Solar Canopy for Industrial and Manufacturing Sites

## Industrial Sites: The Best Solar Canopy Economics Manufacturing and industrial sites deliver the strongest commercial solar canopy economics of any sector. The reason is simple: they use electricity continuously, 24 hours a day in many cases, so almost every kWh generated is immediately consumed at full grid-avoided value. A typical manufacturing facility spending £500,000/year on electricity can save £50,000-£150,000/year from a 300-800 kWp car park canopy. At those economics, payback periods of 3-5 years are common, with 25-year IRRs often exceeding 15%. ## Self-Consumption: Why Manufacturing Wins Manufacturing sites have baseload electrical loads that run continuously: - **Compressed air**: Compressors running continuously consume 5-50 kW per unit, 24/7 - **MHE (material handling equipment)**: Forklifts, conveyors, ASRS systems - **Process heating**: Electric ovens, heat treatment, injection moulding - **HVAC**: Large factories with process cooling - **Lighting**: LED lighting in large manufacturing halls Even when panels are generating at peak output (midday), the factory's baseload absorbs almost all of it. Self-consumption ratios of 90-97% are typical for manufacturing — versus 70-85% for offices and 75-90% for retail. ## ISO 50001 and Energy Management ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) is increasingly required by major customers in automotive, aerospace, food manufacturing, and retail supply chains. Solar canopy generation directly contributes to ISO 50001 compliance by: - Demonstrating commitment to continual energy performance improvement - Providing a renewable energy baseline for energy reporting - Enabling measurable Scope 2 reduction targets We provide full PVSyst yield reports and metering data in formats compatible with ISO 50001 documentation requirements. ## EV Fleet Charging for Industrial Sites Industrial fleet electrification is accelerating driven by: - Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requiring 100% EV new vans by 2035 - ULEZ and LEZ expansion penalising diesel vehicles in urban delivery areas - Fleet operator carbon commitments Solar canopies with integrated EV chargers allow businesses to charge their vans, HGVs (smaller models), forklifts (via AC), and staff cars from solar generation during daylight hours — maximising self-consumption and minimising grid draw. **Solar + EV for logistics**: A 400 kWp canopy with 20 x 22 kW AC chargers (for vans) and 8 x 50 kW DC (for larger vehicles) can service 40-60 vehicle charges per day, largely from solar generation during the 09:00-17:00 solar peak. ## Large-Scale Industrial Canopy Projects For sites with 500+ parking spaces and 1-5 MW of potential canopy capacity, grid connection is the critical path item. We apply to the DNO for a G99 connection assessment immediately after feasibility sign-off — this process takes 4-14 months and must not be left until after structural design is complete. Large industrial canopy projects often benefit from a sub-station upgrade that serves both solar export and EV charging import — the cost is shared across both uses and the DNO process is simpler with a single combined application. ## Planning for Industrial Car Parks Industrial estates are generally the most straightforward planning environment for solar canopies. Most industrial car park canopies are PD-compliant. Even where the estate is within a Conservation Area (rare), the planning case for solar on industrial land is typically robust. The main planning consideration for large industrial projects (500+ kWp) is visual impact from motorways or trunk roads. We manage this through site layout design and, where required, landscape visualisation tools for planning submissions.