Solar PV for Business
Caber Energy are experienced installers of Solar PV systems offering a turnkey design, supply and installation service.
We have extensive experience in the supply and installation of solar photovoltaic systems on a commercial scale for farmers and commercial businesses throughout Scotland.
Despite the end of the Clean Energy Cashback scheme, solar PV systems can still generate returns of up to 20% per annum and are especially suited to businesses with a high electricity demand such as potato cold stores, packing sheds, refrigerated stores, factories etc. If your business has a high electricity demand and you are looking to reduce your energy costs in a sustainable way then please contact us to arrange a free site survey. Have a look at our case studies and see if you could be generating your own electricity for the next 25 years and beyond.
Could you be generating your own electricity on your shed roof in as little as 8 weeks?
If you have a shed that you think may be suitable please contact us to arrange a free site survey.
Services
Our Solar PV Services
- Feasibility Studies
- Planning and grid connection applications (where necessary)
- System Modelling & Energy Yield Estimates
- Energy Use Assessments
- System Specification and Design
- Supply and Installation Services
- Commissioning and Handover
- 10 Year Product Warranties
Frequently Asked Questions - Solar Energy
Solar panels produce clean, emission free energy from a sustainable source. This generated electricity can help power your business, home, farm or commercial buildings and will reduce carbon emissions. Solar panels are ideal for urban and rural locations, requiring a south or near south facing roof or ground area. They are easily connected to a building’s electricity supply.
Solar panels produce clean, emission free energy from a sustainable source. This generated electricity can help power your business, home, farm or commercial buildings and will reduce carbon emissions. Solar panels are ideal for urban and rural locations, requiring a south or near south facing roof or ground area. They are easily connected to a building’s electricity supply.
Commercial businesses will usually pay standard VAT rates at 20%.
Panels can be mounted on a roof or ground mounted. The panels produce Direct Current (DC) electricity, so an inverter will be fitted near the installation to change the DC into Alternating Current (AC) as used in the building. For systems with multiple inverters, a separate area dedicated to the inverters and electrical controls may be required, this could be in a separate building or attached to the ground mounted array.
Any number of PV panels can be connected based on available space, to provide as much electricity output as required. A 500kWp solar PV installation will generate up to 470,000 kWh per year.
The optimum orientation for solar panels is due south at a 30 degree latitude tilt in the UK. Systems facing East of West will lose efficiency but are still viable. Farm and other commercial buildings are often installed on 15 degree pitch roof areas. If you have a flat roof, we can provide a bespoke flat roof system to optimise the panel angles.
No, the electricity generated during the day is not stored for night use, although battery backup technology is improving and may be worth considering.
This depends on your budget, available roof or ground area, energy output required and DNO approval. We will prepare a full system recommendation.
Minimum maintenance is required for the solar panels as there are no moving parts, although they do need checking for visible damage and shading on a regular basis. We recommend that systems are monitored so that any drop in performance is quickly acted upon. We provide monitoring equipment for commercial systems.
The price will vary depending on the size of individual installations. Please contact us to discuss your project in more detail.
Small commercial systems do not usually require planning on standard installations as they are considered Permitted Development. Ground Mounted systems, and those installations in Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or World Heritage Areas must consult local Planning Departments. Roof mounted installations above 50kW will also require planning consent.
We will carry out an initial assessment of the suitability of the roof or ground area prior to progressing a project and will also carry out a full structural survey by a qualified engineer prior to installation. The roof must be in good condition as the solar PV array is designed to last 25+ years. Any roof repairs should be carried out before installation of the solar array.
Generally temperatures above room temperature reduce the efficiency of pv solar panels, making the UK a good climate for photovoltaic technology. The panels require ambient light rather than direct sunlight to generate electricity so they work even on overcast days.
Yes, for many reasons:
- You can’t turn the sun off and the majority of properties in the UK are exposed to light and so can benefit from solar PV to some extent
- Flexibility – panels can be used in most areas, homes, businesses, schools and farms. Rural, suburban or city centres. They can be installed on pitched roofs, flat roofs or ground mounted. They can be large or small systems
- Reliability – panels are designed to last 25+ years, operating with very low maintenance if correctly installed
- Affordability – Solar PV is one of the most economic renewable energies to install
- Accessibility – quick and easy to install