Business energy audit: what it covers, free and funded audits, and what to do next

What is a business energy audit?

An energy audit for a business answers three questions: where does our energy go, what does it cost, and what would cut it? The European standard for energy audits, BS EN 16247-1, applies to all types of organisation, all forms of energy and all energy uses: buildings, industrial processes and transport.

A good audit covers:

• Your energy data: at least 12 months of verifiable meter readings and bills, ideally half-hourly electricity data, broken down by month.
• Where it goes: use and cost by building, process and major equipment, such as heating, cooling, lighting, compressed air, motors and refrigeration.
• The building: fabric, heating and ventilation systems, controls and how they're run and maintained.
• A benchmark against similar premises or processes, so you can see whether you're a heavy user.
• Your supply: current tariffs and providers, and any grid connection limits that affect solar, heat pumps or EV charging.
• Measures: from no-cost changes (settings, hours, behaviour) to capital projects (LED, solar, batteries, heat pumps, insulation), each with a cost, saving and payback period.

Light-touch review or detailed audit?

Audits range from a remote review to a detailed site audit. Business Energy Scotland, for example, starts with a phone or online consultation and says that, using satellite imagery, maps and your energy data, a site visit isn't needed in most cases. The Welsh grant is for a detailed "deep dive" by an independent expert. For processes, large sites or an investment decision, you'll want the detailed version.

Business energy audits: key facts

Who needs a business energy audit?

Even when it's voluntary, an audit pays for itself only if you act on it. The money is in the measures, not the report.

Free and funded business energy audits in 2026, nation by nation

Scotland: Business Energy Scotland

Book a free 30 to 45 minute consultation online or call 0808 808 2268. Business Energy Scotland says it typically finds a 24% energy saving per business. At 30 October 2026 it quoted a wait of around four weeks to be assigned an advisor. The report doesn't count as a funding offer, but you can use it to apply for the SME Loan. Business Energy Scotland's SME Loan lends £1,000 to £130,000 interest-free, with cashback of up to £20,000 on energy-efficiency work and £10,000 on heat pumps. It is not taking new applications for solar PV. More on our Business Energy Scotland guide.

Wales: the energy audit grant

• Get quotes first. Choose a qualified consultant and get a written quote. Claims over £2,500 (so £5,000 or more of total cost) need two quotes.
• Apply before work starts. The Welsh Government handles applications, and the auditor mustn't start until your application is approved.
• Claim afterwards. Pay the invoice in full, then claim 50% back. The Development Bank says it aims to settle claims within 20 days.

The audit must meet the scheme's minimum report requirements (see the report checklist below). There's no obligation to take a Green Business Loan afterwards, but the same scheme offers discounted loans for the measures. More on our business energy support in Wales guide.

England: growth hubs and local schemes

There's no England-wide free audit. Some councils and growth hubs run their own programmes, but many were funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, whose 2025-26 allocations can't pay for activity after 30 September 2026. Check that a local scheme is still taking applications before you count on it. Start with your local growth hub or the government's Business Support Service (0800 998 1098). The UK Business Climate Hub has free tools and quick wins you can use before an audit.

Energy audit standards: BS EN 16247, ISO 50002 and CIBSE TM22

Check the auditor's qualifications

Anyone can call themselves an energy auditor. The Development Bank of Wales lists qualifications it accepts as relevant, including: Association of Energy Engineers certified energy auditor or manager, the CIBSE Low Carbon Consultant register, Elmhurst and Stroma non-domestic energy assessors, Energy Institute chartered energy managers and registered consultants, the Energy Managers Association ESOS lead assessor register, IChemE chartered chemical engineers, and IEMA and IES lead assessors.

What a good energy audit report contains: a checklist

The Development Bank of Wales publishes minimum requirements for the audits it part-funds. They make a sound checklist for any audit, funded or not:

1. About the business: staff numbers, operating hours, site location, building type and occupancy, sector and SIC code.
2. Energy use and cost broken down by equipment or process, from at least 12 months of verifiable data, with a monthly breakdown.
3. A review of your energy suppliers, the building envelope, services and controls, and energy management and maintenance.
4. A benchmark of energy performance against similar premises or processes.
5. Grid connection requirements and their costs, which decide whether bigger solar, heat pump or EV schemes are feasible.
6. Savings opportunities with payback periods, prioritised from no-cost and low-cost changes to capital investments, with annual energy and CO2 savings for each.
7. An action plan with next steps, suppliers to approach, and how to involve staff.
8. Project support: soft market testing, specifications, planning and funding applications where needed.

ESOS reports go further: each opportunity needs an estimate in pounds of its costs and benefits, its payback and the annual cut in kWh and spend.

After the audit: getting the recommended measures quoted

Audit paybacks are estimates. The next step is a firm quote for each capital measure, so you can approve the budget. These are the measures audits most often put on the list, and where to read up on each:

• Capital allowances: Solar panels are special-rate plant for tax. The Annual Investment Allowance (£1 million a year) can write off the cost in year one. Above that, companies can claim the 50% first-year allowance. See solar panels and capital allowances.
• Loans: Business Energy Scotland's SME Loan lends £1,000 to £130,000 interest-free, with cashback of up to £20,000 on energy-efficiency work and £10,000 on heat pumps. It is not taking new applications for solar PV. The Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loan Scheme lends £1,000 to £1.5 million over up to 15 years, at a discounted rate and with no arrangement fee, for projects including solar PV and heat pumps. It also offers an energy audit grant of up to £10,000.
• Grants: There is no single national grant that pays for business solar, batteries or efficiency upgrades in England. The money comes from tax allowances, the business rates exemption, export payments, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, the Workplace Charging Scheme and local or sector funds. See all business energy grants.

How we help after your energy audit (we're not energy assessors)

To be clear about our role: we don't carry out energy audits, we aren't energy assessors, and we don't run or apply for any audit scheme. For the audit itself, use Business Energy Scotland, Business Wales, Invest NI, your local growth hub or a qualified auditor. What we do is the next step. Once you know which measures you want to price, we pass your enquiry to one suitable installer that does commercial work, for a site survey and a quote.

What to send the installer

• The recommendations section of your audit report, or the measures you're shortlisting.
• Twelve months of electricity data, ideally half-hourly, for each site.
• Site addresses, roof plans and who owns or leases each building.
• Any loan or grant deadlines you're working to.

Next steps

1. Send us the basics using the form. It takes two minutes.
2. One installer contacts you to arrange a survey. You won't be passed round a list.
3. Survey and quote, with firm costs and expected savings to check against your audit's estimates.
4. Install, then track the savings against your audit baseline.