Solar for food and drink manufacturers
| Site | Electric loads in daylight | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cold store or chilled distribution | Refrigeration all day, every day | Insulated roof panels, structure, fire performance |
| Food processing | Chillers, compressors, mixers, conveyors, packing | Work above production, hygiene |
| Bakery | Mixers, provers, cooling, packing; ovens if electric | Whether ovens are gas or electric |
| Brewery, distillery or soft drinks | Cooling, pumping, bottling and canning | Seasonal peaks, process heat source |
| Dairy processing | Cooling, pasteurising, packing | Heat source, round-the-clock use |
Refrigeration and cold stores run all day
Refrigeration is the ideal solar load: it never stops, it rises in warm weather when panels produce most, and it runs at weekends too, so little output is wasted. Cold stores also tend to have large, flat or low-pitched roofs. The survey looks at:
- The roof build-up. Insulated sandwich panels need checking for load and for how fixings will keep the seal
- Fire performance. The insurers' code RC62 recommends PV on non-combustible roofs; ask your insurer what they need
- Plant on the roof. Condensers and fans need space and access
- The supply. Large refrigeration loads often mean a big supply that can take a big array
Source: RC62. See flat and metal roofs and fire risk and insurance.
See how much of your site's electricity solar could cover: book a free site survey.
Book a free site surveyOvens, process heat and what solar can't do
Solar panels make electricity. If your ovens, fryers, boilers or steam raising run on gas or oil, solar does not reduce that part of the bill directly. It covers the electrical side of the site: refrigeration, motors, compressors, lighting, packing and offices. Sites moving heat to electricity, such as electric ovens or heat pumps, increase the share solar can cover. A survey separates the two from your bills or half-hourly data.
Hygiene and roofs above production
- Work from outside. Plan access, scaffolding and deliveries so contractors stay out of production areas
- Keep the seal. Fixings must not let water, dust or pests into the building
- Debris control. Agree how swarf, packaging and debris are contained on the roof
- Timing. Noisy or disruptive work around production schedules and audits
- Cable routes. Through plant areas or service voids, not across production rooms
Tax, levies and paying for it
From 1 April 2026, the Climate Change Levy on electricity is £0.00801 per kWh (HMRC). HMRC says an auto-generator need not account for CCL on its own renewable electricity (CCL1/3), so every unit of solar used on site avoids it. Food and drink businesses in a Climate Change Agreement pay a reduced levy; the new scheme runs to 31 March 2033 (GOV.UK).
A business that buys the system can usually claim capital allowances, or avoid upfront cost with a PPA. See the Climate Change Levy and factories and manufacturing.
Sources
HMRC's CCL rates and Excise Notice CCL1/3, the GOV.UK CCA guidance and RC62 were read on 2 November 2026.