For decades, the default backup power solution for UK businesses was the diesel generator that was big, noisy, and expensive to run. These generators were the insurance policy no one wanted to use but everyone relied on.
Today, the energy landscape is changing. Diesel is costly, polluting, and increasingly out of step with net-zero targets. Across the UK, businesses are replacing diesel with solar microgrids and battery storage – a cleaner, smarter, and more reliable solution for backup power.
This isn’t just hype. It’s already happening, industry by industry.
✅ Lower running costs – Solar energy is free once installed, while diesel prices continue to rise.
✅ Cleaner operations – Meet ESG and net-zero goals by cutting reliance on fossil fuels.
✅ Continuous savings – Unlike a diesel generator, a solar microgrid doesn’t sit idle; it actively reduces energy bills every day.
✅ Silent and seamless – Battery storage provides instant switchover, with no noise or fumes.
Manufacturing: Reliable Backup Power for Production Lines
In manufacturing, downtime costs thousands per hour. A power cut can halt production, damage equipment, and disrupt supply chains.
Solar microgrids provide reliable backup power that keeps critical machinery running seamlessly. Unlike diesel generators, they don’t need to “start up” – battery storage kicks in instantly.
Even better, those same batteries reduce peak-demand charges during normal operation, saving money month after month.
Learn how TR Fastenings is saving money with their solar and battery system.
Logistics and Warehousing: Always-On Energy for Supply Chains
Distribution hubs, cold storage, and warehouses rely on 24/7 energy. A blackout can mean spoiled goods, missed deliveries, and lost contracts.
Solar + battery storage ensures operations stay powered without interruption. Day-to-day, solar microgrids also support lighting, HVAC, and EV fleet charging – helping logistics firms reduce both costs and emissions.
For an industry under pressure to decarbonise, solar microgrids deliver resilience and sustainability together.
See how Kamsons is getting an impressive ROI on their investment in solar and battery.
Commercial Offices and Retail: Protecting Data and Customers
In offices and retail, a power outage disrupts everything from card payments to connectivity.
With a solar microgrid, critical systems stay online while energy bills stay lower year-round. For landlords and retailers, the added benefit is higher EPC ratings, improved sustainability credentials, and increased property value.
See how Rossett’s Mercedes made great savings.
For hospitals and care homes, backup power isn’t optional – it’s lifesaving. Patients and regulators expect systems that are safe, silent, and reliable.
Solar microgrids deliver instantaneous switchover without fumes or noise, making them ideal for sensitive environments. With the NHS and private care sector facing stricter sustainability targets, renewable backup power is rapidly replacing diesel generators.
The biggest shift is this: backup power no longer has to sit idle.
Diesel generators are only useful when disaster strikes. Solar microgrids work every day – generating power, storing energy, cutting bills, and lowering carbon emissions.
The diesel generator era is ending. The future of resilient, sustainable backup power in the UK is solar + battery storage.
OHM Energy helps UK businesses design and install solar microgrids that replace diesel generators for good. Whether you’re in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, or property development, we’ll help you cut costs, cut carbon, and build energy resilience fit for the future.
Ready to upgrade your backup power? Get in touch with our team today.
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