Solar panels for business: the essential guide

Energy explained Business energy

Let's get the lowdown on solar panels for businesses.

What's great about them, how they work and how to make them suit your business.

You can use this page to start your company's solar story. In turn, solar will help to make your energy work for you. It'll get your business ready for the future - and probably brighten your bank balance too.

So, let's pop on our shades and have a look at:

The benefits of commercial solar panels
How solar panels work
Installing solar panels at your business
Choosing the right export tariff for your business

The benefits of commercial solar panels

There are loads of cool reasons to warm up to solar. There are financial reasons, marketing reasons, all sorts. Let’s have a closer look.

Reason #1 - You generate some of your own power, rather than buying it from a supplier. So, your business’ solar panels save you money.

Constantine the Octopus with a trolley of solar panels

Picture the scene. The sun rises over your business. You feel its warmth through the window as you sip your first tea of the day. Then, you look over to your solar panels. You see them bathing in the sunlight. You make this face: 🤑 Today’s going to be a good day.

Why? Because all of that sunlight is turning into energy for your business to use. For free. Which means you don’t have to spend money on importing that electricity from the grid.

And hey - you might even be able to turn some of that power into some profit …

Reason #2 - Your business can make money by selling your excess solar energy.

An infographic explaining that you can earn money on the excess solar power you generate

When your solar panels generate energy, it first goes towards powering your business. But, you might have some leftover once all your appliances have had their fill.

So, why not make some profit on it? All you need is a business export tariff, like Panel Power or Shape Shifters: Export. They give you money for every unit of energy you export.

Once you’ve joined an export tariff, there’s nothing else you need to do. Seriously, just grab a sandwich and put your feet up. Your supplier will know if you’ve got excess energy and automatically sell it for you.

Reason #3 - Consumers like green brands. Solar panels make your business greener. Soooo, customers like you more 💚

Constantine the Octopus growing a heart-shaped plant

We think caring about the environment is cool. Which means most people are cool too. Because they prefer buying things from greener brands.

7 in 10 consumers say a business’ sustainability credentials influence whether they use them. Generating your own power puts you right in the cool credentials category.

Once you’ve got your solar panels, we encourage you to shout about them. Pop some pics on your website. Brag about them in your sustainability reports. Show off to your Gran. Write a song about them (🎸Talkin’ bout your generation 🎸). Do whatever you fancy.

People will love it.

How solar panels work for businesses

We’ve established that businesess with solar panels are super cool and super clever 😎 Now let’s talk a bit more about the panels themselves.

How do solar panels actually work?

Solar panels are a type of low-carbon technology (LCT). That means they help to minimise the amount of carbon you use in running your business.

Let’s get into the detail of how they work:

A diagram showing the process of solar energy: 1) Light from the sun is made up of tiny particles called photons 2) Photons hit the solar panel, knocking electrons free of the silicon atoms within the solar cells 3) These loose electrons are now free to move, creating an electric current from the positive and negative charges now present. They pass through the layers of the solar cell. 4) The electric current flows to the edge of the panel into a conductive wire, which leads to the inverter 5) The inverter covers to the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), which is used to provide power 6) The electricity powers the building. If the solar panels are connected to the utility meter, excess electricity is transferred to the utility grid.

How do solar panels fit into my current commercial energy setup?

They go together like ice and lemonade on a sunny day 😋

You’re generating energy on-site. So, there's just less electricity coming in through your meter. Instead, some of it comes directly from your panels into your building.

There's no need to change your setup. All the components - your meter, your cables, your fusebox - keep on working as normal.

(The only exception is if you have loads of different LCTs. In this case, you might need to upgrade your setup to one with higher capacity. Your installers will tell you if you ever need to do this.)

When it comes to selling your power, your meter plays a more important role
Just as it measures the import (the power coming into your business), it also needs to be able to measure export (the power going out). It automatically sends this info to your supplier so we know how much to pay you.

Smart meters are built to handle both import and export. If you don’t have a smart meter yet, Octopus customers can upgrade at no extra cost.

Installing solar panels for your business

We’ve talked about the pros of panels and how they work. In this section, we're looking at the practicalities of installing them.

How do I get solar panels for my business?

The exact process varies depending on where you get them from. But here’s how it tends to work:

Step 1 - Arrange a consultation with an installer 💬

They’ll ask you about your property, your energy setup and how you use your power. Be prepared to answer questions about things like:

your building materials
your roof space
whether anything nearby blocks your sunlight

Step 2 - Review their design and quote 📝

They’ll come back to you with a proposal for your panels. It’ll show where your installation will go, how much power they’ll produce, and what permissions and permits you’ll need (if any).

