An installer with industrial-site experience

Most solar firms started in solar. Ashley Merritt started in commercial and industrial electrical work. Ten of his 20+ years as an electrician have been on commercial projects, including electrical work on industrial sites such as the Jersey Recycling Centre.

That's the angle that matters when you're a factory owner evaluating a solar installer. Three-phase supplies, plant and machinery loads, building services that can't be interrupted - he's worked alongside all of it before adding solar to the picture.

Who you'd be hiring

Ashley is the named director of Renegade Solar. He surveys your property, reviews your usage data, designs the system, and is on site for the install. There's no salesperson with a clipboard, no key account team and no install crew you've never met.

For factories that's particularly worth having. The design decisions need someone who can read your existing distribution properly rather than someone working from a residential template.

Why factories are well-suited to solar

The financial case for commercial solar is strong on a factory:

• Production equipment runs through the day, which matches peak solar generation
• Three-phase supplies can usually be tied into a properly sized system
• Roof areas are typically large and often uncluttered
• Owner-occupied buildings can realise the full payback (which is required for the maths to work)
• Manufacturers don't tend to move, so the long operational outlook supports the investment

Because you're using nearly every kilowatt-hour your panels produce as it's generated, you don't need battery storage to make the numbers work the way a domestic property does. Most commercial installations reduce monthly costs by 70-100%, with payback typically within 3-4 years, followed by 20+ years of low-cost energy.

Bolton's industrial heritage means many factories and manufacturing facilities with heavy machinery still operate across the area, and Greater Manchester more broadly is full of owner-occupied production buildings with large roofs that suit commercial solar well.

Roof and ground options

Manufacturing buildings come in every shape, and Ashley designs for whatever's there:

• Pitched roofs on factory units work well, particularly larger commercial buildings with extensive roof space
• Flat roofs give the flexibility to point panels south regardless of building orientation
• Ground-mounted systems are a strong option if you have spare land, grass verges or yard space, and they're useful when you need more generation capacity than the roof alone can provide, or when you want to power EV charging for staff vehicles

What you need to qualify

The main requirement is that you own the building. You'll also need sufficient roof space or land, high enough electricity consumption to give a strong return (the more you spend, the faster the payback), and a plan to keep the property long-term.

How Ashley handles it

When you get in touch, Ashley assesses your property and reviews your electricity usage personally. He puts together detailed designs showing projected generation, cost savings and payback period based on your actual usage data. Most commercial clients get multiple design options with full financial analysis for each.

Installation is coordinated to minimise disruption to your operations. After commissioning, he handles the grid connection requirements, provides electrical certifications, and sets up Smart Export Guarantee arrangements so you can earn income from any excess electricity generated.

Credentials

• MCS-certified installer (NAP-66870)
• Octopus Energy Trusted Partner
• NAPIT registered electrician
• 20+ years as an electrician, including 10 years on commercial projects
• 9.85/10 on Checkatrade from 105+ verified reviews

Coverage across Greater Manchester

Based in Prestwich, Ashley serves manufacturing and industrial businesses throughout Greater Manchester and the wider North West, with completed and ongoing commercial installations in Bolton, Oldham and surrounding areas.

Contact Ashley for a free commercial solar survey and a financial breakdown for your factory or production facility.