Clean Energy Growth

Clean energy provider and solar panel installer Solarsense report 120% growth in the last year

Rising energy prices and drive towards energy independence boosts demand for solar panels.

Leading solar technology provider Solarsense, headquartered near Bristol, has reported growth of 120% for the 2021/22 financial year and is forecasting to increase its turnover more than four fold within the next five years.

With a current turnover of £6m, and with rising demand for green power and a changing energy landscape gathering momentum across the country, the company is expecting to reach £25m by 2027. Solar energy is an essential element within the UK’s plans to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050, and with an estimated 250,000 hectares of south facing rooftop space available, there is significant potential for greater use of commercial and industrial rooftop solar panel systems.

The growth of the company, which operates out of net zero carbon offices in North Somerset, will create new jobs for the region and could be the catalyst for a new apprenticeship scheme for solar panel installers.

Managing Director and joint founder of Solarsense, Stephen Barrett, said: “Our vision is to change forever the way that UK plc is powered – switching to clean energy is not only good for the environment but also makes economic sense. We’ve been designing installing and maintaining solar technologies for more than 25 years now and it’s great to see innovative energy solutions finally becoming mainstream. It’s exciting to be in a period of rapid growth where we can really make an impact on reducing carbon emissions across the South West, Wales and beyond.

He added: “Due to rising energy prices and energy security rising to the top of the board agenda we are predicting exponential growth in the next few years. Typically, businesses will benefit from solar generated unit rates of 4-5p over 20 years and this compares to around 30p on the energy market today, nearly six times the saving for each unit consumed.

“We are also talking to colleges about the idea of the UK’s first apprenticeship scheme for solar installers as predicted demand for installations will put significant pressure on current capacity within the market.”

Solarsense is one of the UK’s oldest companies in the solar energy sector and has already brought solar power to well-known brands across a wide range of industries, as well many large public sector organisations. Clients include Brabantia, the Duchy of Cornwall, Glastonbury Festival, Lush, the NHS, the RSPB, Tesco, the Wave and the University of Nottingham, to name a few. Solarsense has also helped numerous community groups to benefit from solar energy, most recently Northleaze Church of England Primary School, where it installed North Somerset’s first community-owned school solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

As well as solar panel systems for businesses, Solarsense offers a range of other renewable energy solutions including commercial battery storage; large-scale solar parks; commercial electric vehicle charging and solar carports; and clean energy finance. The company is an innovator in the design of cutting-edge solar technology and has won more than twenty industry awards in recognition of its expertise.

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