Panel Power: real stories from businesses exporting their solar energy
Panel Power is our commercial export tariff for businesses with solar panels.
An easy-to-use platform. Simple billing. Support from export experts. These features help customers to turn solar power into sunny returns.
But why join Panel Power?
Ultimately, the answer lies with our customers. We asked them to share why they signed up - and why they continue to choose Panel Power for their export.
So, let’s dive into how the tariff works and why our customers are benefiting.
How does Panel Power work for businesses with solar panels?
Your solar setup will soak up the rays when the sun is shining. This turns into electricity from your solar panels, which you can use to power your business.
At times when your panels produce more energy than you use, you can profit from the excess. We’ll give you 8p for every kilowatt-hour you export to the grid.
If ever you use more than you're generating, not to worry. You can still import our 100% renewable electricity at your normal great value rates.
It's one of Octopus' many export tariffs.
Here's why businesses are exporting their energy with Panel Power
When we want to find out info like this, we go straight to the source: our wonderful customers! So, we've been chatting to some Panel Power users to find out why they chose it and how they're making the most of it.
“We almost never have an electric bill!”
Laraine and Taylor own and run Airth Kennels in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Their boarding kennels offer your furry friends a safe and comfortable home away from home.
They joined Octopus Energy for Business because of our award-winning customer service. They joined Panel Power to make the most of the energy they produce.
“Our panels are making far more electricity than we can use. So we might as well export to the grid. It keeps our bills down and helps in the wintertime. We would recommend Panel Power to any business.”
During the sunnier months, the pair find they ‘almost never have an electric bill’. So, they let their extra earnings build up to keep costs low in the winter.
Laraine and Taylor are also making their generation go further with batteries. They charge them up with solar when the sun is shining, Then, use that stored electricity when the sun's gone in.
Airth Kennels are a great example of how a business can take charge of its surplus solar. However, making earnings from your generation isn’t the only reason to join Panel Power.
“With Panel Power, you can look at everything on the app and on your phone. It's just easier."
That's what David told us. He runs D Collinson, a farm in Hampshire. They've been exporting electricity with Panel Power since 2024. They chose Panel Power after looking for a supplier that could offer a competitive deal for selling back to the grid.
There can be very busy periods in the agricultural industry. So, David values simplicity when it comes to his energy.
“The app reduces the need to call about your export as the information is all available online.”
And he’s right. Panel Power makes managing your export easy. You can monitor your solar output and energy use all in one place.
Plus, each month, Panel Power delivers you a single invoice for your export and import. This tidy bill shows your solar earnings and how they’re cutting your costs.
For customers like David, keeping energy straightforward can make all the difference.
But Panel Power doesn’t just work by itself; it can be the perfect partner to our other smart products. One of our customers, Chris, is already putting that into practice.
"We power our batteries and EV chargers with the solar we generate or when Shape Shifters' prices are cheapest."
Brandwells Construction are building smarter energy options into their business. Their Bristol office shares its spare export energy with the grid and is powered by Shape Shifters: Trio.
Shape Shifters: Trio rewards you for using some of your electricity outside the 4 -7pm peak. For customers like Chris, this window is a great time to use their homegrown energy.
“We're trying to do the best we can. We’ve got a 20-kilowatt solar array. We power our batteries and EV chargers with the solar we generate or when Shape Shifters' prices are cheapest. Come 4 o’clock, we use our batteries or solar to power the office.”
Even after using the energy they need and supercharging their low-carbon tech, Chris finds there’s still export to spare.
So, Brandwells can benefit from Trio’s cheaper rates year-round and still get paid for the energy their panels generate.
It’s customers like Taylor, Laraine, David and Chris who remind us why we’re in the energy business.
We create ways for businesses to achieve energy independence. So, it’s always exciting to see that become a reality for our customers.
From pet care to construction, businesses choose Panel Power to cut down their bills, manage their export with ease and utilise our smart tariffs.
1000s of customers are already benefiting from Panel Power - and yours could too.
Join Panel Power
Panel Power is for businesses that:
- have solar panels
- have a working smart meter, or other export-compatible meter
- aren't receiving Feed-in Tariff in payments
- have an import meter with Octopus Energy for Business
Published on 28th May 2025 by:
Hey I'm Constantine, welcome to Octopus Energy!
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