Cumbrian businesses could be overlooking one of their biggest opportunities to cut energy costs, according to solar specialist SMS, which is urging companies to look at their roofs as an untapped financial asset.
With energy prices continuing to put pressure on businesses, Solar Maintenance Services (SMS) says commercial solar is increasingly a financial decision rather than simply an environmental one, with potential savings extending well beyond the initial investment.
John Richards, who leads the Carlisle-based firm’s commercial operation, said the key consideration for businesses was return on investment (ROI).
“For commercial businesses, it’s a different proposition,” he said. “Green credentials are important, but for commercial businesses the starting point has to be the financial case. It’s about saving money now and going forward.”
The opportunity could be particularly significant for high-energy users facing the end of older fixed-price energy contracts.
“What I’m finding is even today there’s a lot of companies that fixed a very good rate during Covid on the commercial side. They’re all coming to an end now. Certainly in 2027, they’ll all be gone.”
For businesses facing higher energy costs, John believes solar can offer a way to take back some control over their future bills.
“It’s not why do you want solar, it’s almost why haven’t you got solar yet?” he said.
John estimates that only around 10 per cent of commercial properties across the UK currently have solar, leaving a large proportion of businesses with suitable roof space yet to make use of it.
Government figures also show continued growth in solar across the North West, with installations increasing by 16 per cent since July last year.
“The opportunity is massive,” said John.
For businesses considering the investment, SMS says payback periods can often be just a few years, followed by substantial savings over the lifetime of a system. Solar panels can also come with 25-year performance warranties, giving businesses the opportunity to benefit from reduced energy costs for decades.
And the upfront cost doesn’t necessarily have to be a barrier. SMS works with asset finance providers, allowing businesses to spread the cost of an installation rather than funding it entirely from their own capital.
“Businesses don’t necessarily have to find the full cost of solar upfront,” said Mr Richards. “A lot of the time, finance is taken over five years, and the monthly repayment can work out cheaper than what they’re currently spending on energy.”
There can also be wider commercial benefits, particularly for businesses supplying larger organisations where sustainability and net zero commitments are increasingly part of customer and supply chain requirements.
But perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions John encounters is that solar isn’t suitable for Cumbria because of its famously changeable weather.
“You don’t need sun, you need light!” he said.
It is a common misconception that solar only works when the sun is shining, but modern panels continue to generate electricity in daylight, making them suitable for businesses across Cumbria and the wider UK.
For John, the decision ultimately comes back to a simple question: what is the long-term cost of not investing in solar?
“It’s about the return on investment and future-proofing yourself against the energy price rises we know are going to come over the coming years.”
SMS already maintains more than 35,000 domestic systems and 70MWp of commercial solar installations across the UK. The Carlisle-based company is now looking to build on that experience and support more Cumbrian businesses in making the switch to solar.
