Commercial solar
From 30kW workshops to 1MW+ distribution centres. PPA, full expensing, asset finance or grants — we structure the deal around your balance sheet, then deliver with directly employed Experienced engineers.
*The 5-Year Workmanship Warranty covers Alliant's own installation and labour — distinct from the manufacturer's product and performance warranties (up to 30 years on panels), which cover the equipment itself.
Lancashire's commercial electricity market sits within the Electricity North West distribution licence area, where Half Hourly metered business tariffs currently sit at 28–34p/kWh during daytime periods — materially above the residential price cap. The M65 corridor between Burnley and Blackburn contains one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing floor space in the North of England, with significant flat-roof industrial assets at Burnley Bridge Business Park, Altham Industrial Estate, and the wider East Lancashire enterprise zones. These properties represent some of the most commercially attractive solar candidates in the region: large, unshaded roof planes, high daytime electricity demand, strong structural loading capacity, and DNO headroom for systems from 30kW to 1MW under G99 connection agreements with Electricity North West. Full Capital Allowances (Full Expensing) allow 100% first-year tax write-off on qualifying solar assets, reducing the effective cost of a £100,000 commercial installation to £75,000 after corporation tax relief at 25%.
Alliant Energy designs, finances and installs commercial solar systems across Lancashire and the UK. We handle the DNO connection, the structural survey, the planning position, the funding application and the install — so a project that involves five different counterparties in the standard market involves one with us.
Lancashire businesses face electricity bills that are structurally higher than residential rates — commercial Half Hourly tariffs in the Electricity North West distribution area currently sit at 28–34p/kWh for daytime consumption, against the 25.2p residential price cap. For a business consuming 100,000 kWh per year, that is £28,000–£34,000 in annual electricity costs — costs a correctly sized solar array can reduce by 40–80%.
The economics improve further when battery storage is combined with solar: a 62kW battery rack (as fitted at Shepherd Distribution in our recent project) stores excess daytime generation and dispatches it during evening peak periods, replacing high-rate grid electricity with near-zero marginal-cost stored power. Shepherd Distribution achieved 2.9-year payback and 38.7% ROI — our most profitable commercial project to date.
Three commercial solar funding routes are available simultaneously:
Alliant has established relationships with commercial PPA funders who will finance the installation with zero upfront capital. You agree to purchase electricity from the system at a rate below your current grid rate — typically 10–15p/kWh for a 15–20 year term. The PPA provider owns the system; you receive guaranteed bill savings from day one.
Qualifying commercial solar assets can be written off at 100% in Year 1 under the Full Expensing regime introduced in April 2023. For a £100,000 commercial installation, this represents a corporation tax reduction of £25,000 at the current 25% rate — effectively a 25% discount on the net cost. Full expensing guide →
For businesses preferring ownership over PPA, tax-deductible asset finance is available through our finance panel. Monthly payments are structured to be cash-flow neutral against bill savings from the first month.
Lancashire's industrial base along the M65 corridor — from Burnley Bridge to Altham Industrial Estate — is ideal for large-scale flat-roof commercial solar. Our Shepherd Distribution (108 panels, 62kW battery) and Tropical Ices (168 panels) projects demonstrate what manufacturing and logistics operators can achieve.
Lancashire's farming sector qualifies for commercial solar on barns, grain stores, and processing facilities. Ground-mount arrays on field margins are also viable on agricultural land with no planning requirement under PDR for systems up to 1MWp.
Our installations at Hillsborough Golf Club (17.3kW, 3.4-year payback), Beauchief Tennis Club (8.8kW, 3-year payback), and Valley View Glamping (ground-mount) show the commercial viability for leisure operators with daytime demand profiles.
Schools, care homes, and GP surgeries have near-ideal solar demand profiles — high daytime consumption, predictable operating hours, and long property tenures. The is available to commercial properties for heat pumps, and commercial solar can run alongside it.
