Manufacturing & Industrial Estates Solar Carport Buyer's Guide and Checklist

The Manufacturing & Industrial Estates Solar Carport Checklist

This checklist is for manufacturing & industrial estates buyers — typically finance directors, sustainability heads, estate managers or procurement leads — and sets out what to check, ask and budget for before a carport project goes to tender.

What to check

• Sizing strategy: pair factory rooftop solar with a carport
• BMS integration for real-time load matching
• Climate Change Agreement (CCA): check how self-generation affects your levy position
• ESOS Phase 4 and ISO 50001: check the evidence requirements
• Battery storage for evening shift time-shifting
• Staff EV charging for fleet transition
• Worked example: see the modelled 420 kWp automotive components carport on the manufacturing sector page

How to use the checklist

• Run an internal feasibility estimate for your site profile
• Identify the right funding route (capital allowances / PPA / asset finance / nation-specific public-sector programmes)
• Build the business case for board/committee approval
• Know what to ask installers when running a competitive tender

Before you appoint an installer

• Check the installer's MCS certificate on the MCS register where the scheme applies, and OZEV authorisation if EV chargers are included
• Ask who holds the principal designer and principal contractor roles under CDM 2015
• Ask for a RIDDOR record and a current CHAS, SafeContractor or Constructionline certificate
• Ask who submits the planning and G99 grid applications, and what the quote includes
• Ask what the O&M agreement and the manufacturer warranties cover

Related on solarcarparks.co.uk

• Full Manufacturing & Industrial Estates sector guide
• Grants & funding routes
• Compare PPA, AIA, asset finance, Salix