LOW CARBON SOLUTIONS
Proving the SME case for solar PV
T
Thermatic Homes CEO Joe Lyon and managing director Gary Boon
Technical facilities management provider, Thermatic Group, has set out to prove the long-term value of solar PV to SMEs with the installation of its own rooftop system at its headquarters in Salford
he installation which comprises 200 PV modules is designed to not only make the building more energy efficient, but to also reframe the value of solar PV as financial infrastructure for small and medium sized businesses. Prior to installation, Thermatic’s annual electricity consumption was approximately 44 MWh, with a unit rate of 28p per kWh. Average monthly bills stood at just over £1,040. Following installation of the Solar Edge system, The group will save £1,126 a month, offsetting the bill by almost 108%.
Over its lifetime, the picture becomes even
more compelling. The system, which initially cost £87,450 is expected to generate around £247,000 in electricity bill savings – equating to £159,000 projected net profit against a payback period of just over six years. The fully traceable JA 450w panels also generate more electricity annually than the building consumes, in effect making the roof an income-generating asset. Gary Boon, managing director of Thermatic Homes which leads the group’s renewable strategy, said: “For SME decision makers, this reframes the whole conversation. Solar in this context is not a discretionary sustainability spend or a nice to have, it becomes part of a company’s financial infrastructure for the long term while reducing exposure to volatility across the energy market.” That’s not to say that environmental impact and sustainability considerations don’t play a part. The system is projected to reduce carbon
partnership
emissions by over 15 tonnes annually, the equivalent of planting 700 trees each year. For SMEs increasingly asked to evidence reductions in Scope 2 emissions by larger supply-chain partners, this delivers measurable, reportable impact. Safety is also built into the system through a fire alarm shutdown feature meaning that when an alarm is raised the entire system shuts down. Thermatic’s decision reflects a wider trend
among UK SMEs. Where businesses have high daytime energy consumption, ownership or long-term control of their premises, and electricity rates above 20p per kWh, solar PV is increasingly stacking up on purely commercial grounds even before ESG considerations are factored in. For Thermatic this is not an environmental add-on, it is embedded infrastructure that delivers a return on investment and improves resilience.
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Introducing Paul, our new National Specification Manager. He’ll be there at the start of your project, working with you to get the spec spot on!
We pride ourselves on our cradle-to-grave support which is why we have created a brand-new role promoting the Albion brand to consultants and specifiers within the industry. Paul can help with system designs, specifying products and writing specification clauses, and increasing the knowledge base throughout the industry by delivering CIBSE-approved CPDs!
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May26.indd 1 17/03/2025 14:53:25 2/4/26 16:58 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2026 21
Paul McGrath National Specifications Manager
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