Key facts
Best fitOwner-occupied offices or long leases with clear roof rights and strong daytime electricity use.
Lease issueTenants need landlord consent, roof access rights and agreement on maintenance and removal obligations.
FundingCheck local business grants, SEG, tax allowances and green finance; do not assume residential VAT relief applies.
EV linkOffice solar can support workplace charging, but EV grants and solar funding should be modelled separately.
Quote evidenceBills, MPAN, roof photos, lease/ownership details, meter location and future EV or heat pump plans.
Office solar quote considerations
| Check | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Self-use | Offices often use power while solar generates. | How much generated power will be used on site? |
| Landlord consent | Roof rights can be separate from office occupation. | Who owns the roof and who signs off access? |
| DNO/export | Export may be capped in some locations. | Will the installer handle DNO paperwork? |
| Future load | EV charging or heat pumps can change system sizing. | Should the design reserve capacity for future demand? |
When battery storage makes sense
For many offices, a battery is not automatically needed because daytime self-consumption can already be high. Model storage where there is evening use, EV charging, high peak charges, export constraints or resilience requirements. Ask for a solar-only payback and a solar-plus-battery payback side by side.
Sources checked
- GOV.UK - Find government grants
- GOV.UK - business green funding
- Ofgem - Smart Export Guarantee
- GOV.UK - VAT Notice 708/6
- HMRC - solar panels capital allowances
- GOV.UK - full expensing and first-year allowances
- GOV.UK - green business rates measures
- GOV.UK - Rural England Prosperity Fund example
- Salix - Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
- GOV.UK - Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund
- Planning Data - non-domestic solar permitted development
Great British Energy is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the government-owned Great British Energy at gbe.gov.uk. Funding rules change; verify against official sources before committing spend.