MCS Certified · UK Wide

Commercial Solar PV Specialists

Reduce your business energy costs with MCS certified commercial solar PV. Free site survey, professional system design, and full installation, UK Wide.

MCS Certified 4.4 Stars NEBOSH Director
0808 502 2308
Large-scale commercial solar array on warehouse roof
Reduce Operating Costs
Generate your own power on-site
MCS Certified
British Assessment Bureau
4.4
Star Rating
MCS
Certified Installer
UK Wide
Coverage
01

Your energy bill is a controllable cost. Most businesses don't treat it that way.

Grid electricity prices have risen significantly and remain volatile, subject to supplier increases your business cannot forecast or influence. For premises with substantial daytime consumption, generating on-site is a straightforward way to reduce what you buy from the grid.

Rising Grid Prices

Commercial electricity unit rates have more than doubled since 2020. Every kWh you generate on-site is a kWh you don't buy at retail price.

No Control Over What You Pay

Supplier contracts offer fixed terms, not fixed costs, renewal periods expose businesses to market pricing they cannot influence or predict.

Energy as a Competitive Overhead

Businesses with lower energy costs operate more competitively. Owned generation locks in a portion of energy spend for the life of the asset.

UK Commercial Electricity, Average Unit Rate (p/kWh)
2020
13p
2021
16p
2022
24p
2023
28p
2024
32p

Indicative average rates for SME commercial tariffs. Actual rates vary by region, contract type, and consumption profile.

02

Commercial solar PV, designed and installed at the scale your business needs.

We design and install solar PV systems for warehouses, offices, manufacturing units, retail premises, and industrial sites. Single-phase and three-phase systems both within scope, MCS certified throughout, required for Smart Export Guarantee registration.

25+
Years operational life for commercial solar arrays, minimal maintenance, no moving parts, MCS warranted output.
MCS certification required for SEG registration
Single-phase and three-phase systems
Remote monitoring included
Battery storage available
Trina Solar Panels

High-efficiency commercial panels from one of the world's leading manufacturers, designed for large-roof installations with consistent, warranted output over 25+ years.

SolaX Commercial Inverters

Three-phase compatible inverters with remote monitoring, grid export control, and battery-ready architecture for sites with storage requirements.

Battery Storage

Available for sites with evening or overnight consumption, store surplus generation and reduce grid dependency around the clock.

03

Five ways commercial solar PV improves your bottom line.

From day one of operation, on-site generation displaces grid electricity at retail price, the most immediate benefit of a well-designed commercial array.

Direct Cost Reduction

Every kWh generated and consumed on-site displaces grid electricity at full retail rate. The saving is immediate and ongoing throughout the system's operational life.

Predictable Energy Costs

Owned generation is not subject to wholesale price volatility or supplier contract renewals. A known proportion of your energy requirement is produced at a fixed cost.

SEG Export Payments

Surplus generation exported to the grid earns payment via the Smart Export Guarantee. MCS certification, which FCE holds, is a mandatory requirement to register.

ESG & Sustainability

Measurable on-site renewable generation supports sustainability reporting, planning conditions, and stakeholder expectations for businesses with ESG commitments.

25+ Year Asset Life

Commercial arrays are engineered for a 25+ year operational life with no moving parts and minimal maintenance, a long-term capital asset, not a short-cycle purchase.

04

Is commercial solar PV right for your business?

The strongest case for commercial solar is a business that consumes significant electricity during daylight hours and owns, or controls, its roof.

Good Fit
Commercial or industrial premises with significant, unshaded roof space, warehouses, offices, manufacturing units, retail parks.
Businesses operating primarily during daylight hours, the generation profile matches consumption, maximising self-use.
High electricity consumers, manufacturing, cold storage, hospitality, retail, where unit cost savings are most significant.
Multi-site operators seeking to reduce energy costs and standardise renewable credentials across a portfolio.
Businesses with sustainability reporting requirements where measurable on-site generation adds direct evidential value.
Not a Fit
Leasehold premises where roof rights are not held by the business, landlord consent and legal agreements must be in place before survey.
Buildings with structurally inadequate roofing, our survey will assess load-bearing capacity before any system is designed or quoted.
Sites with minimal daytime consumption and no interest in battery storage, export-only models work but extend payback periods significantly.
Domestic or residential properties, see our domestic solar panels page for household installations.
4.4
Based on verified reviews

"Professional from first contact to handover. The survey was thorough, the design explained clearly, and the installation team were efficient and tidy on our factory floor. Very satisfied."

