unobstructed flat roof with good access costs less to install than a multi-pitched roof requiring specialist scaffolding or structural reinforcement. Ground-mounted and carport systems add civil engineering costs. The survey stage is where these extras surface, factor them in before comparing headline quotes.
String inverters are lower cost; microinverters or optimisers add per-panel electronics that improve performance under partial shading but raise the installed price. Battery storage adds further capital cost. Our solar and battery page explains when storage makes financial sense for a site.
Commercial systems above certain thresholds require a G99 application to your Distribution Network Operator. Connection costs vary by location and grid capacity, and approval can add several weeks to the project timeline. A thorough quote will include a DNO assessment, not treat it as a post-contract surprise.
Item | Value |
|---|---|
Typical payback period | about 11–16 years south-facing and 13–19 east-facing if you buy your electricity from the supplier paying 12p for exports; about 20–28 years south-facing at an open rate of about 4p (our calculation) |
Typical panel/product warranty | panels: terms vary by manufacturer; inverters: at least 5 years, often extendable (Energy Saving Trust) |
VAT on residential solar installation | 0% (zero-rated to 31 Mar 2027) |
Typical installed system cost (domestic) | £7,600 approx. for a typical 4.5 kWp home system (Energy Saving Trust, 2026) |
Annual benefit incl. Smart Export Guarantee | £523–£603 a year south-facing and £435–£495 east-facing if you buy your electricity from the supplier paying 12p for exports; £299–£333 south-facing at an open rate of about 4p (our calculation, 4 kWp, no battery) |
Facts verified as of 2026-10-02.
Our calculation for a 4 kWp home system without a battery in London (£ a year); a domestic benchmark, indicative only for commercial sites
| South-facing, 12p export | 589 |
|---|---|
| East-facing, 12p export | 491 |
| South-facing, 4.05p export | 325 |
The 12p export rate is the median that suppliers pay their own electricity customers, so it needs you to buy your electricity from the same supplier; 4.05p is the median rate open to anyone. A commercial system differs in size and daytime use, so ask each installer for a site-specific estimate.
Our calculation (How we calculate)
Once you have chosen your installer and agreed terms, the process moves through several defined stages. The installer submits any required planning application first (this applies to listed buildings, conservation areas and some ground-mounted systems), and the wait varies by local authority.
With permissions in place, the installer orders equipment and books the installation date. On-site work for a typical commercial rooftop system takes between one and several days depending on array size and roof access. After installation the installer registers the system under MCS, which is a condition for accessing Smart Export Guarantee payments.
The final step is grid connection: your Distribution Network Operator tests and approves the export connection before the system can export power. Once that sign-off arrives, the system goes live and you can apply to a licensed electricity supplier for an SEG tariff.
Prices and rates reviewed 2 October 2026
