Businesses can better achieve net zero through onsite generation and storage of electricity, using solar panels, energy storage and vehicle charging. The UK Government has made it easier to now implement such facilities as these investments are to be exempt from business rates rises from April 2023, as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget. The Treasury is also keen to support the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Property Federation by introduction of a new investment relief to encourage British businesses to adopt green technologies such as solar PV. This will be a key tool to support the decarbonisation of non-domestic buildings. We understand that the exemption for qualifying plant and machinery used in onsite renewable energy generation and storage is due to last from 2023 until 2035.
As a member of the Solar Energy Scotland’s working group, Gillespie Macandrew has been advocating this change for 18 months and we welcome the UK Government’s endorsement of rooftop solar developments by finally removing significant business rates bills for local onsite electricity generation, which historically has made these projects economically unviable.
