Solar Panel Installation
MCS-certified domestic install, 3-6kW typical. 0% VAT through March 2027. Tier 1 panels, hybrid inverter, SEG setup.
From £4,500Cornwall business with a south-facing roof? Solar PV typically pays back in 5-8 years on commercial premises thanks to high daytime self-consumption. Get matched with MCS-certified commercial installers.
Commercial solar PV is the most economically attractive solar segment in the UK — and Cornwall has thousands of suitable sites. Why commercial works better than domestic: businesses use most of their electricity during daylight hours (offices, retail, manufacturing, refrigeration, EV chargers), which means self-consumption rates of 60-80% versus 25-35% for typical domestic installs. Higher self-consumption means faster payback — typically 5-8 years for a well-sited commercial system, sometimes faster.
Common Cornwall commercial sites we cover:
Typical commercial install sizes: 10-50kW for SME premises, 50-200kW for larger commercial roofs, 200kW+ for industrial sites. Above 50kW you're usually into three-phase territory and G99 DNO applications become standard — pre-approval from National Grid Electricity Distribution typically takes 4-8 weeks, sometimes longer where the local 11kV network is constrained.
Costs (at time of writing, 2026):
Tax treatment matters. Commercial solar typically qualifies for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) — 100% first-year capital allowance on plant and machinery (subject to the AIA cap, check with your accountant for the current year). That's a meaningful tax saving for any profitable Cornish business. Discuss with your accountant before specifying — sometimes splitting an install across tax years optimises the relief.
All commercial installers in our network are MCS-certified for systems up to 50kWp (MCS scope) and NICEIC-approved or equivalent for larger commercial work outside the MCS scheme.
Getting a Cornwall MCS-certified commercial solar installation specialist shouldn't be a fortnight of cold calls. Here's how it works.
Fill in the quick quote form. Tell us your Cornwall postcode, property type, the job (new install, battery, clean, repair, commercial, farm or holiday let) and rough timing.
We pair you with a vetted Cornwall MCS-certified, RECC-registered commercial solar installation specialist near you. Site survey arranged direct — usually within 1-2 weeks, faster for repairs.
Survey, written quote, G98 or G99 DNO application, scaffolding, install, commissioning, MCS certification and Smart Export Guarantee paperwork — all handled by your matched installer.
Need something other than commercial solar installation? We cover the full range of Cornwall solar work — domestic, commercial, farm, holiday let, batteries, cleaning and repair.
MCS-certified domestic install, 3-6kW typical. 0% VAT through March 2027. Tier 1 panels, hybrid inverter, SEG setup.
From £4,500Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh), GivEnergy 5.2-13kWh, Enphase IQ Battery. Hybrid or AC-coupled retrofit.
From £5,500Coastal grime, bird droppings, lichen reduce yield by 5-15%. Pure-water reach systems, annual clean recommended.
From £75/visitInverter replacement (10-12 yr lifespan typical), microinverter swaps, DC isolator failures, full fault diagnosis.
From £150 diagnosticHotels, holiday let portfolios, offices, retail, warehouses. 5-8 year ROI typical with G99 grid connection.
Bespoke quoteAgricultural roof and ground-mount installs. AIA-eligible plant and machinery. Diversification income.
Bespoke quoteOffset guest electricity, EV-charger integration, SEG export income on summer-peak generation.
From £4,500Indicative installed prices for typical 2026 Cornwall jobs. Your matched MCS-certified installer gives a firm written quote after survey.
Entry-level MCS-certified PV install — 7-9 Tier 1 panels, string inverter, SEG setup. 0% VAT to March 2027.
Most common 2026 spec — 10-12 panels, hybrid inverter, GivEnergy or equivalent battery. 0% VAT on full package.
13.5kWh Powerwall 3 fitted to existing PV — AC-coupled or hybrid inverter swap. App control, full home backup option.
Commercial roofs, holiday parks, farms. G99 DNO application included. AIA tax relief and 5-8 year ROI typical.
We cover the whole of Cornwall — find your nearest town to connect with a vetted local MCS-certified solar installer in your area.
Everything you need to know about commercial solar installation in Cornwall.
Yes — typically more so than domestic. Commercial premises use most electricity during daylight (the exact hours solar generates), so self-consumption rates run 60-80% versus 25-35% domestic. Payback is typically 5-8 years, sometimes faster. Add the Annual Investment Allowance (100% first-year tax relief on plant) and the post-tax IRR can be excellent for any profitable business.
Match the system to daytime baseload consumption, not annual total. A site survey will analyse 12 months of half-hourly meter data to size the system for maximum self-consumption. Rule of thumb: 1kWp per 8-10sqm of suitable south-facing roof. 30kW for a small workshop, 50-100kW for a larger commercial unit, 100-200kW for industrial sites.
Above 3.68kW per phase, you need a G99 application to National Grid Electricity Distribution (the DNO covering Cornwall, formerly WPD) before install. Pre-approval is required, typical lead time 4-8 weeks. Above ~70-100kW, the local 11kV network may need upgrade work — this can stretch lead times significantly. Your installer handles the G99 submission as part of the project.
VAT: 20% applies on commercial solar (zero-rate is domestic only). VAT-registered businesses reclaim this in the normal way. Capital allowances: yes — commercial solar typically qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (100% first-year relief on qualifying plant), subject to the AIA cap. Discuss with your accountant — sometimes splitting installs across tax years is optimal.
Most commercial roof-mounted solar is permitted development, but the threshold is lower than domestic — large commercial arrays (especially ground-mount or shading neighbouring properties) may need planning. Listed buildings, conservation areas and AONB sites require additional consents. Your installer will check before quoting. Ground-mounted commercial solar above 1MW is a different planning regime entirely.
3-7 days on site for a typical 30-100kW commercial install. Project end-to-end (including survey, G99 DNO application, hardware lead times, scaffolding/access plan, install and commissioning) is usually 10-16 weeks. Bigger systems and DNO-constrained sites can stretch to 4-6 months. Your installer will give a realistic project plan upfront.