The cost of commercial solar panels for businesses, farms, community organisations, or other non-residential buildings can vary greatly, with systems costing anywhere from €15,000 to €150,000, or even more for very large customers.

On average, commercial solar panel systems cost approximately €850 – €2,000 per kWp capacity of the overall system.

Factors affecting the cost of commercial solar PV prices include the size of the system, the quality of the components, and the complexity of the installation work.

Prices for solar panels have fallen dramatically in recent years, making now an excellent time for businesses to invest in solar energy to save money.

Commercial Solar Panels Cost

Table of Content

The key takeaways:
  • Commercial Solar Panels cost approximately €850 – €2,000 per kWp of capacity installed.
  • Grants of up to €162,600 can help with the cost of commercial solar panels.
  • Installation costs vary depending on the height and type of building.

How large are commercial solar PV systems

The size of a solar PV system for a business, farm, office or other non-residential customer can vary greatly.

Small retail or hospitality businesses might only install a 3kWp – 7kWp solar PV system of around 7 to 16 solar panels. 

This is roughly in line with a domestic solar panel project and would have similar costs of €5,000 – €10,000 for the customer.

However, many businesses will install far more solar panels, with hotels, office blocks, factories, warehouses, and more often getting systems of 50kWp – 200kWp or even higher.

This is a more complex project, and will likely come with higher costs for installation and additional equipment needed.

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Financial Returns on Commercial Solar Panels

Commercial solar PV systems can typically recoup their initial cost in 4 – 7 years and are expected to have a lifespan of 30 years or more. Larger systems involved in commercial solar have shorter payback periods than most residential solar systems.

This means that for anywhere from 20 – 30 years after this they will carry on producing electricity which is all profit for the owner from reduced energy bills.

Solar PV System Size Annual Electricity Output Annual Savings
20kWp 17,300kWh €6,199
50kWp 43,300kWh €15,514
100kWp 86,600kWh €31,028
150kWp 130,000kWh €46,579

Estimates assume south-facing solar panels with a 30° inclination. Savings based on Electric Ireland 35.83c per kWh 24-hr rate.

What Factors Affect Commercial Solar Panel Costs?

There are multiple different areas which come into play when it comes to gauging the cost of a commercial solar panel installation.

Factors that affect the cost of solar panels:

The more solar panels which are being installed as part of a solar PV system, the larger the price will be overall. Larger systems will also require more inverters, mounts, and other equipment, further raising the cost.

If optional extras such as solar batteries are installed as part of a commercial solar system, this will add to the costs. Other equipment which may be installed at the same time to make use of solar power includes EV charging stations.

Different types of buildings will have varying levels of complexity when it comes to installing solar panels.

  • Roof Type: Whether a building has a flat or pitched roof, or how steep the angle of the roof is, may result in additional equipment and labour time needed to install panels safely.
  • Building Height: Taller buildings such as large office blocks or hotels will be more time-consuming to safely install solar panels on than a single-storey retail building.
  • Ease of Access: How easy or difficult it is to safely access the roof of a building can raise the installation costs.
  • Electrical Requirements: Older buildings may require work on their electrical system before solar panels can be connected to them.

Depending on where the commercial premises is located, or the size of the solar PV system or solar farm being built, there may be other hidden costs.

If planning permission is required for a solar PV system, then this will come with the need for professional reports as an added expense.

What Factors Affect Commercial Solar Panel Costs

Equipment Costs for Commercial Solar Panels

There are multiple pieces of equipment which go into a solar PV array. The quality and quantity of those components will affect the overall price of the system.

A single solar inverter typically costs from €1,000 to €2,000. Inverters are also only rated to handle up to a set amount of power input from solar panels. This means that a larger solar PV system might need multiple inverters to handle the entire load.

Solar panels require a mounting system to affix them in place. This can be a relatively simple rack for pitched roofs. However, on a flat roof or for ground-mounted solar panels larger and more expensive mounting systems may be required.

Adding a standard 5kW solar battery to any solar PV system to store excess electricity will add roughly €2,350 – €2,850 to the cost. Many battery systems also allow multiple modules to be operated in parallel to scale up their storage capacity for larger businesses.

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Are Commercial Solar Panels Worth It?

There are many benefits, both financial and otherwise, for businesses, farms, and more to install commercial solar panels at this time.

Some of these benefits include:

  • Reduced Operating Costs: Commercial solar panels can save thousands or tens of thousands of euros on electricity costs.

  • Improved Property Values: Having solar panels installed can increase the BER of a property, which always bumps up the property value.

  • Green Business Credentials: The environmental benefits of reduced carbon emissions can help to show that your business is committed to sustainability.

  • Future Proofing: Reducing reliance on the grid for electricity can future proof a business or farm against volatility in electricity prices.

Grants for Commercial Solar Panels

There are different streams of grant funding available to help businesses and more with the costs of commercial solar panels from multiple government programmes.

The SEAI offers up to €162,600 for businesses, farms, schools, and non-profits such as community groups to have solar panels installed.

Farms can also avail of up to €90,000 in grant funding for commercial solar panels through the TAMS 3 programme from the Department of Agriculture.

Other grant schemes and financial aid programmes are also available to help with the cost of commercial solar panels.

Grants available for solar panels

Commercial Solar Panels With No Upfront Costs

Some solar installation companies offer deals which allow for the installation of commercial solar panels with no upfront costs through a lease or power purchase agreement.

The specifics of these deals will vary by provider but have many of the same essential factors. The installation company will handle the upfront costs of installing the solar panels, as well as maintenance for the duration of the deal, which typically lasts from 15 – 25 years.

In a lease deal, the customer is essentially leasing the equipment from the provider, and paying them a fixed monthly fee.

In a power purchase agreement, the customer agrees to buy electricity from the company that installs the solar panels at a fixed rate.

Deals can vary in their specifics, and one factor which should always be examined closely is who retains ownership of the solar panels at its end.

FAQs

How many inverters are required for a commercial solar PV system depends on the model of the inverter, and the size of the system.

The majority of smaller inverters for businesses and residential use can handle a maximum input of 500-600V, or a solar PV array of 5kW – 15kW. Larger utility scale inverters have a maximum input of ~1,500V and can take approximately 25 – 30 panels each.

Tier 1 solar panels from brands such as Jinko, Bauer Solar, Longi, JA Solar and others are best for a good combination of efficiency, reliability, and affordability.

Solar panels are typically given an expected operational lifespan of 25 – 30 years. But they can continue producing electricity long past this point if unbroken.

Commercial solar panels which are exposed to the elements can accumulate dirt and other grime over time. This can affect their performance, so they should be cleaned at least once a year to stay in good working condition.

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Vetted solar companies:

  • SEAI Authorised
  • SafeElectric Certified
  • Fully Insured
  • 1,000+ Installations
  • Tier-1 Materials
  • Dedicated Customer Care
  • Fully Vetted
  • Competitively Priced
  • Free Site Assessments