What if your energy wasn’t just a cost to manage — but an opportunity to take control, cut bills, and earn back?
At Vester, we believe every business deserves to understand and unlock the full value of energy. And few opportunities offer more potential than combining on-site solar and battery storage.
This isn’t about greenwashing. It’s about real, measurable savings — and smarter ways to power your business.
The Case for Generating Your Own Power
The grid wasn’t built for modern business. Between rising wholesale prices, transmission charges, and peak-time tariffs, UK businesses can pay 25–30p per kWh — even when the raw cost of energy is a fraction of that.
But when you generate your own electricity, especially with solar PV, you avoid:
- Transmission and distribution charges
- Supplier markups and broker fees
- Unpredictable time-of-use pricing
That means for every kWh you generate and use on site, you’re potentially saving 24p or more — regardless of what the wholesale market’s doing.
Solar PV: Solid Returns, Dynamic Benefits
Installing solar PV is often framed as a long-term investment — and it is. But many calculators miss the bigger picture.
Yes, a system that costs £20,000 might “pay back” in 5–6 years based on today’s energy prices. But that’s assuming prices stay flat (they won’t). If rates rise, your returns improve. If your usage increases, your savings scale.
And with solar, you’re generating throughout the day — including times when your building might not be using much energy (think weekends or evenings). That’s where batteries change the game.
Batteries: Making Your Energy Work Harder
On-site battery storage gives your solar power a night shift. It turns excess daytime generation into usable energy after hours, reducing your reliance on expensive evening tariffs.
But that’s just the start.
Batteries let you:
- Store cheap grid electricity (e.g. overnight rates)
- Shift your usage away from peak prices
- Reduce demand charges and capacity penalties
- Sell power back to the grid when prices spike
This means you’re not just saving money. You’re creating new ways to earn from energy — without lifting a finger.
What Could That Look Like?
Let’s say your business uses 100,000 kWh a year.
- A well-sized solar PV system might generate 40,000 kWh annually.
- If you consume that energy directly, you’re saving ~£9,600/year (at 24p/kWh avoided cost).
- Add battery storage and time-shift 10,000 kWh more — another £2,400 saved.
- Add grid arbitrage (charging off-peak, discharging on-peak), and you could unlock £1,000–£2,000/year in further benefits.
That’s over £13,000+ in annual value — and rising as prices go up.
Finance Options? Absolutely.
Most businesses don’t buy systems outright. Through power purchase agreements (PPAs), asset finance, or energy-as-a-service models, you can get set up with zero upfront cost.
What’s Next?
We don’t install panels. We don’t sell batteries. But we do help you understand your options, model the potential, and connect you to trusted partners who’ll get it done right.
If you’re serious about cutting energy costs — not just now, but long term — on-site generation and storage should be part of your plan.