How much do solar panels for manufacturers cost?
Real UK costs by system size, sub-vertical, and financing route. Updated for 2026.
Cost ranges by sub-vertical
Food & Drink Manufacturers
- Typical system
- 400-1,200 kW
- Project value
- £300,000-£980,000
- Payback
- 5.5 years
- Annual generation
- 370,000-1,100,000 kWh
Metalworking, Engineering & Fabrication
- Typical system
- 150-600 kW
- Project value
- £115,000-£540,000
- Payback
- 6.5 years
- Annual generation
- 140,000-550,000 kWh
Plastics & Injection Moulding
- Typical system
- 300-1,000 kW
- Project value
- £240,000-£850,000
- Payback
- 5.5 years
- Annual generation
- 275,000-920,000 kWh
Textiles & Light Manufacturing
- Typical system
- 150-500 kW
- Project value
- £115,000-£450,000
- Payback
- 7.5 years
- Annual generation
- 140,000-460,000 kWh
General Light Industrial & Assembly
- Typical system
- 150-500 kW
- Project value
- £115,000-£450,000
- Payback
- 6 years
- Annual generation
- 140,000-460,000 kWh
Cost questions
How much do solar panels for a manufacturing site cost in the UK?
A typical UK manufacturing solar installation ranges from around £150,000 to £1 million fully installed, depending on system size. Cost per kW is usually £750 to £950 for systems above 250 kW, falling towards £600/kW above 1 MW. The capital is normally fully expensed in year one under the Annual Investment Allowance, and most projects achieve simple payback in 5 to 7 years.
How much roof area do we need per kW of solar?
Roughly 5 to 6 square metres of roof per kW of installed PV in 2026, using 450W-plus panels in portrait orientation with optimised row spacing. So a 500 kW system needs around 2,500 to 3,000 square metres of unobstructed roof. We run a 3D shading study to confirm, because rooftop plant, parapets and adjacent buildings can reduce usable area significantly.
How do we finance manufacturing solar without using our capital budget?
Through a PPA or asset finance. A power purchase agreement provides solar energy with zero capex; you pay per kWh consumed at a rate below your current grid tariff. Asset finance puts the system on balance sheet but spreads the cost over 7 to 15 years, and most projects are EBITDA-positive from year one. Operating leases are also available. We model each route against a cash purchase so you can compare like for like.
What is the difference between a PPA and an asset-finance deal?
Under a PPA a third party owns and operates the system and you pay per kWh consumed, typically 20 to 40 percent below grid retail, with zero capex and off-balance-sheet treatment but no ownership. Under asset finance you own the system, financed over 7 to 15 years; payments are higher per kWh equivalent but you keep all the savings and own an asset that still has value at year 15.