Take control of energy costs: why more UK businesses are switching to solar
26 August 2026
For many businesses, energy has become one of the most challenging overheads to manage. Prices rise and fall. Supply pressures shift. Policy changes hit hard. And when one of your core operating costs is unpredictable, planning ahead becomes harder.
That's why smart businesses are taking a different approach. Instead of simply managing rising bills, they're looking at ways to take greater control. We can help you explore commercial solar panels and the Smart Export Guarantee for businesses - both ways to cut your bills and take control of your energy costs. Ready to take control? Let's talk about what's right for your business.
The challenge - energy price volatility
Energy price volatility is not just a headline. It can hit your cash flow, margins and growth plans hard. For energy-intensive businesses - manufacturers, hospitality, warehouses, retail — even small price changes can seriously affect your bottom line.
This uncertainty makes it harder to forecast costs accurately, set pricing, or invest confidently in growth. And while choosing the right energy plan can help in the short term, your business is still exposed to the fluctuating wholesale market, either through your contract’s pricing or when a fixed term contract ends.
To build resilience and take control, many businesses are now reducing their grid reliance.
Did you know?
A medium-sized commercial solar system could save a business between £4,500 and £12,000 a year on energy costs.1
Make your own power and cut your energy costs
Installing commercial solar panels on your roof means you generate your own electricity during the day. You use that power straight away to run your lighting, equipment, refrigeration, IT systems and machinery. Every kilowatt-hour you make is one you don't buy from the grid. Over time, this really does reduce how much your energy spend swings with market prices and sudden spikes.
It's a real shift. Instead of just buying energy, you're making it too. That independence makes a real difference to your bills and your confidence when you're planning ahead.
Turn a variable cost into something more stable
For many businesses, the real value of solar isn’t just potential savings through onsite energy generation – it’s predictability.
By generating a portion of your electricity onsite, you gain clearer visibility over part of your future energy costs. When combined with the right energy plan, commercial solar panels can help make your business energy costs more stable and manageable long-term.
This improved certainty allows your business to budget and forecast more easily. And because your exposure to market volatility is reduced, it can also support your business when it comes to installing new technology or making efficient new equipment upgrades. At a time when many operating costs are rising, having greater control over energy can be an important strategic advantage.
Get paid for energy you don't use
Commercial solar panels give you more control over your energy costs. Under the Smart Export Guarantee for businesses, you'll also get paid for any surplus electricity you export back to the grid - that's extra money in your pocket.
For example, if your business generates more electricity than it uses at certain times of day, that excess energy doesn’t have to go to waste. Instead, it can give your business an extra revenue stream, while contributing to the UK’s transition to lower-carbon future.
Is solar right for your business?
Commercial solar panels aren't just for big businesses anymore. Small and medium-sized businesses across the UK are using it to manage energy costs.
We'll help you work out if it's right for you. Think about your roof space, when you use most energy, and how long you'll stay at your premises. If you run mainly during daylight hours, you'll use more of what you generate. Add a solar battery and you can store the rest — so you've got power at night too.
So while energy markets may remain unpredictable, your approach to energy doesn’t have to be.
Ready to move forward?
Ready to explore commercial solar for your business? Arrange a call back with one of our install partners.
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The views, opinions and positions expressed within the British Gas business Blog are those of the author alone and do not represent those of British Gas. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this blog are not guaranteed. British Gas accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright in the content within the British Gas business Blog belongs to the authors of such content and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them. See the Fuel mix used to generate our electricity. Read about making a complaint about your business energy.
