UKWA Solar Toolkit: De-risking solar PV deployment to cut costs and accelerate C&I ESG goals

For the UK's warehousing sector, the challenge of solar PV adoption isn't technical capacity, it's financial complexity and legal risk. The potential for solar to cut energy costs and accelerate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments is massive, but it remains blocked by barriers related to financing, conflicting lease obligations, and a knowledge gap between stakeholders.

This project delivered the strategic framework to break that deadlock. LCP Delta worked with the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) to create a comprehensive, actionable toolkit. It de-risks deployment by synthesising complex legal, financial, and operational insights, providing owners and investors with the impartial, evidence-based blueprint needed for confident investment, board approval, and successful execution.

The challenge: De-risking solar PV deployment for the C&I sector

UKWA sought to update its Solar PV Toolkit to reflect recent market developments and sector insights. For the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector, persistent barriers were blocking the adoption of rooftop solar, preventing warehouse operators from cutting energy costs, meeting increasingly stringent regulatory standards, and aligning with ESG commitments. In the UK, only 5% of warehouse roof spaces had solar PV.

These delivery challenges were complex, often related to the intersection of different expertise:

• Financial models: Lack of clarity on funding and ownership structures.
• Legal frameworks: Conflicting lease obligations (including fire and insurance risks) and the complexity of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
• Stakeholder negotiation: Bridging the knowledge gap between warehouse operators, landlords, and solar providers to support effective collaboration.

Our solution: An evidence-led, actionable toolkit

LCP Delta was approached due to our previous work with UKWA and our deep expertise in solar PV and energy strategy. We adopted a structured, evidence-led approach focused on developing an actionable toolkit for solar PV delivery in the complex warehousing environment.

System size on project economics

Our three-phase process combined diverse perspectives to produce an integrated guide:

1. Strategic scoping: Internal workshops with LCP Delta's experts identified gaps across technology, financing, and regulation, followed by a collaborative review with UKWA members to prioritise updates based on recent logistics industry developments.
2. Evidence gathering and insight: We developed a detailed research framework and conducted interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, including warehouse operators, solar PV service providers, and real estate specialists, ensuring the toolkit reflected market innovation and operational realities.
3. Toolkit development and delivery: We restructured the output to offer an impartial perspective combined with deep sector expertise. Final outputs included infographics and structured guidance ready for publication and dissemination.

Impact: Accelerating the rooftop solar revolution

The revised toolkit is now a publicly available, comprehensive guide designed to help landlords, tenants, investors, and service providers navigate the solar deployment process. It integrates technical, legal, financial, and operational insights, offering a structured roadmap from feasibility to end-of-life management through:

• Economic modelling: Detailed financial structures explored, including direct purchase, lease finance, PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements), and Energy Service Agreements (ESAs), complete with potential ROI and NPV benchmarks.
• Legal and contractual guidance: Detailed analysis provided on lease obligations, ownership models, and PPA structures.
• Grid connection strategy: Practical guidance offered on navigating engineering recommendations, standards, and DNO engagement.
• Stakeholder mapping: A clear matrix outlining roles and responsibilities across five project stages (pre-feasibility through to operation and end-of-life).
• Compliance protocol: Best practices included for compliance with fire risk and insurance standards.