A warehouse roof can offer useful space for solar panels. For the business operating underneath it, the opportunity is to turn that space into electricity that supports day-to-day operations.
But floor area alone does not tell you what size system to install. A storage facility with modest electricity demand needs a different assessment from a distribution hub with busy shifts and extensive equipment.
ComSol Energy’s projects at Great Bear Distribution Hub and Crown Records in Leeds provide two examples of solar serving this wider sector at different scales.
Great Bear: solar built into a new distribution hub
At Great Bear Distribution Hub, we installed a 100 kWp rooftop solar PV array as part of a new industrial development. The published project figures estimate annual electricity generation of 81,100 kWh.
The case study separates anticipated first-year electricity savings of £17,100 from an additional £1,600 in annual export income. Keeping those figures separate helps explain where the expected return comes from: electricity used by the site and electricity sold to the grid. Explore the Great Bear solar project.
For developers and future occupiers, this raises a useful planning question: how will the proposed system work with the building’s expected operations? Involving both parties early helps align the installation with the people who will use its electricity.
Crown Records: solar for a storage facility
Our Crown Records project involved supplying and installing a 30 kWp solar PV system at its Leeds storage facility. It provides a second example of rooftop solar within storage and distribution, at a smaller system size than Great Bear. Find Crown Records in our commercial solar case studies.
The comparison shows why businesses should assess solar at site level. Buildings within the same broad sector can have very different electricity requirements, roof layouts and operating patterns.
Match the system to the working day
Before deciding how much roof to use, examine the electricity consumed beneath it. Lighting, offices and handling equipment can all contribute to demand, but their importance varies from one warehouse to another.
Ask how much electricity the site uses during daylight hours, how weekend demand changes and whether future equipment or vehicle charging is likely to alter the pattern.
An annual bill is a useful starting point. More detailed consumption data makes it easier to estimate how much solar electricity the site could use directly and how much it might export.
Check the roof and building arrangements
Roof condition, structural suitability, rooflights and access routes all affect a warehouse solar design. An assessment should also consider how installation work can be organised around loading bays, staff routes and deliveries.
For leased buildings, establish who controls the roof and who will benefit from the electricity. The landlord, occupier and project team need a shared understanding of the proposed installation and the building’s longer-term plans.
What should a warehouse solar proposal show?
A clear proposal should explain the recommended system size, forecast generation, expected on-site consumption and export assumptions. It should also set out installation costs and the basis of any savings forecast.
If battery storage or future EV charging is being considered, ask for those options to be assessed against the site’s operating pattern. Their value should be demonstrated through the figures.
Explore solar for your warehouse
Whether you manage an existing storage building or are planning a new distribution centre, a site assessment can establish what is practical and what the investment could deliver.
Speak to ComSol Energy about warehouse solar. We can review your building and electricity use to develop a proposal around your operations.
