Bedford is seeing a surge in the amount of investment across manufacturing, logistics, retail, and professional services.
As a result, businesses are continuously looking at supporting long-term growth, and one of the ways that has become more prominent in recent years is the use of solar panels.
Commercial solar installation in Bedford is becoming increasingly popular for businesses with vast roofs and high daytime electricity demands as a means to keep energy costs down, prove environmental commitment, and reduce reliance on the grid to protect against volatile prices.
As more and more businesses in Bedford are beginning to recognise the true power of solar panels, it’s important to understand how commercial solar panels can benefit a business, so those further afield can reap the benefits, too.
With this in mind, here’s how solar panels are supporting Bedford’s growing business economy.
The benefits of commercial solar for businesses
Lower energy expenses
Particularly for operations that have a substantial demand for electricity during the day, the energy savings that solar power can provide are exceptional.
Without solar panels, buildings have to rely solely on power purchased from the grid – which can be extortionate – but by generating electricity on-site, businesses can massively reduce the amount spent on grid-powered electricity.
Grid resilience
Relying entirely on the national grid leaves businesses vulnerable to price fluctuations.
With volatility seemingly getting worse nowadays, it can feel impossible to forecast future expenses and plan finances accordingly, and when prices are hiked, it can make it difficult for businesses to run day-to-day operations profitably.
When a business installs commercial solar panels, the amount of money going towards energy is more consistent, which can make it easier to manage finances.
Reduces wasted space
Another huge benefit of solar panels is that they help a business make use of the entire facility.
Large warehouse roofs, for example, can provide substantial space for high-capacity PV arrays. By not using this space, businesses could be missing out on using the property to its full potential.
The negatives of solar panels
As with anything, there are some negatives to consider. The biggest one being the upfront cost of the panels and their installation.
A typical 50kW system costs £45,000, and you’ll usually see a return on your investment in four to five years. Although many factors can alter this cost, future building extensions and changes in electricity demand should also be considered when sizing the PV and electrical infrastructure.
Equally, if a business doesn’t have high energy demands, it can take longer to see a full return on investment.
That being said, EV charging infrastructure can be coordinated with solar generation to increase on-site electricity use, so there are ways to boost the amount of energy used in low-demand facilities.
Despite some downsides, solar power is supporting Bedford businesses
Although this level of investment isn’t possible for some businesses and isn’t worth it for those whose energy demand isn’t particularly high, for properties that do consume significant amounts of energy during the day, solar panels can offer exceptional returns, keeping costs low and supporting future business growth.
Advertising feature with Geo Green Power
