Guide · Roof suitability
How much roof space do you need for commercial solar?
As a rough guide, each kilowatt-peak (kWp) of commercial solar needs about 5–7 m² of usable roof, depending on panel size, layout, spacing and roof type. So a 200 kWp system typically needs roughly 1,000–1,400 m² of clear roof. A design survey confirms the real figure.
Roof types
Metal profile sheet roofs on warehouses and factories are common hosts. Flat roofs use ballasted or angled mounting, which needs more space per kWp.
Structure
A structural engineer confirms the roof can carry the extra load. Older or fragile roofs may need work first.
Roof life
The roof should last the life of the system (often 25 years). Asbestos or end-of-life roofs need addressing first.
Orientation and shading
South, east and west roofs all work; east–west arrays often match daytime business use well. Shading from plant or nearby buildings reduces output.
Grid connection
Larger systems may need a grid application to the local network operator, which can affect timescales and size.
Ground-mounted options
Farms and sites with spare land can use ground-mounted arrays where the roof is unsuitable.
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