This will come with a quote too. It’ll detail how much the whole installation will cost. Typically, the installer breaks this down into things like cost of materials, scaffolding hire and building fees.

Take a bit of time to decide whether this quote is right for you. As with any investment, it’s worth getting a few different options to compare. And don’t be afraid to ask the installers lots of questions.

Step 3 - Panel installation time 🔧

Once everything’s agreed, it’s time to install. The time this takes can range from a few days to a few weeks. It depends on the size and specifics of your installation.

Step 4 - Generation is go🚦

Your panels are put up, wired in and ready to start generating electricity. You can start using the power they produce from day one.

How do I register my business’ solar panels?

If you want to sell your energy, you’ll need to register your panels with the local energy network. This gets you linked up to the grid. So, you can start exporting energy and getting paid. It also means the local network can get ready to receive what you’re exporting.

Start by contacting your local Distribution Network Operator. They’ll let you know their specific process and what they need from you.

Do Octopus install solar panels for businesses?

Yes - in some cases. Check out GreenWorks to see what we offer.

How long does it take for solar panels to pay themselves off?

5-10 years. That’s the short answer.

The long answer is that it varies. It depends on things like the capacity of your panels, where your business is and how much energy it uses. 5-10 years is a good estimate. But, it's worth asking your installer as part of the quote process.

If you switch to a business export tariff, that payback time will be shorter. That's because you'll be earning money on your excess energy.

Which is the right business export tariff for me?

So, you’ve got your panels running and registered. Now, the perfect export tariff is the last piece of the puzzle. Let’s explore ...

Comparing and choosing the best business export tariff

Different suppliers offer different options. They all vary in export rate - i.e. the amount of money you get per unit of electricity you export.

At Octopus, we have two terrific tariffs to suit different types of businesses. Panel Power gives you a guaranteed rate of 12p for every unit of energy you sell to the grid. Shape Shifters: Export offers rates that rise and fall throughout the day. Here’s a bit more info to compare them both:

PANEL
POWER

The export tariff designed for businesses with solar panels. We pay you a flat rate of 12p for every unit of electricity you send to the grid.

Find out more

SHAPE SHIFTERS: EXPORT

The UK's most dynamic business export tariff. Rates change every half-hour, in line with wholesale energy costs. So, you can store up your power and sell it when prices are highest.

Find out more

Here's a chart comparing the prices of Shape Shifters: Export and Panel Power
It's taken from a sunny day in July 2025.

Panel Power offers a guaranteed 12p for the whole 24 hours. Shape Shifters: Export has more variation, including a much higher peak. At 7.30pm, customers can sell their energy for 26.55p per unit.

A chart comparing the prices of Shape Shifters: Export and Panel Power It's taken from a sunny day in July 2025. Panel Power offers a guaranteed 12p for the whole 24 hours. Shape Shifters: Export has more variation, including a much higher peak. At 7.30pm, customers can sell their energy for 26.55p per unit.

Which is the right export tariff for me?

When it comes to choosing, this simple question will help you decide. Do you have battery storage, solar panels or both?

I only have solar panels

Panel Power is made for businesses like yours. You get a simple flat export rate of 12p, all day. So you can profit on your power, no matter what time you produce it.

That said, Shape Shifters: Export can work too. You don't get a guaranteed rate like Panel Power. But, there's potential for higher returns at different points of the day.

I only have battery storage

Shape Shifters: Export will work best for you. It gives you rates that change in line with wholesale costs. So, you can arrange to export your battery's excess energy when prices peak (normally 4-7pm).

I have solar panels and battery storage

Shape Shifters: Export is the one for you. You can store up your power in your battery. Do this for free using power from your panels. Or, when prices are low by using Shape Shifters for your import.

Then, you can sell your power at the highest rate, making a handy profit.

You can switch to an Octopus business export tariff now

Just head to the Panel Power or Shape Shifters: Export pages to sign up.

There are other commercial export tariffs available too

Lots of suppliers also offer the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). This is a government-backed scheme to make sure people get paid for their excess solar energy. The Octopus version of SEG pays you 3p per unit of electricity you export.

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So, there you have it. Everything you need to start your solar story.

With all of this info, you can say helio to solar power. And see how it can be a star. Aka the life and sol of your business.

If you'd like to chat to a member of our team, get in touch. We'd be happy to talk more about your solar options at Octopus.