Renewable energy company Good Energy has called for the government to extend Business Rates Improvement Relief for renewable projects as the scheme approaches its planned 2029 expiry.
According to research from Cushman and Wakefield, more than one billion sq tf of industrial and logistics roof space could be used for solar, with the potential to generate more than 36,000 GWh of electricity each year.
However research from the UK Warehousing Association suggests that only around 5% of UK warehouses currently have solar installed
Good Energy says a longer-term incentive could give businesses greater confidence to invest in rooftop solar and other clean energy upgrades, strengthening the financial case for retrofitting existing commercial properties.
Under the current system, eligible improvements can benefit from Improvement Relief for one year.
The Government has already acted to improve the energy performance of new commercial buildings, with the Future Homes and Buildings Standards coming into force for most buildings in England on 24 March 2027
The changes mean new warehouses and other non-domestic buildings will need to be designed to higher energy-efficiency standards and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
For the existing warehouse estate, the UK Warehousing Association has identified grid connection delays, structural considerations, insurance requirements, lease restrictions and a lack of alignment between landlords and tenants as persistent barriers to solar deployment.
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