Solar for Business

Do you want access to cheaper and greener electricity, but don’t have the up front capital funds to cover a solar installation at your business premises? Our Solar for Business scheme could be the answer!

Through the Solar for Business scheme, West Suffolk Council will design, fund, install, and maintain a solar photovoltaics (PV) installation on your business’s roof. 100 per cent of the electricity generated by the system is provided for your business to use at a discounted tariff cheaper than your current electricity supplier, to help you cut your energy bills.

Complete the short Solar for Business Enquiry Form to join the 100+ businesses who are already experiencing the benefits of solar energy:

• Decreased electricity costs: Solar for Business has helped businesses save a collective £700,000 from their electricity bills since 2016.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Solar for Business prevents 2,000 tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere each year.
• Boosted economic development: Savings from electricity bills can be used to unlock funds for further investment in your business, helping you to achieve your ambitions for business growth.
• Enhanced brand image: A solar installation will strengthen your green credentials and contribute towards local and national sustainability goals.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Solar for Business, the following criteria must be met:

• annual electricity consumption of at least 5,000 kilowatt hours (kWh), this is equivalent to an annual electricity bill of £1,250 if paying 25p per kWh
• your building must be located within West Suffolk, Babergh, or Mid Suffolk
• your building cannot be Grade I or II listed
• if you do not own the premises, you would like the panels installed on, you must have landlord permission to join this scheme.

The process

1. Complete our Solar for Business Enquiry Form to express your interest in the scheme.
2. If you meet our eligibility criteria, a council officer will arrange a meeting to assess your building’s roof and electrical supply suitability.
3. If your building is suitable, you will receive a tailored proposal for a solar installation at your site.
4. If you accept the proposal, we will draft a landlord-tenant lease agreement in which the solar panels become a ‘tenant’ on the roof whilst the building owner maintains ownership and control of the roof. Alongside the lease we will also draft a power purchase agreement (PPA) which sets out the terms under which the business will purchase the electricity, including the unit rate and billing frequency. The term of these documents is 25 years.
5. Once the lease and PPA are signed, we will procure a solar installer and arrange the installation at your site. This is relatively quick, and we will work together to ensure minimal disruption to your business.

Once the solar PV system is installed:

1. We will set up your monthly direct debit payments. You will be sent invoices twice a year, in January and July, for the electricity consumed during the previous six-month period.
2. We will arrange and pay for an annual inspection and service of the equipment to comply with building insurance requirements (we recommend that you notify your insurance company that solar panels are being installed on your building).
3. For the duration of the 25-year term, we will remotely monitor the solar PV system to ensure its performance is maintained. We will contact you in advance to arrange access for any required maintenance. All costs for maintenance, repairs, and part replacements are covered by the council, as the owner of the equipment.
4. If you decide to sell your business or building or vacate your leased premises during the 25-year term, the purchaser of the business or building or the new tenant would have the opportunity to take over the lease and therefore benefit from the cheap electricity from the panels.

Our aims

West Suffolk Council are part of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group which is a collaboration between public sector bodies in Suffolk, including all Local Authorities, Public Health Suffolk and others, working towards net zero by 2030. Solar for Business is one way that we are supporting businesses on that journey. The council also makes a return on each Solar for Business installation which is used to cover the council’s cost for installing and maintaining the systems. Funds are also reinvested to support wider decarbonisation projects and to grow the Solar for Business scheme. The scheme supports local businesses, community groups, and charities, helping them to reduce their utility bills and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the Solar for Business scheme helps the council meet the Government’s aspirations for local councils to become more commercial, helping them become financially sustainable and continue to deliver and improve local services.

Business testimonies

Unisurge International, Newmarket

1,692 solar panels installed in 2018

In 2024-25 £27,794 saved on electricity bills, 68.5 tonnes of carbon saved and 331,110kWh of renewable electricity consumed.

“The scheme has been a transformative initiative for our business, providing a sustainable energy solution that not only reduces environmental impact but also significantly lowers operational costs. By embracing solar technology, we have been able to enhance our energy resilience, foster innovation, and contribute to a greener future for the community.”

Animax, Stanton

526 solar panels installed in 2019

“This is a win-win for both Animax as local employer reducing our grid electricity consumption, as well as helping to reduce our carbon footprint which fits to further work switching to 100 per cent recyclable packaging for our animal nutrition and health products whilst allowing local council savings to be pumped back into local initiatives and services.”

Precision Marketing, Bury St Edmunds

260 solar panels installed in 2020

“Precision were thrilled to take part in this scheme. To supplement our existing roof solar with a further 99kW made absolute sense to us as we constantly strive to reduce our carbon footprint. The West Suffolk Council proposal met our generation requirements, was well planned and the installers operated efficiently with minimal disruption. Despite the lack of sunshine this summer the new panels are still generating a significant amount of electricity, we powered our entire operation by solar for several days in July.”

How electricity moves from the solar panel to your business

1. Solar panels absorb solar energy to produce an electrical charge as they become energised by the sunlight. The electrical charge creates a direct current of electricity.
2. DC current is transported to an inverter. The inverter converts the DC current into AC (alternating current) current to be used in your building.
3. Generation meter measures the total amount of electricity generated by the system in kWh.
4. All AC current generated is available for your business to consume.
5. Export meter measures the total amount of electricity that is not consumed on site and is exported to the mains grid in kWh.

You will still receive an electricity bill from your mains grid supplier, as the PV system is unlikely to meet 100 per cent of your electrical demand over the winter and during the evenings when there is less sunlight. The PV system has been set up so that it automatically supplies the building with solar electricity before grid electricity is consumed, so your total electricity expenditure will be lower than if the system wasn’t installed.

Billing information

Your onsite consumption is calculated using automatic readings sent to us from the solar PV generation meter and the export meter. The difference between generation and export readings shows the number of units consumed onsite. This figure is multiplied by the cost per unit of electricity to produce your bill (example below).

The contract rate will be adjusted annually on 1 January based on the average consumer price index (CPI) percentage change for the preceding year. Contract information, including payment terms, are included within your PPA.

Next steps

To sign up please complete our short Solar for Business Enquiry Form.