A ray of hope for our business energy bills?

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, along with a newly reactivated Solar Taskforce, is spearheading a major push to get more solar panels on homes and businesses by 2030. This is all part of a wider strategy to build the UK’s energy independence, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and protect consumer bills from volatile energy markets.

I am an advocate for cleaner, renewable energy and more sustainable business in general, but we've heard of these "initiatives" before, right?

So, what does this really mean for small businesses?

Well, this is what we know, so far...

Solar power: a growing opportunity

Solar is one of the cheaper and more accessible forms of renewable energy. If there is an increase in focus on solar panels, then it could be worth considering whether solar energy could benefit your business.

Beyond the environmental impact (cutting carbon emissions is always a win in my book), businesses that invest in solar could see long-term financial benefits.

With energy costs still a major concern, generating your own electricity could offer significant savings and protect you from future price hikes.

The Solar Taskforce: What’s the plan?

The government’s reactivated Solar Taskforce, which met for the first time on 2nd October 2024, is looking to tackle the key challenges they feel are holding the sector back.

The first meeting focused on how to develop ethical, resilient and innovative supply chains and ensuring that a skilled and properly resourced workforce is in place to scale up solar installations.

What can businesses do now?

Whether you own your premises or rent, there may be ways to benefit from this renewable energy push. For instance, solar panel installations on warehouses and office buildings or even smaller rooftop setups could help reduce your energy costs and carbon footprint.

They also attract tax relief via an enhanced capital allowances claim.

For these kinds of investment decisions, a cost-benefit analysis can be a simple way to weigh the advantages or benefits of the decision against the costs involved to see whether it’s financially worthwhile.

Here’s how it works - the condensed version!

1. List the costs: These could include upfront expenses, ongoing maintenance, time, or any other resources you’ll need to commit. For example, if you're considering installing solar panels, the costs would include the price of the panels, installation, and any maintenance fees.
2. List the benefits: Benefits can be financial (such as savings on energy bills or government incentives) and non-financial (like reducing your carbon footprint, improving staff wellbeing, being more self-sufficient or simply boosting your organisation's green credentials).
3. Quantify the costs and benefits: Where possible, you assign a monetary value to both the costs and benefits. If the total benefits outweigh the costs, it suggests it could be a good decision. If the costs are higher, you might reconsider or perhaps look for ways to reduce them.

A cost-benefit analysis might help you decide whether the upfront costs will be outweighed by the long-term savings on your energy bills, any tax incentives, and the potential for increasing the value of your property.

If you need any help putting together a cost-benefit analysis, or making a start on measuring your organisation's carbon footprint, our team can help you. We also have a great network of professionals who can help implement your plans.