--- title: "Hippo Motor Group — Solar Case Study | Alliant Energy" description: "Hippo Motor Group (Automotive Retail): 140.22kWp solar array, 319 panels — £55,698/yr saved, 2.6 Years payback. Full project breakdown by Alliant Energy." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": [ "Organization", "LocalBusiness", "ProfessionalService" ], "@id": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/#organization", "name": "Alliant Energy Ltd", "alternateName": "Alliant Energy", "legalName": "Alliant Energy Ltd", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/logo.png", "width": 320, "height": 80 }, "image": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/og-default.jpg", "description": "MCS-registered renewable energy specialists installing solar PV, battery storage, EV charging and air source heat pumps for UK homes and businesses across the North West. ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified. 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Full project breakdown by Alliant Energy.", "image": "/__l5e/assets-v1/560b4305-2836-4275-9d22-f6af97629979/hippo-motor-group.jpg", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Alliant Energy" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Alliant Energy", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/favicon.ico" } }, "datePublished": "2026-01-15", "dateModified": "2026-05-19", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://alliantenergy.co.uk/case-study/hippo-motor-group", "about": "Automotive Retail" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How big is the solar system installed at Hippo Motor Group?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Alliant Energy installed a 140.22kWp solar PV system using 319 panels paired with a SolarEdge inverter. The installation took 3 weeks from arrival on site to commissioning." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does Hippo Motor Group save each year?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Hippo Motor Group saves approximately £55,698 per year on electricity, with projected lifetime savings of £857,970 over the system's 25-year guaranteed performance period. The payback term is 2.6 Years, delivering a total ROI of 962%." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Was the project funded or paid for upfront?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "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." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the environmental impact?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The system avoids around 20.3 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." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Could a similar system work for my business?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "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." } } ] } ] --- [![Alliant Energy — Renewable Energy Solutions](/__l5e/assets-v1/3bd22195-cc6e-43e6-b5ff-5a808ce292d3/alliantenergyltd-2.svg)](/) [Home](/)[About](/about-us) [Services](/services) [Guides](/guides)[Case Studies](/case-study)[![Levelise](/__l5e/assets-v1/59fd362e-361a-47d7-ad1f-65e9beeb5289/levelise-logo.webp)](/guides/levelise-hub-explained) [01282 501589](tel:01282501589)[Get a Quote →](/quote) ![Hippo Motor Group solar installation](/__l5e/assets-v1/560b4305-2836-4275-9d22-f6af97629979/hippo-motor-group.jpg) [All case studies](/case-study) Automotive Retail # Hippo Motor Group 140.22kWp system saving £55,698 a year for Hippo Motor Group. [ Previous Foxfields Country Hotel ](/case-study/foxfields-country-hotel)[ Next Jupiter Artland ](/case-study/jupiter-artland) ## Project overview We’ve installed a 140.22 kWp system for Hippo Motor Group at their Prep Centre location. The system will generate over 114,000 kWh of energy annually representing a return on investment of just under three years! Having already seen the benefits of installing Solar PV at their main Showroom location, Hippo Motor Group approached Alliant Energy to expand on this self-generation infrastructure with an installation at their neighbouring Prep Centre. The system in place at the Prep Centre will reduce their grid energy demand by almost 35%, resulting in significant financial savings annually. On top of this, Hippo Motor Group are also not shying away from their responsibilities in reducing their carbon footprint with this installation achieving a saving of over 20 tons of CO2 annually. ### The challenge Like most automotive retail operations, Hippo Motor Group 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 140.22kWp array using 319 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 3 weeks, 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 Hippo Motor Group approximately **£55,698** on electricity costs, with a payback term of **2.6 Years** and a projected total ROI of **962%**. Over the 25-year warranted life of the panels, the cumulative saving is forecast at **£857,970** — 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 **20.3 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 Hippo Motor Group'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 automotive retail sector Automotive Retail 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 Hippo Motor Group project demonstrates how the model scales for this kind of operation. System 140.22kWp Panels 319 Inverter SolarEdge Install 3 Weeks ### Project FAQ ### How big is the solar system installed at Hippo Motor Group? Alliant Energy installed a 140.22kWp solar PV system using 319 panels paired with a SolarEdge inverter. The installation took 3 weeks from arrival on site to commissioning. ### How much does Hippo Motor Group save each year? Hippo Motor Group saves approximately £55,698 per year on electricity, with projected lifetime savings of £857,970 over the system's 25-year guaranteed performance period. The payback term is 2.6 Years, delivering a total ROI of 962%. ### 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 20.3 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. ### Financial impact Rate of ROI 38.5% Total ROI 962% Annual savings £55,698 Lifetime savings £857,970 Payback term 2.6 Years Annual CO₂ saved 20.3 Tonnes [Commercial Savings Calculator →](/calculator) ### More projects [ Frozen Dessert Distribution Tropical Ices £13,700/yr · 5 Years payback ](/case-study/tropical-ices)[ Pewter & Silverware Manufacturing Pinder Brothers £3,700/yr · 5 Years payback ](/case-study/pinder-brothers)[ Logistics & Haulage Shepherd Distribution £22,389/yr · 2.9 Years payback ](/case-study/shepherd-distribution)[ Retail Technology Datascan Retail Systems £3,457/yr · 5.9 Years payback ](/case-study/datascan-retail-systems) Three ways to get started ## Ready to find out what solar saves you? Get a tailored quote in one working day. No obligation. No hard sell. Speak to a renewable energy engineer — not a salesperson — at a time that suits you. [Get a Quote → ](/quote) [Request a Callback →](/request-callback) [Download Brochure →](/brochure) Accreditations ## Certified, registered, and insured. Every time. MCS certification isn't a box-ticking exercise — it qualifies your system for Smart Export Guarantee payments and government grants. Our installers are also NICEIC-approved and TrustMark-registered, and every install is fully insured. ![Citation ISO Certification: ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety](/__l5e/assets-v1/180183cd-e6fd-4b0a-984c-83e6a41390d7/accreditations-iso.jpg) ![Alliant Energy — Renewable Energy Solutions](/assets/logo-IFrgP5Dc.png) Renewable energy & energy-saving specialists. MCS-registered solar PV, battery storage, heat pumps and EV charging across the UK. #### Quick Links - [Home](/) - [About Us](/about-us) - [Services](/services) - [Case Studies](/case-study) - [Areas We Cover](/solar-panel-quotes-north-west) - [Contact](/contact) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy) - [Terms & Conditions](/terms) #### Services - [Solar for Homes](/services/solar) - [Commercial Solar](/services/commercial-solar) - [Battery Storage](/services/battery-storage) - [Air Source Heat Pumps](/services/heat-pumps) - [EV Charging](/services/ev-charging) - [Energy Saving Advice](/services/energy-saving-advice) #### Contact - [01282 501589](tel:01282501589) - [info@alliantenergy.co.uk](mailto:info@alliantenergy.co.uk) - Unit 214 Northlight Industries, Pendle Road, Brierfield, Nelson BB9 5FL [Get a Quote](/quote)[Brochure](/brochure) Alliant Energy Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 1020779) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). 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