Why Are UK Businesses Taking Another Look at Solar?

Solar PV is growing rapidly across the UK, but what does that actually mean for businesses?

Solar PV installations have increased by more than 400% since 2019, rising from 53,044 installations to 269,176 in 2025. A further 191,997 installations were recorded between January and August this year, showing that interest in solar isn’t slowing down.

However, there’s more to this story than simply more panels appearing on rooftops.

So, why are more people turning to solar and what can businesses take from this?

Why Is Solar Becoming More Popular?

For many homeowners, solar offers a way to have more control over how they use and generate energy. It can reduce reliance on the grid and provide some protection against future energy price increases.

Businesses are increasingly thinking in a similar way.

If your organisation has suitable roof space, significant electricity consumption or clear sustainability targets, generating some of your own electricity could be worth exploring.

The key is understanding whether solar actually works for your business, rather than simply installing panels because everyone else is.

Where Are We Seeing the Most Solar?

Solar installations are particularly common in rural, coastal and suburban areas. These properties often have more suitable roof space and fewer barriers to installation.

For businesses, the same principle applies.

Warehouses, industrial units, commercial buildings and other large properties can provide plenty of space for solar generation, but having a big roof doesn’t automatically mean solar is the right option. Your energy usage, operating hours and electricity demand all need to be considered.

Solar Isn’t Just About Sustainability

It’s easy to think of solar as purely an environmental investment. Yes, it can play an important role in reducing emissions, but there’s a commercial side too.

Generating electricity on-site can reduce the amount of power a business needs to buy from the grid, potentially helping to reduce costs and improve energy resilience.

Of course, the numbers need to stack up. The potential benefits will depend on your energy consumption, available space, generation levels and wider energy strategy.

Look at the Bigger Picture

The rapid growth in solar tells us something important: businesses and consumers are looking for greater control over their energy.

For businesses, that means it’s worth asking a few simple questions:

How much electricity are we using?
When are we using it?
Could we generate some of it ourselves?
And would solar actually make commercial sense for us?

These questions can help you understand whether solar could play a useful role in your wider energy strategy.

How GLEG Can Help

At GLEG, we believe renewable energy should make both commercial and environmental sense.

That’s why we start with the numbers. By understanding your energy usage, costs and business requirements, we can help you assess whether solar could reduce costs, improve sustainability and strengthen your long-term energy strategy.

The UK’s solar market is growing quickly and for businesses, it could be worth finding out whether there’s an opportunity sitting on your roof.

Want to find out more about solar for your business? Email us at hello@gleg.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.