Renewable energy has seen an incredible rise in popularity over the past decade. 90% of the world’s countries are now signed up to the Paris Agreement – a global agreement to combat climate change, by intensifying the efforts and actions needed for a low-carbon future. This has caused a huge increase in policies aimed at reducing emissions and dependency on imported energy. This includes government subsidies for business owners who promote and use renewable energy.
Commercial solar panels for businesses are a fantastic option, granting businesses the chance to access favourable incentives when producing their own energy. In many cases, businesses can even sell back excess energy to their supplier. One of the quickest and easiest options to access these incentives is investing in solar for business.
What are the benefits of solar for businesses?
Commercial solar panel electricity offers a range of benefits for businesses. One major benefit is improved reputation. Now the environment is such a huge concern, that the demand for green services has seen an exponential rise. Customers are incredibly aware of how they impact the world’s eco-system and are increasingly looking to businesses with an environmental conscience.
By going green, you are able to:
- Attract customers away from your non-green competitors.
- Create positive PR opportunities.
- Add an attractive, environmental focus to your marketing campaigns.
What are the environmental benefits of commercial solar power?
Environmental impact is one of the biggest concerns for any business owner considering going green. Choosing solar panels for your business premises is one of the most simple and cost-effective ways to reduce the damage you do to the environment. First and foremost, it allows you to reduce your carbon footprint. By producing your own electricity, you reduce the need for business energy created via non-sustainable methods. But it’s worth considering the wider picture too. By choosing commercial solar power, you also:
- Promote commercial solar PV to other businesses.
- Reduce your area’s dependence on imported energy and finite resources.
- Prepare for the future, ensuring growth and economic wellbeing.
Does commercial solar energy offer any financial benefits?
For any business, energy bills have a real impact on overall earnings. This is even more true for those of a smaller nature, dealing with lesser margins of profit and income. So, any way to reduce your overall bills is worth considering.
Solar PV energy for business is one of the best ways to cut costs. Sure, there’s an initial outlay which may look expensive. However, the mid-to-long-term benefits more than outweigh any commercial solar panel cost.
By producing your own business electricity, you’ll see reductions in your electricity bill almost instantly. The average cost of producing commercial solar PV energy is 5p per kWh. Currently, businesses pay between 11p and 15p for the same amount of energy from their suppliers. So, even at current prices, investing in commercial solar panels is worthwhile. Add in the fact that energy bills are set to double in the next ten years, and you can see how solar panels could save your business from increased fees for energy.
Your first concern with commercial solar PV will likely be seeing a return on your investment. But it’s worth looking further down the line. Once you have recovered the initial cost, all your savings can then be redirected to other areas of your business, helping you to grow and expand.
By taking control of your energy usage, you’ll likely also start to look at ways to improve your energy efficiency – cutting costs even further. This can be achieved in a number of ways, from installing extra insulation to using energy-efficient equipment like LED lighting.
Put most simply, solar panels for commercial buildings provide businesses with the chance to save and make money, promote themselves as a green and socially conscious business, and avoid becoming victims to any future price rises in the energy market.
Before you start investing in commercial solar energy, you need to check whether you need solar PV planning permission. It’s also worth finding out if you are eligible for free solar panels for businesses, however, there are plenty of funding options available which we would be more than happy to discuss with you.