Retailers are being encouraged to accelerate investment in solar PV to protect margins, support Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) commitments and build resilience as energy costs and sustainability expectations rise.
This is according to a new guide from nationwide renewable energy installers, Geo Green Power, which outlines how supermarkets, retail parks, car dealerships and other operators can use solar PV to reduce electricity bills, lower emissions and support estate strategies.
In the research for its new guide –‘Powering Retail Resilience’ – Geo Green Power has learned that retail accounts for a significant share of UK commercial electricity use, with large-format stores, supermarkets, and automotive showrooms among the highest energy users. Constant daytime demand for refrigeration, lighting and HVAC makes retail particularly well-suited to on-site generation.
The guide also explores real-world examples of retailers already benefitting from solar PV, including Group 1 Norwich, which partnered with Geo Green Power to install a 200kWp rooftop system. Generating around 180,000kWh of electricity each year, the installation reduces reliance on the grid, cuts annual carbon emissions by approximately 63 tonnes, and supports the dealership’s wider sustainability commitments while keeping customer operations running without disruption.
Kitty Cunningham, Operations Director at Geo Green Power, said: “Retailers are competing not only on price, service and experience, but also on accountability. Solar PV gives operators a clear way to control energy spend and show credible progress on sustainability, right where customers can see it.”
The guide explains funding structures for owned and leased estates, including Power Purchase Agreements that require no upfront investment.
The guide itself is now available for download at: https://www.geogreenpower.com/solar-guide-for-commercial-sectors/