JH
James H.
Operations Manager, Manufacturing

"First Choice Energy handled everything, survey, design, DNO application, installation. We didn't have to manage anything. The system has been generating well above our initial projections."

SR
Sarah R.
Director, Retail & Distribution

"MCS certification was a key requirement for us, we needed to access SEG payments. First Choice Energy had all the paperwork in order and the handover documentation was comprehensive."

MT
Mark T.
Facilities Manager, Office Campus
05

From site survey to SEG registration, we manage the full process.

Commercial solar installations involve more steps than domestic. We handle every stage, including DNO application and MCS documentation for Smart Export Guarantee registration.

1
Site Survey & Feasibility

Roof survey, shading analysis, structural assessment, consumption data review, and DNO connection assessment, all included in your free survey.

2
System Design & Proposal

System size, panel layout, inverter specification, battery options, projected annual generation, and a full financial model, delivered in writing.

3
DNO Application

Grid connection application submitted to your Distribution Network Operator on your behalf, we manage the process and keep you updated throughout.

4
Installation

Panels, inverter, cabling, metering, and monitoring system installed to MCS standards. Typically 2, 5 days depending on system size and site complexity.

5
Commissioning & Handover

Full system test, monitoring configured and confirmed, handover documentation completed, including all MCS certification paperwork.

6
SEG Registration Support

MCS documentation provided for Smart Export Guarantee registration with your energy supplier, without MCS certification, exported generation earns nothing.

06

Why commercial businesses choose First Choice Energy.

MCS certified, commercially experienced, and operating nationally, with a NEBOSH qualified director on every project.

01
MCS Certified
Certification You Can't Bypass

MCS certification is a mandatory requirement to register for Smart Export Guarantee payments. Our certification is held through the British Assessment Bureau. Without it, your exported generation earns nothing, and not every installer holds it.

02
Commercial Scale
Not Just Domestic Roof Arrays

We design and install at commercial scale, single-phase and three-phase systems both within scope. Warehouses, manufacturing units, and multi-roof commercial sites are standard projects for our team.

03
UK Wide
National Commercial Coverage

We work with commercial clients across the UK, not limited to any single region. Multi-site operators can work with one installer, one standard, one point of contact.

04
NEBOSH Director
Construction Safety Standards

Aaron Davies holds NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (June 2025). Commercial installation sites operate to full construction safety standards, not just domestic practice.

07

Industry Case Studies

Published UK commercial solar installations. What a real project looks like, system size, savings, and payback, across sectors from manufacturing to logistics.

These are industry case studies, not First Choice Energy installations.
Shared here as reference examples of what good UK commercial solar looks like. First Choice Energy is actively taking on commercial projects, our own case studies will be added here as projects complete. Every case study below links to the original published source.
Manufacturing · Wales
Axiom Manufacturing
Newbridge, South Wales
900 kWp System size
Installation
6-week programme
Grid setup
Dual supply, two export controls
Energy use
Equipment, EV charging, grid export

A large-scale rooftop array for a Welsh manufacturer. The project required two export controls to handle dual incoming supplies plus LV board upgrades, a good example of how commercial installs often need to work around existing site setup.

Source: EvoEnergy
Logistics · UK
DPD
UK parcel delivery hub
999.9 kWp System size
Annual generation
860 MWh
Self-consumption
85% on-site
CO₂ saved
400,000 kg/year
Equipment
3,636 Trina panels, 28 SolarEdge inverters

A near-1 MW rooftop system on a DPD parcel hub. The DNO imposed a 500 kWp export cap, so the installer used Export Power Control to allow the full array capacity while staying within grid limits. A useful reference for sites with grid connection constraints.

Source: EvoEnergy
Food & Cold Storage · England
Philip Dennis Foodservice
Oxfordshire
695 kWp System size
Annual saving
£85,000+
Payback
Under 5 years
Lifetime saving
£2.4 million+
Panels
1,636 across warehouse + cold store

Cold storage runs refrigeration 24/7, which matches solar's generation profile well. That's why this project pays back in under five years. Any food, drinks or cold storage business should benchmark against numbers like these.

