Businesses across the UK are increasingly turning to solar panels, not just to reduce electricity bills, but to achieve significant carbon savings with solar. But how much carbon can solar panels actually save, and how does this compare to everyday activities? Let’s break it down.
Understanding Carbon Emissions from Electricity
Most UK businesses get their electricity from the national grid, which still includes fossil fuel sources. On average, 1 kWh of electricity from the grid produces around 0.233 kg of CO₂.
For a medium-sized business using 20,000 kWh of electricity per year, this adds up to:
That’s nearly 5 tonnes of CO₂ released into the atmosphere annually, roughly the same as the carbon emissions from ten return flights from London to New York.
How Solar Panels Deliver Carbon Savings
Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, producing zero emissions during operation. A typical commercial solar system in the UK (around 50 kWp) generates:
-
Electricity output: ~45,000 kWh per year
-
CO₂ savings: 45,000 kWh × 0.233 kg/kWh = 10,485 kg CO₂ per year
This means installing solar panels can eliminate over 10 tonnes of CO₂ every year, more than double the footprint of an average medium-sized business.
Putting Carbon Savings Into Everyday Context
Sometimes it helps to visualise carbon savings in ways that are easy to relate to:
-
Flights avoided: One economy return flight from London to New York emits around 1 tonne of CO₂ per passenger. Your solar panels’ annual savings are equivalent to ten return flights across the Atlantic.
-
Trees planted: A mature tree absorbs about 21 kg of CO₂ per year. Your solar system offsets emissions equal to almost 500 trees every year.
-
Smartphone charging: Charging a smartphone uses roughly 0.005 kg of CO₂ per full charge. That’s over 2 million phone charges worth of electricity avoided annually.
These examples make the impact of solar panels tangible, helping businesses understand their contribution to fighting climate change.
Why Businesses Should Invest in Solar Panels
Beyond carbon savings, solar panels also:
-
Reduce electricity bills by generating your own power and buying less from the grid
-
Support sustainability goals, showing your business’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint
-
Offer financial flexibility, with fully funded commercial solar solutions that require no upfront cost
How Sunpower Services Helps UK Businesses
At Sunpower Services, we specialise in commercial solar installations across the UK. Our fully funded solutions mean we supply and install your solar system at no upfront cost, and you simply buy the electricity under a long-term agreement.
Our goal is simple: help businesses save money, reduce carbon emissions, and make the transition to renewable energy easy and affordable.
Get in touch today to see how much your business could save in electricity bills and carbon emissions with solar panels – email mail@sunpowerservices.co.uk
Key Takeaways: Carbon Savings with Solar
-
Solar panels produce zero operational emissions, replacing grid electricity
-
A typical commercial installation can save over 10 tonnes of CO₂ per year
-
This is equivalent to ten transatlantic flights, nearly 500 trees, or millions of phone charges
-
Fully funded solar solutions let businesses save money and the planet without upfront investment
Information known to be correct as of 12th January 2026.