Solar Energy

BC&A Innovation

R&D Spotlight

Solar energy is at the heart of the UK’s transition to renewable power. From large-scale solar farms to rooftop installations, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology plays a key role in reducing carbon emissions and meeting the UK’s net-zero targets. However, while the technology is widely used, there is still significant room for improvement in efficiency, storage, integration, and system performance — and these challenges are where R&D tax relief can apply.

R&D tax relief is designed to support UK companies that make scientific or technological advancements by overcoming technical uncertainties. In the solar energy sector, this could include improving solar panel efficiency, developing advanced control systems, or solving integration challenges with energy storage or the grid.

Qualifying activities go beyond the routine installation of solar panels. To be eligible, your business needs to be solving technical problems that require testing, experimentation, or engineering development.

Here are some examples of qualifying activities in the solar energy sector:

Developing Higher-Efficiency Solar Modules

Researching and testing new photovoltaic materials, coatings, or panel designs to increase energy capture, especially in low-light or challenging UK weather conditions.

Improving Solar Panel Durability and Lifespan

Engineering new materials or manufacturing methods that make panels more resistant to environmental factors like moisture, temperature fluctuations, or physical impact.

Enhancing Mounting and Tracking Systems

Developing systems that optimise panel positioning, such as automated solar tracking systems that follow the sun’s movement to maximise energy yield.

Integrating Solar with Energy Storage Solutions

Solving technical challenges in connecting solar systems to batteries or other energy storage technologies, ensuring efficient energy management and reliable power delivery.

Developing Smart Inverter and Control Technologies

Creating or refining inverter systems and software that optimise energy conversion, manage grid interaction, and support demand-side response or smart grid services.

Overcoming Grid Connection and Stability Challenges

Engineering solutions to ensure that solar energy systems can connect to the grid reliably, manage fluctuations in power output, and meet UK grid compliance standards.

Improving Installation Methods for Complex Environments

Developing new mounting or connection techniques for challenging locations, such as curved roofs, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), or floating solar installations.

Meeting New Environmental and Safety Standards

Adapting products or processes to meet evolving UK environmental, fire safety, or building regulations, particularly when this requires technical development or validation.

If your business is working on these or similar projects in the UK solar energy sector, you could be eligible for R&D tax relief. This government-backed incentive helps renewable energy innovators recover a portion of their development costs, supporting the expansion of clean, reliable, and efficient solar power.

Our Process

What to expect when working with
BC&A Innovation

1. Discovery Call

Book your FREE 15 minute discovery call today to discuss your R&D activity and we'll guide you on best next steps and estimated claim value.

2. Information gathering

Our technical experts and industry specialists will work with you to uncover all areas of work activity eligible under the R&D scheme, ensuring we have everything we need to support a robust, defensible and maximised claim.

3. Create R&D Tax Claim

Our technical experts will write your claim and supporting documents with a clear assessment of your eligible activity and costs, ensuring compliance with the scheme's governance throughout.

4. Approval & Submission

We'll share, for your approval, the claim draft and supporting documentation. We'll explain in detail how we have arrived at our assessment of your claimable activity, costs and claim value. When you're happy, your claim can be submitted as part of your standard end-of-year processes.

5. Liaising with HMRC

Should HMRC require any further information or have queries regarding your claim, we'll liaise with them to ensure speedy payment without any reduction in claim value.

6. Payment

Once your payment is received, we'll send it across the same working day and advise you on processes that can be put in place to make future claims even more hassle-free. Don't worry about claims going forward, we'll be in regular contact to remind you what is needed and when.

About BC&A Innovation

We've helped hundreds of businesses like yours secure millions in Research & Development tax relief

Our team recognises the importance of R&D in advancing UK businesses, big and small, and we understand the time burden, resources and complexities of claiming tax relief for that R&D. These constraints often leave companies failing to get the tax relief they’re entitled to or underclaiming significantly due to unclear, often confusing guidelines about what constitutes R&D. As experts in R&D tax relief, we’re here to unblur the lines and create robust, defensible and maximised claims on your behalf.

We’re experienced tax professionals, accountants and technical experts with a deep understanding of the R&D tax relief regulations. We’ve worked in many of the industries we now serve and are ideally placed to understand your business’ R&D Activities. As part of HMRC’s panel on R&D, we stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the guidance, to provide our clients with the most accurate and up-to-date advice.

At BC&A Innovation we take the burden of claim generation away from the business so you can do what you do best, while we do what we do best. We pride ourselves on our integrity, professionalism and commitment to our clients.

Not sure if you qualify for R&D tax relief? Book a FREE discovery call today.

Many of the businesses we work with were unsure if they qualified for R&D tax relief at first. A few had even been told by other agencies that they could not claim. Yet, with our help they were able to correctly identify eligible R&D projects and claim back vital funds.

As experts in HMRC’s definitions of Research & Development, we’ll be able to tell you if you should make a claim or not. We’re success fee based, which means it isn’t in our interest or yours to take forward claims that won’t pass HMRC’s stringent checks. If we say it’s worth doing, you can take that to the bank.

Ready for a discovery call? Think of it as a no-obligation chat where we can discuss the work you’ve undertaken and identify tax-saving opportunities. Our expert consultants are keen to speak with you.