Source: Spirit Energy
Training Centre · England
Baltic Training Services
Darlington
79.1 kWp System size
Annual generation
66,713 kWh
Year one saving
£18,224
25-year saving
£455,610
CO₂ year one
31,338 kg

Commercial solar works well below the MW scale. A 172-panel rooftop, the size most SMEs actually need. If your business has a decent roof and a £25k+ electricity bill, these are the numbers to benchmark.

Be First Choice Energy's first commercial case study.
We're actively taking on commercial solar projects across the UK. Every project we complete will be photographed and documented here with real numbers.
08

Accreditations & Certifications

Every accreditation listed is held and current. MCS certification through the British Assessment Bureau is mandatory for Smart Export Guarantee registration.

MCS Certified

Mandatory for SEG registration. Held through the British Assessment Bureau.

TrustMark

Government-endorsed quality scheme for home and commercial improvement work.

RECC

Renewable Energy Consumer Code, consumer protection standards for renewable energy installations.

British Assessment Bureau

Independent certification body through which FCE holds MCS certification.

KIWA

International technical testing and certification organisation.

Trading Standards

Local authority Trading Standards approved, consumer protection compliance.

NEBOSH Qualified Director

Aaron Davies holds NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (June 2025). Every commercial installation operates to full construction site safety standards.

09

Pricing

Every commercial project is quoted individually. Roof type, structural load, electrical setup and DNO constraints all affect the final number, so rather than quote a range we can't stand behind, we'll give you a proper figure after a free site survey.

What your free survey and proposal includes
On-site structural and electrical assessment
System design sized to your actual consumption
Written proposal with itemised costs
Projected generation and payback figures
DNO application handled on your behalf
Finance options presented where relevant
0% VAT applies to commercial solar

Since April 2022, commercial solar installations attract 0% VAT. You'll see this reflected on every proposal, no need to add anything.

10

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about commercial solar PV. If your question isn't here, call us on 0808 502 2308 or use the form below.

Commercial solar pricing depends on system size (kWp), roof type, site complexity, and DNO connection requirements. Indicative ranges are shown in the pricing section above, all confirmed during your free site survey and written proposal. There are no fixed prices; every commercial system is designed and costed individually.
System size is determined by your available roof space, annual electricity consumption, and daytime consumption profile. Our site survey reviews 12 months of consumption data and models system performance, giving you a projected annual generation figure, self-consumption ratio, and financial model before you commit.
Payback periods for commercial solar typically range from 5, 10 years, depending on system size, self-consumption ratio, and current grid electricity costs. Businesses with high daytime consumption and large roof space achieve the shortest paybacks. Your written proposal will include a full financial model with projected payback period.
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a government-backed scheme that requires licensed energy suppliers to pay for surplus solar electricity exported to the grid. MCS certification is a mandatory requirement to register, without it, exported generation earns nothing. First Choice Energy holds MCS certification and provides all required documentation at handover for you to register with your energy supplier.
Yes, battery storage is available for commercial systems, particularly valuable for sites with evening or overnight electricity consumption. SolaX inverters are battery-ready. Battery storage extends the period during which on-site generation is consumed, reducing grid dependency further and improving payback.
Installation typically takes 2, 5 days on-site, depending on system size and site complexity. The full process, including survey, design, DNO application, and installation, varies by DNO connection timescale, which can take several weeks. Your project manager will provide a timeline after survey.
Most commercial solar installations qualify as permitted development and do not require formal planning permission, subject to size thresholds and local planning constraints. Listed buildings and conservation areas may require consent. We assess planning requirements during the site survey and advise accordingly.
Commercial solar systems have no moving parts and require minimal maintenance. Remote monitoring detects performance issues automatically. Periodic panel cleaning improves output, frequency depends on local soiling conditions. We recommend an annual system inspection for commercial arrays.
Free Site Survey Included

Get a free commercial solar survey and written proposal.

Tell us about your premises and we'll arrange a site survey at no cost. You'll receive a written system design, projected generation figures, and a full financial model, before you commit to anything.

Free site survey and roof assessment
Written system design and financial model
MCS certified installation, required for SEG
No obligation, no pressure

MCS Certified · TrustMark · RECC · UK Wide Coverage

Request a Site Survey
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