Roof area, orientation, shading, DNO headroom checked within 48 hours
Load calculations, cable routes, meter and connection points
Optimised panel layout, shading analysis, production estimates
Required for all commercial systems above 3.68kW AC
PPA, finance, or cash purchase
Experienced engineers, minimal business disruption, typically completed in 1–5 days
Funding routes
There is no single best funding route — only the right route for your tax position, cashflow profile and risk appetite. Alliant Energy is independent of any one funder, so we recommend the structure that maximises your NPV, not ours.
| Funding route | Structure | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Outright purchase | Pay upfront from cash reserves | 100% full expensing — entire cost deductible from corporation tax year one. Best NPV for profitable businesses. |
| Asset finance | 3–7 year loan, fixed monthly payment | Cashflow-positive from month one for most projects. Tax-deductible interest and full capital allowances retained. |
| Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) | Funder owns and maintains the system | Zero upfront cost. You pay a fixed unit rate for the solar electricity you use — typically 30–50% below grid. |
| Grants | Region- and sector-specific support | We screen all UK schemes (e.g. Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, regional growth grants) for eligibility before quoting. |
Full expensing — the post-2023 game-changer
Who we work with
High daytime load, large roof areas — typically 50–500kW systems.
Vast warehouse roofs and growing EV-fleet charging demand.
Refrigeration, cooking and HVAC overlap perfectly with solar.
Barn roofs, irrigation pumps, processing — often grant-eligible.
Process
Desktop study using satellite imagery, half-hourly meter data and roof structural assumptions. Indicative system size, generation and ROI within 48 hours.
On-site structural and electrical survey. In parallel we model purchase, asset finance and PPA scenarios so you can pick the route that fits your balance sheet.
G99 application to your network operator. Planning handled if needed (rarely for roof-mount). Lead time here is the longest single variable in the schedule.
Typically 3–10 days on site, scheduled around your operations. Performance guarantee, electrical certification, SEG registration and monitoring handover on completion.
Proof in numbers
Real systems, real customers, real numbers — each project below is documented in full with system specification, install timeline and financial outcome.
Frequently asked
The grant for an air source heat pump is £7,500 in England and Wales in 2026. The grant is paid directly to your Experienced installer and deducted from your invoice. To qualify, your property must have an EPC with no outstanding insulation recommendations, and the installation must be by an Experienced installer. Alliant Energy uses Experienced installers and handles the grant application for every heat pump installation.
Commercial solar payback periods in Lancashire typically range from 2.9 to 6.5 years in 2026, depending on system size, roof orientation, energy consumption profile, and financing method. Alliant Energy's recent Lancashire commercial projects show: Shepherd Distribution (108 panels + 62kW battery) — 2.9 years, 38.7% ROI; Hillsborough Golf Club — 3.4 years, 33.7% ROI; Moorwood Farm (90 panels) — 4.8 years, 24.6% ROI. Businesses using Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) financing achieve bill savings from day one with zero upfront capital.
Any business with at least 50kW of usable roof or ground area, a daytime electrical load above ~£10,000/year, and a 5+ year time horizon at the site. Typical installs range from 30kW (small workshop) to 1MW+ (distribution centre or manufacturing plant).
Most projects are installed in 3–10 days on site. Lead time from signed contract to commissioning is typically 8–14 weeks, dominated by the DNO (network operator) connection approval rather than the build itself.
Roof-mounted commercial solar is almost always permitted development under Class J of the GPDO. Ground-mount arrays above 50kW and any system on a listed building or in a conservation area do need a planning application — we handle this end-to-end.
It is exported to the grid under a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff, generating a secondary income stream. For larger sites we can negotiate Power Purchase Agreements with energy suppliers for above-SEG export rates.
Alliant Energy provides ongoing performance monitoring, an annual inspection option, and a 25-year performance warranty backed by the panel manufacturer. PPA-funded systems are maintained by the funder for the life of the agreement.
3–7 years for owner-funded projects depending on tariff, sector and self-consumption. PPA projects are immediately cashflow-positive (savings begin from day one with no capital outlay).
Three ways to get started
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.
Quality you can trust
We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality renewable energy solutions. Our experienced installers ensure every system is fitted to the highest standards, backed by a 25-year performance warranty and fully insured installations for total peace of mind.
