Solar Panels for Factories
Manufacturing solar PV from 50kWp to 1MWp+. Roof, ground-mount and canopy systems sized to actual production-line load curves — not desktop estimates.
Quick Answer
- Typical size: 80–700 kWp roof PV on steel-portal manufacturing roofs
- Typical project value: £58k–£420k installed (ex-VAT, before tax relief)
- Year 1 saving: 25–48% off baseline electricity bill
- Payback: 3.5–5.0 years on capex, 2.7–3.8 years after Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) tax relief
- Tax relief: Annual Investment Allowance — 100% of qualifying spend deducted in year 1, up to £1m a year
- Lead time: 14–22 weeks survey → commissioning incl. DNO G99
UK factories are uniquely well-suited to commercial solar. Production lines run daytime, the roofs are large and flat or low-pitch, and the embedded carbon savings tend to be a board-level KPI rather than an aspirational target. KMM has installed factory roof PV in food production, automotive components, plastics injection and textiles.
Where the economics actually work
System sizes for factories
Most UK factories sit between 80kWp and 700kWp. Larger sites — typical food processors above 25,000 m² — can absorb 1MWp+ of on-site generation without exporting a kWh. The roof tends to be the limit, not the load.
Roof structure
Steel-portal factory roofs typically handle 12–18 kg/m² of additional load. We do a structural check during the survey and where needed coordinate with a structural engineer for sign-off.
Continuous production
On 24/5 production lines, self-consumption is exceptionally high (75–90%) because the panels generate exactly when the load is highest. Payback periods of 3.5–5 years are achievable on the most efficient sites.
Power quality
Factory loads often have heavy inductive components from large motors. We size the inverter and check for power factor and harmonic compatibility on every commercial install.
System sizes & typical project values
See all solar for factories cities we cover →
FAQs for solar for factories buyers
Can my factory roof handle solar?
Will solar interfere with production?
What about roof maintenance?
Watch real KMM solar for factories projects
Real factories installs from Steve and Kieren — case studies, install footage and economics in plain English.
KMM solar for factories case studies
Every case study below is a real KMM customer with measured Year 1 generation, real payback maths and named project manager.
Doctors' Surgery Solar Rescue: 100kW + Battery Backup
A Market Deeping doctors' surgery had been let down by a previous solar installer — non-stop issues, no monitoring, zero confidence. KMM installed 100kW solar, 100kW battery, Tigo optimisers on every panel.
UK Farm Solar Case Study: 3-Year Payback
UK farm sized its solar at 50,000 kWh against 37,000 kWh usage to future-proof. KMM modelled a 3-year 3-month payback and roughly £500k of 30-year savings.
UK Farm Solar: Cutting Energy Costs on a Dryer
UK farm with grid-only power and a summer grain dryer turned to solar to harness rising energy costs, drive its dryer, and earn export income.
Related guides for commercial buyers
Plain-English deep-dives on the topics that actually drive commercial solar decisions — written by KMM project managers, not marketing.
Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) 2026: Plain-English Guide for Commercial Solar Buyers
Read guide →Industrial Solar Funding: IETF Closed — What Now
Read guide →G99 vs G100: Which Export Limitation You Actually Need
Read guide →Commercial Battery Storage ROI in 2026
Read guide →Quote a KMM solar for factories install
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Quote a KMM solar for factories install
Free drone survey, structural assessment and bound-in quote within 7 working days for solar for factories sites across the UK.
Quote for solar for factories
Tell us about your roof, your bills and your goals. KMM runs a fully funded electrical & structural survey, designs a system, runs the numbers and tells you honestly whether solar makes sense for you. No deposit, no pressure.
Book a Site Survey → 0115 647 3822