# Commercial solar and ESG reporting On-site solar supports ESG reporting by cutting the emissions from your electricity use (Scope 2) with generation you can measure and evidence. It provides hard data for frameworks such as SECR, strengthens sustainability claims to investors and customers, and shows capital-free progress toward net-zero commitments when delivered through a PPA. ## The reporting frameworks solar touches UK businesses report energy and carbon through several routes. Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requires many larger companies to disclose energy use and emissions in their annual accounts. Others report voluntarily to win contracts, satisfy investors or meet supply-chain requirements from larger customers. On-site solar produces measured generation data that feeds directly into these disclosures. Because rules on who must report and how change over time, confirm your specific obligations with your accountant or a sustainability adviser. What stays constant is that verifiable, on-site generation is straightforward to evidence compared with less tangible green claims. ## Scope 2 emissions and on-site generation Greenhouse gas reporting splits emissions into scopes. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the electricity you buy. Generating your own solar power on site reduces the grid units you import, which directly lowers your Scope 2 footprint. The reduction is real and metered rather than estimated, which reporting frameworks value. Batteries add to this by letting you use more of your own generation instead of exporting it and re-importing grid power later. The more of your consumption that comes from your own panels, the larger the reportable reduction, though the precise figure depends on how well generation matches your demand. ## Evidencing claims credibly Credible ESG reporting rests on data you can stand behind. A solar system's monitoring records generation to the kilowatt-hour, giving you an auditable trail for the electricity displaced. This is stronger evidence than a purchased certificate alone, because the generation physically happens on your building. A PPA also lets you show progress without capital outlay, which matters to boards weighing sustainability against other spending. You report the emissions reduction from real on-site generation while the funding partner owns the asset. Keep your claims specific and measurable: report what the meters show, and describe the arrangement honestly. ## Frequently asked questions **Does a PPA count as our own renewable generation for reporting?** The electricity is generated on your site and consumed by your business, so the emissions reduction is genuinely yours to report. How you describe ownership of the asset should be accurate, since the funding partner owns the system until the buyout. Confirm treatment with your reporting adviser. **Is solar enough to claim net zero?** On its own, usually not. Solar reduces electricity emissions, but a net-zero claim covers all scopes, including heating, transport and supply chain. Treat solar as one measurable step and have any formal claim checked against a recognised standard. --- Source: [Commercial solar and ESG reporting](https://ppafunding.com/guides/commercial-solar-and-esg-reporting) · Author: PPA Funding team · Updated: 2026-07-30 PPA Funding is an independent introducer operated by DVC Group Ltd (Companies House 10462808), Shrewsbury — not the funder, the installer or the maintenance provider. The service is free to use; a commission may be earned from a partner at no extra cost. Content is educational and is not financial or tax advice.