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A new solar grant is now available for businesses located in the West of England to aid with the installation of solar panels on larger commercial and industrial rooftops. This grant is on a first come first serve basis.
The rooftop solar initiative aims to motivate small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and registered charities to set up solar panels on their larger commercial and industrial rooftops, including warehouses, factories, and larger office buildings. This funding ultimately aids a business to reduce their carbon emissions and save money on energy bills through the installation of solar panels.
How much funding can my business get?
For this scheme, there is a minimum grant request of £15,000 and the maximum a business can apply for is £50,000. A business can apply for a grant of up to 30% towards eligible costs of the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, the remaining 70% required to complete the project will need to be funded by the business itself. The remaining 70% can be funded through reserves or other financial routes such as a loan, but you are unable to use other public money to cover the remaining cost. In total, The Rooftop Solar Grant has made £500,000 available for this scheme that multiple businesses can apply for, but the grant is on a first come first served basis, so we do not anticipate it being available for long.
Unlike loans, grants do not require repayment, and this is a great scheme for businesses who are interested in installing solar to work towards their net zero goals in alignment with the 2050 UK net zero goals.
If you are interested in installing solar for your business but your grant request falls below the £15,000 minimum there is the option to apply for the Green Business Grant Scheme instead and the application for this are still open. The Green Business Grant Scheme has a much lower minimum grant request of £500.00 and is still aimed at SME’s.
Am I eligible to apply?
If your business is located in the West of England and interested in applying for this scheme there are a few criteria that must be met:
- Trading address is in Bath, North East Somerset, Bristol or South Gloucestershire local authority area only and your project location must also be based in this region.
- Be able to provide the remaining 70% towards the project.
- The minimum grant applied for is £15,000 and does not exceed £50,000.
- Be a legal entity such as a limited company, limited liability partnership, co-operative, or registered charity.
- Be a small or medium sized enterprise (SME), to qualify as an SME you have fewer than 250 employee and a turnover of equal to or less than £36 million or a balance sheet of equal to or less than £18 million.
- Have had an independent energy or carbon assessment done that recommends the project you are applying for the grant for. The Growth Hub provide a carbon survey which is free of charge but there is also the option to use a third-party consultant or assessor to conduct this if preferred.
As well as meeting the above criteria the grant also states that the generation capacity of your system must be at least 50kWp DC within a single array and an inverter output of at least 40kW AC.
The grant process
Why install solar panels?
The Rooftop Solar Grant as it states in the title can be used for the supply and installation of solar panels on the roof of a commercial premise but the grant can also be used for solar carports on an existing parking facility.
With rising energy prices and the uncertainty on the future costs of electricity, generating your own renewable energy with an installation of solar panels for your business has various benefits:
- Lower energy bills: Solar PV systems offer the most cost-effective and efficient method for harnessing energy from the sun, a freely available and renewable resource.
- Future proof your business: Solar PV enhances your energy independence and prepares your business for the future while also contributing to environmental protection.
- More for your money: The cost of Solar PV has significantly dropped, while its technical performance has continually improved, allowing you to receive greater value for your investment.
Our expert commercial solar team have been delivering innovative commercial solar projects of all shapes and sizes since SunGift started all the way back in 2005. Our customers include a diverse array of businesses and institutions, from globally recognised organisations such as the Met Office, to local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profits, and educational institutions. Whether your goal is to decrease energy costs or achieve specific carbon reduction objectives, our team are equipped to assist you.
