How big is the solar system installed at AMRC North West?
Alliant Energy installed a 46.58kWp solar PV system using 106 panels paired with a SolarEdge inverter. The installation took 1 week from arrival on site to commissioning.
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Commercial Solar
AMRC North West
46.58kWp system saving £15,615 a year for AMRC North West.
Project overview
As the North West hub for manufacturing innovation and technology, it was a no-brainer for AMRC to adopt three variations of solar technology to demonstrate its benefits to the industry. Led by The University of Sheffield AMRC North West, 5G Factory of the Future is providing potential for new working methods that contribute to broader objectives of UK manufacturing to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and reducing CO2 emissions and other waste using key digital technologies. The solar PV installation we completed adheres to the above, providing cheaper energy and self-sufficiency. Demonstrating how Solar PV can drastically reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to improved overall efficiency in the industry by shining a spotlight on energy generation and monitoring. The on-site installation demonstrates traditional roof-mounted solar, south-facing wall-mounted solar and two state-of-the-art Smartflower solar flowers (installed by Green Mole).
The challenge
Like most commercial solar operations, AMRC North West faced a structural exposure to wholesale electricity prices — a cost line that doubled for many UK businesses between 2021 and 2023 and shows no sign of returning to pre-crisis levels. With significant daytime load and suitable roof space, on-site generation was the obvious lever, but the project needed to stand on its own commercial merits: predictable payback, manufacturer-backed warranties, and zero operational disruption during install.
The solution Alliant Energy designed
Following a structural roof survey and DNO capacity check, Alliant Energy specified a 46.58kWp array using 106 high-efficiency mono-PERC panels, paired with a SolarEdge hybrid inverter. The SolarEdge platform was chosen for its export-management capability and remote firmware updates, allowing the array to be tuned over its life without site visits. Surplus generation is exported to the grid under a Smart Export Guarantee tariff, providing a secondary revenue stream alongside the primary saving on imported electricity.
Install & commissioning
The full installation completed in 1 week, scheduled around the customer's operating hours to avoid downtime. Work was carried out by Alliant Energy's directly employed MCS-registered engineers — no subcontracted labour. The system was commissioned to G99 requirements, registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, and handed over with monitoring access, electrical certification, and structural sign-off documents on the day of completion.
Financial outcome
In its first full year of operation the system is on track to save AMRC North West approximately £15,615 on electricity costs, with a payback term of 3.8 Years and a projected total ROI of 658%. Over the 25-year warranted life of the panels, the cumulative saving is forecast at £376,538 — a figure that improves materially if grid prices continue their long-term upward trend, and that benefits from the UK's 100% full-expensing capital allowance for qualifying solar assets.
Environmental impact
The installation displaces roughly 9.8 Tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year compared with grid-sourced electricity. Over the system's 25-year design life that is the equivalent of removing more than AMRC North West's entire annual Scope 2 footprint several times over — a material data point for ESG, B-Corp and net-zero reporting frameworks.
Why it matters for the commercial solar sector
Commercial Solar businesses typically run daytime electrical loads — refrigeration, machinery, IT, lighting, compressors — that overlap closely with solar generation. That overlap is what drives strong economics: every unit generated and consumed on-site replaces a unit that would otherwise be bought from the grid at full commercial rates. The AMRC North West project demonstrates how the model scales for this kind of operation.
System
46.58kWp
Panels
106
Inverter
SolarEdge
Install
1 Week
Project FAQ
How much does AMRC North West save each year?
AMRC North West saves approximately £15,615 per year on electricity, with projected lifetime savings of £376,538 over the system's 25-year guaranteed performance period. The payback term is 3.8 Years, delivering a total ROI of 658%.
Was the project funded or paid for upfront?
This project was paid for directly by the customer. Under the UK's full-expensing capital allowance, the entire cost can be deducted from corporation tax in year one — improving the effective payback meaningfully for profitable companies.
What's the environmental impact?
The system avoids around 9.8 Tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year compared with grid-sourced electricity. Over a 25-year design life that's a material contribution toward Scope 2 reduction and any ESG or net-zero reporting commitments the business holds.
Could a similar system work for my business?
Probably — the same hardware platform (panels, hybrid inverter, optional battery) scales from roughly 10kW up to 1MW+. The deciding factors are roof area, daytime electricity use, current unit rate, and grid-connection capacity. Alliant Energy carries out a free desktop feasibility study and follow-up site survey before quoting.
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