The Energy Price Cap Is Rising by 13% in July 2026. Your Unused Roof Space Could Help Cut the Cost.

If you own or manage a commercial property portfolio, there is a good chance you already have access to one of the most effective ways to bring down your energy costs. It is sitting on top of your buildings right now.

 

Commercial rooftop solar, paired with battery storage, can take a significant portion of your energy spend off the grid entirely. It gives you power you generate, store and use yourself, at a fraction of what your supplier charges. And with energy prices rising again from July 2026, it is worth understanding what that could mean for your portfolio.

 

A commercial rooftop does not have to be unused space. With the right solar and battery installation, it can become a productive asset that generates a return year after year.

What is happening with energy prices?

In May 2026, Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap will rise by 13% from 1 July 2026, with electricity unit rates averaging 26.11p per kWh and gas costs rising by 24%. A further review is due in October 2026.

 

The cause is higher wholesale gas prices driven by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is a pattern that highlights how exposed businesses on standard grid tariffs can be to events beyond their control. Wholesale prices have risen 28% in the past three months alone.

 

More and more commercial property owners are responding to this by generating a portion of their own power on-site, reducing the amount they need to buy from the grid altogether.

What commercial solar and battery storage  offer

A commercial solar panel system, combined with battery storage, does more than reduce your electricity bill. It changes how your portfolio relates to energy costs more broadly.

•       Increase the asset value of your commercial properties with installed renewable energy infrastructure

•       Generate your own electricity on-site and reduce business energy costs from day one

•       Store what you generate in battery systems for use during peak hours, overnight or when the grid is under pressure

•       Sell surplus electricity back to the grid through Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs

•       Reduce your exposure to future energy price cap increases across your whole portfolio

•       Strengthen ESG credentials, an increasingly important consideration for tenants, investors and lenders

 

Commercially, the numbers tend to stack up well. Solar returns typically run at 15 to 25% annually post-payback, with most systems paying for themselves within 3 to 8 years depending on size and usage.

Why a Lot of Businesses Are Moving on This Now

With another price review due in October 2026 and further increases widely anticipated, many businesses are choosing to review their energy setup sooner rather than later. Installing now means you start benefiting from lower on-site generation costs before the next round of grid price changes comes through.

"Building a clean energy system now means we can move away from markets beyond our control to boost energy security and stability." - Tim Jarvis, CEO, Ofgem (27 May 2026)

It also means securing current installation pricing and getting the most out of your payback period over time.

Making Use of What You Already Have

 

Most commercial properties do not need any new infrastructure to get started. Rooftop space that is currently sitting unused can, in many cases, be converted into a working energy asset with relatively straightforward installation.

 

A solar panel system turns that space into something productive. What was previously an unmanaged cost becomes more predictable, with a measurable return on the investment over time.

 

If you have been thinking about this but not sure where to start, a rooftop assessment is a good first step. It gives you a clear picture of what your buildings could generate and what the financial case looks like for your specific portfolio.

SOURCES

Ofgem Press Release (27 May 2026): Energy price cap will rise by 13% from July

Ofgem Unit Rates & Standing Charges (July 2026): Changes to energy price cap between 1 July and 30 September 2026