Solar panels are a fantastic way for retail units to reduce their energy expenditure while fostering a strong reputation in the community for sustainable business practices.
Business owners are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious – and with generous grants of up to €162,600, commercial solar PV is on the rise.
Along with an increase in residential and utility scale solar projects, commercial Solar PV has contributed to Ireland’s total solar capacity reaching over 1.2GW this year.
The key takeaways:
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Why Solar Panels are Great For Retail
Buildings in the retail sector are among the least energy efficient in Ireland – and energy bills can be sky high.
Retailers can have huge energy costs due to lighting, heating and refrigeration, and fluctuations in electricity prices leave them with little control over how much they pay.
The sudden rise in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine demonstrates this unpredictability – meaning it is difficult for retailers to accurately forecast with any degree of certainty.
But reducing energy expenditure is just one of a host of reasons why solar PV can be a great addition for retail units.
Here are some of the main benefits of commercial solar panels for retail:
Almost 50% of retail buildings in Ireland have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of D or below and only 1% are A rated.
In 2023, Ireland had the third most expensive electricity rates for non-domestic customers — at over 15 cent per kWh.
How many panels do Retail units need?
The ideal number of PV panels for retail units depends on electricity consumption and how much you wish to save.
The mean electricity usage for the retail sector in Ireland in 2022 was 33,399 kWh – however the median was 11,970 kWh, according to the Central Statistics Office.
Because of the large variation in business sizes in the sector, median electricity consumption is seen as a more stable indicator of overall demand.
While it is by no means essential, a common target for businesses is for renewable solar energy to cover 50% to 75% of their electricity demand.
If we take the median retail electricity usage of 11,970 kWh per year — 75% would be 8,978 kWh.
To generate this amount of electricity per year, you’d need around 24 solar panels, which would take up around 45 m2 of roof space.
However, as 11,970 kWh is the median consumption, half of retailers in Ireland would require less than this – and much less in some cases.
If you wished to generate 6,000 kWh, you’d only need around 16 solar panels, and just 8 panels could produce around 3,000 kWh per year.
| Annual Electricity Consumption | Number of panels needed to cover 75% |
| 3,000 | 6 |
| 6,000 | 12 |
| 9,000 | 16 |
| 12,000 | 24 |
| 24,000 | 48 |
| 36,000 | 60 |
Cost of Solar PV for Retail
The average cost of solar panels for the retail sector will depend on the size of the system – i.e. how many panels are installed.
This is dependent on energy consumption and how much electricity you wish to save per year.
In general the cost of commercial solar panels is between €850 – €2,000 per kWp.
While it is impossible to guarantee exact cost figures, the table below can give you a rough estimate of the costs associated with solar panels for retail.
| Number of Solar Panels | Solar System Size | Estimated Costs |
| 6 | 2.6 kWp | €5,500 |
| 12 | 5.3 kWp | €8,500 |
| 16 | 7 kWp | €10,000 |
| 24 | 10.6 kWp | €16,000 |
| 48 | 21.2 kWp | €32,000 |
Solar Panel Grants for Retail
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers grants to support the installation of commercial solar panels for retail. These grants can significantly reduce the initial investment required.
The main SEAI solar grant avenue for offices is the Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme mdms() which offers up to €162,600 towards a PV installation for businesses, farms, schools, nonprofits and community buildings, among others.
| Solar PV System Size | Grant Value |
| 3kWp | €2,100 |
| 6kWp | €2,400 |
| 7kWp | €2,700 |
| 10kWp | €3,600 |
| 20kWp | €6,600 |
| 50kWp | €12,600 |
Case Study: Tesco, Ballybane, Galway
Tesco Ireland has installed solar panels at its Ballybane store to help reduce energy consumption.
The panels, combined with improvements to lighting, heating, and ventilation systems, will cover up to 20% of the store’s annual electricity needs.
Despite the store’s small size of 650 square metres, the roof space has been maximised to generate 84,000 kWh of solar electricity. Additional measures to maximise energy efficiency are contributing 26,000 kWh.
The Ballybane store reopened in 2022 November after being refurbished and is one of nine new Tesco outlets which were launched in Galway that year.
Due to its commitment to sustainability and renewable energy, Tesco Ireland was named a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) champion for 2023-2024 by Minister Eamon Ryan.
Tesco sources 100% renewable energy to power its stores, distribution centre and offices.
Who Installs Solar for Retail?
There are a number of professional and trusted installers of solar photovoltaic panels for the commercial sector in Ireland.
We highly recommend choosing an installer with a track record of similar installations – and larger solar installation companies typically have more experience when it comes to commercial solar installations.
With any large investment such as solar PV, getting it right the first time is essential. That’s why we at Energy Efficiency have curated a list of the most trusted and reliable installers when it comes to solar for retail and the commercial sector more generally.
To get a 100% free quote from one of our partners, take our 90 second assessment today and get your solar journey underway.
Selling Electricity Back to the Grid
Retail buildings which generate more electricity than they use are able to sell solar energy back to the national grid. This can contribute to significant further savings – especially for retailers which are closed on Sundays.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme allows PV systems up to 50kWp to sell surplus electricity back to the grid at a tariff rate which is set by the electricity provider.
Get a Quote for Solar Panels today!
Speak to energy Efficiency today about solar panels for your retail business today.
Speak to the solar energy experts to find out how much you can save on your businesses energy bills.
