Industrial and commercial solar panels, by sector
Every manufacturing site has a different load profile, roof and compliance picture. We build around the sector rather than swapping a noun on a template. Pick yours for typical sizing, payback and the compliance points that matter.
Manufacturing Plants
Typical 250-800 kW, 6-year payback. £190,000-£680,000.
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Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Typical 400-1,200 kW, 5.5-year payback. £300,000-£980,000.
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Automotive Manufacturing
Typical 500-2,000 kW, 5-year payback. £380,000-£1,500,000.
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Chemical & Process Manufacturing
Typical 200-700 kW, 7-year payback. £155,000-£620,000.
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Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Manufacturing
Typical 300-1,000 kW, 6-year payback. £240,000-£850,000.
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Textile & Apparel Manufacturing
Typical 150-500 kW, 7.5-year payback. £115,000-£450,000.
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Engineering & Metalworking
Typical 150-600 kW, 6.5-year payback. £115,000-£540,000.
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Plastics & Injection Moulding
Typical 300-1,000 kW, 5.5-year payback. £240,000-£850,000.
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Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing
Typical 300-1,500 kW, 5.5-year payback. £240,000-£1,200,000.
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Electronics & Semiconductor Manufacturing
Typical 300-1,200 kW, 6-year payback. £240,000-£980,000.
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Solar power across UK industry
Industrial solar panels turn an underused factory or warehouse roof into a 25-year hedge against grid prices. Because a manufacturing site consumes most of its power during the working day, a well-sized commercial solar installation is self-consumed on site rather than exported, which is what makes the economics work. Across UK industry the same principles apply whether you run a single unit or a multi-building estate: size to the daytime baseload, connect under G99, and fund with cash, asset finance or a zero-capex PPA. The sector pages above set out the typical system size, project value and compliance points for each manufacturing process, while our cost guide gives real prices per kWp and the grants and funding page covers Annual Investment Allowance, the IETF and the Smart Export Guarantee.
Not sure which fits, or run a mixed-process site? We size from your half-hourly meter data regardless of sector. See real prices on the cost guide, the funding routes on the grants and funding page, or get an indicative figure with the savings calculator.
Industrial and commercial solar: common questions
How much does a commercial solar installation cost?
A commercial solar installation on a UK industrial building typically costs £600 to £1,200 per kWp installed, falling towards £600 per kWp above 1 MW. A 250 kW system runs around £190,000 to £240,000. Our cost guide breaks the numbers down by capacity and by sector.
Solar panels for industrial buildings: what size and payback?
Industrial solar panel systems usually run 50 kW to 2 MW, sized to a site’s daytime baseload rather than its roof area. Most pay back in 5 to 7 years, faster on high self-consumption, with 100% Annual Investment Allowance and the Smart Export Guarantee improving the return.
How does solar sizing differ by industry?
Solar power for industries varies with the load profile: 24/7 refrigeration in food and beverage, cleanroom HVAC in pharmaceuticals, chillers in plastics and welding loads in engineering all size and pay back differently. We size every system from 12 months of half-hourly meter data.
Get a free manufacturing solar quote
Responds within one working day
- 1. Free desk feasibility from your meter data and roof, no obligation.
- 2. Site survey and a fixed-price proposal, itemised in writing.
- 3. Install and aftercare by MCS-certified engineers.
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