Solar & Storage Live London: key takeaways from Nick Spicer’s warehouse rooftop solar panel with UK Warehousing Association

On 30 April, Nick Spicer FRGS (Founder & CEO, Your Eco) joined a standout discussion at Solar & Storage Live London at ExCeL on the Commercial & Industrial Theatre stage:

“The Untapped Power of Rooftop Solar on UK Warehouses”

UK warehouses remain one of the most compelling (and underused) opportunities for rapid decarbonisation. With enormous roof areas, strong daytime demand profiles, and increasing pressure on energy costs and resilience, the case is obvious.

And yet, adoption is still around 5%.

So what’s stopping the other 95%? The panel dug into the practical realities that sit between ambition and delivery.

The big theme: delivery beats theory

The strongest message from the session was simple: warehouse rooftop solar isn’t held back by technology it’s held back by execution.

When projects stall, it’s usually because the early-stage decisions weren’t grounded in the realities of the site, the programme, and the grid.

1) Start with the roof, not the render

Large-format industrial roofs are rarely “standard”. The panel highlighted how quickly a project can derail if roof condition, load capacity, and waterproofing strategy aren’t treated as first-order design inputs.

Practical takeaways:

• Get structural and roof surveys done early  before design is “locked”.

• Design for maintainability (access routes, isolations, monitoring visibility).

• Align PV design with roofing warranties and the client’s long-term asset plan.

2) Installation realities: live sites, tight programmes, zero tolerance for disruption

Warehouses are operational environments. That means safety, access, logistics, and programme discipline matter as much as electrical design.

Key points discussed:

• Plan around peak operational periods and vehicle movements.

• Treat site safety and RAMS as a delivery enabler, not a paperwork exercise.

• Build a programme that reflects weather, roof works, and commissioning  not just panel install days.

3) Grid constraints are often the real bottleneck

A recurring theme was that grid capacity and connection timelines can be the difference between a project that flies and one that sits on the shelf.

The panel emphasised:

• Don’t assume export is available  validate early.

• Consider zero-export / self-consumption-first strategies where appropriate.

• Use battery storage to increase on-site utilisation and resilience, and to reduce curtailment risk.

4) Commercial models need to match the client’s reality

The conversation also covered the commercial structures that unlock delivery  particularly for multi-site portfolios.

Common approaches:

• CAPEX for clients prioritising long-term returns

• Asset finance to preserve capital and smooth cashflow

• PPA structures where clients want savings without upfront spend

The key is matching the model to the organisation’s decision-making process  and making the outcomes measurable.

5) Outcomes that matter: cost, resilience, carbon (and proof)

Everyone on the panel came back to the same point: the market is moving from “nice to have” to prove it.

Warehouse solar projects win when they can clearly demonstrate:

• Cost reduction and predictable savings

• Resilience (especially where operations are energy-critical)

• Carbon impact that stands up to scrutiny

• Performance visibility through monitoring and reporting

Panellists

Nick was joined by:

• Edwin Morgan (UK Warehousing Association)

• Deanna Greenhalgh (EDF Power Solutions UK & Ireland)

• Adam Oliver (NILE PARTNERS LIMITED)

• Sophie Breakell (Zestec Renewable Energy)

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What’s next for warehouse rooftop solar?

If there’s one conclusion from the session, it’s that the opportunity is enormous  but the winners will be the teams that can deliver reliably: survey properly, design honestly, plan around the grid, and execute safely on live sites.

If you’re responsible for a warehouse portfolio and want to understand what’s feasible (and what’s likely to slow you down), we’re happy to share a practical view based on real delivery.