Commercial Solar Panels Dorset
From Poole and Bournemouth to Wimborne, Ferndown, Portland and the farms of North Dorset, we design and install rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV, battery storage and EV charging for businesses, schools, farms and community buildings.
DES Renewable Energy is an MCS certified solar installer and NAPIT approved electrical contractor with our head office at Woolsbridge Industrial Estate in Three Legged Cross, near Wimborne. Dorset is our home patch and a large share of our commercial work is within half an hour of the office. That means quicker surveys, a team that knows the local planning and grid picture, and engineers who can be back on site quickly if you ever need them.
Every project is handled in house, from the first look at your bills through design, the network operator application, installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance. You deal with one team throughout, not a chain of subcontractors.
Commercial solar projects we have completed in Dorset
Some of the Dorset businesses and organisations already generating their own electricity with a DES system:
| Client | Location | System |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Closures and Plastics | Poole | 436.65 kWp solar PV |
| Tekne Shopfitting | Poole | 265.2 kWp rooftop solar PV, 680 panels |
| Transmission Developments | Poole | 227 kWp commercial solar PV |
| Dumpton School | Wimborne | 113.75 kWp rooftop solar PV, 250 panels |
| Myncen Farm | Sixpenny Handley | 50.36 kWp rooftop and ground mount with battery storage |
| CM Enterprises | Moor Crichel | 45 kWh commercial battery storage |
| Underwater Explorers | Portland | 27.9 kWp solar with battery storage |
| Cowdrys Wholesale Bakery | Ferndown | 21.42 kWp solar with battery storage |
| Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge Parish Council | Sixpenny Handley | 20 kWp solar with battery storage across community buildings |
| Samson Motor Engineers | Wimborne | 15 kWp rooftop solar PV |
| Stepnell | Poole | 12.74 kWp solar PV |
| Bere Regis Sports Club | Bere Regis | Solar with battery storage |
Dumpton School is a good example of how a Dorset project comes together. Rising energy costs pushed the school to act, a carbon review recommended solar, grant funding made the numbers work, and the school chose DES after comparing four installers. The system was designed, approved and commissioned in around three months. See all our commercial case studies.
What we install for Dorset businesses
Commercial solar PV
Rooftop systems on industrial units, offices, barns, schools and retail buildings, plus ground-mounted arrays where you have the land. We design around your roof structure, shading and, most importantly, when your business actually uses electricity, so as much of the generation as possible is used on site. More on our commercial solar PV service.
Battery storage
Batteries let you keep daytime solar for later, cut peak-time imports and, with the right design, keep critical circuits running during a power cut. See commercial battery storage.
EV charging
Workplace and customer charge points, ideally running on your own solar. See commercial EV charging.
Maintenance and repairs
Inspections, cleaning, monitoring and fault finding for commercial systems, including ones we did not install. See commercial solar maintenance and operations and maintenance.
Sectors we work with across Dorset
Dorset’s economy is a mix of manufacturing, farming, tourism and public services, and the right system looks different for each. Our sector guides:
How a commercial solar project works with DES
Paying for commercial solar
Most of our commercial clients buy their system outright, and many find it pays for itself well within its working life because so much of the electricity is used on site during the working day. Other routes include business finance and, for larger sites, a power purchase agreement where you pay for the electricity rather than the equipment. Solar equipment may also qualify for capital allowances, so it is worth speaking to your accountant. Some Dorset schools, charities and community buildings have used grant funding in the past, and we can tell you what is currently available when we survey.
Commercial solar questions from Dorset businesses
Which parts of Dorset do you cover?
All of it. We are based near Wimborne and regularly work in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Ferndown, Verwood, Blandford, Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Bridport, Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and the surrounding rural areas.
How big a system do we need?
It depends on how much electricity you use during the day, your roof or land space, and your grid connection. We size systems around your actual usage rather than simply filling the roof, because electricity used on site is worth far more to a business than electricity exported.
Do we need planning permission?
Many rooftop commercial systems fall under permitted development, but there are limits, and listed buildings, conservation areas, larger ground mounts and some coastal locations need more care. We check this as part of the design and handle any application with you.
How long does it take?
Our Dorset projects have typically taken one to four months from design to commissioning, depending on size and how long the network operator takes to approve the connection. The installation itself is usually a matter of days to a few weeks, planned around your operations.
Can you add a battery or EV chargers later?
Yes. We design with future additions in mind, so batteries and charge points can be added without redoing the solar.
Request a free commercial site survey
Tell us about your site and we will be in touch to arrange a survey. Prefer to talk? Call 01202 985 888. We also install commercial solar in Hampshire and commercial solar in Wiltshire.
