East Green Energy has opened a new office in Leicester to support continued growth across the UK. The new Midlands base will help the company deliver an increasing number of renewable energy projects nationwide while remaining rooted in its East Suffolk heritage and family-business values.

Recent reforms to the UK's grid connection process could make it easier for businesses to move forward with renewable energy projects. With shorter waiting times and greater certainty around connections, organisations investing in solar PV, battery storage and EV charging infrastructure may be able to begin benefiting from renewable energy sooner.

East Green Energy has been named a finalist in the East Anglian Daily Times Business Awards 2026, earning a place on the shortlist for Growth Business of the Year. The recognition reflects the company's continued expansion from its Suffolk roots into one of the UK's leading renewable energy specialists, supporting homeowners and businesses with innovative, cost-saving renewable energy solutions.

This trade show is especially close to our hearts. East Green Energy is named after East Green Farm, which for many years was a pig farm in Suffolk and over the years we’ve grown into one of the longest established renewable energy firms in East Anglia.

The government has strengthened its rooftop first approach to solar, making it easier for businesses to install panels on large commercial roofs. Planning rules are being simplified and councils are now expected to prioritise existing buildings, putting warehouses, factories and other big roof spaces at the front of the queue for rapid deployment.

Commercial solar demand continues to grow as businesses respond to high electricity prices, falling solar and battery costs, and increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets. With commercial rooftop systems now commonly delivering payback periods of three to five years, more manufacturers, food producers and logistics operators are investing in on-site generation and storage. Grid connection reforms, growing adoption of corporate PPAs, government support for rooftop-first solar, and the UK's record-breaking growth in renewable energy are further strengthening the business case for commercial solar across the UK.

Plug‑in solar kits are rapidly gaining attention ahead of expected government approval this summer, offering a low‑cost, no‑installation way to generate electricity at home. While they won’t replace a full rooftop system or drastically cut bills, they can meaningfully reduce daytime energy use, particularly for households with consistent daytime consumption. The real value lies not in going off‑grid, but in taking a simple first step into solar.

The UK is running out of suitable land for new solar projects, and it’s becoming one of the biggest barriers to meeting national targets. Floating solar offers a practical way forward by using reservoirs and other managed water bodies instead of farmland. Our Suffolk Fresh project shows how this approach can deliver major clean‑power generation while protecting food production and avoiding many of the planning challenges that come with land‑based systems.

East Green Energy welcomed MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter to our newly expanded Melton offices to discuss growth, skills and renewable energy across Suffolk.

UK farms, landowners and energy‑intensive businesses are accelerating investment in renewables as geopolitical instability continues to drive volatile fossil fuel prices. With gas‑linked power costs proving increasingly unpredictable, solar, battery storage and on‑site generation are being adopted as tools for long‑term cost control and energy security rather than purely sustainability measures. What is emerging is a structural shift toward locally produced, fixed‑price power across agriculture, food production and manufacturing.

Floating solar is rapidly gaining traction across the UK water sector as utilities respond to rising energy costs, growing demand and severe limitations on land availability. By turning reservoirs and treatment lagoons into productive energy assets, water companies are unlocking large‑scale renewable generation without competing for scarce land. Proven at scale and supported by industry roadmaps, floating solar is now shifting from an innovative concept to a mainstream solution for resilient, low‑carbon operations.

For farms and food production businesses, peak season is critical, so installing solar can feel like a risk, but with proper planning it can be done with minimal disruption. Most of the work happens in advance, and installation often takes place on rooftops or unused land, allowing daily operations to continue as normal, meaning the project fits around your business rather than the other way around.

The UK’s energy shift is turning power from a cost into an asset for farmers and food producers. By generating and managing their own energy, businesses can reduce costs, create new income streams and strengthen their commercial position while meeting growing sustainability demands.

Solar continues to gain pace in 2026, with businesses, farmers, landowners and food producers increasingly turning to on‑site generation to manage rising energy costs and market uncertainty.

March brought a noticeable shift in the UK’s renewable energy landscape. From record levels of wind and solar generation to a stronger, more confident CfD auction, the sector showed real momentum. Grid upgrades, storage projects and new government trials all pointed in the same direction, a system steadily moving towards cleaner, more resilient power.

Food producers are under growing pressure to prove that their sustainability work is real and measurable. ESG criteria now shape how the sector is judged, and retailers and regulators expect clear evidence rather than broad claims. Renewable energy has become one of the most credible ways for producers to meet these expectations. It delivers verifiable emissions reductions, supports responsible farming practices and strengthens ESG reporting without the risk of greenwashing.

England’s new Land Use Framework confirms that only around 1% of land is needed for renewable energy, much of which can still support farming. It’s a clear signal that solar, food production and nature recovery can successfully work side by side. The framework also proposes removing key Land Registry paywalls, making land ownership far easier to identify and helping reduce delays in land-based projects. Overall, it marks a welcome shift toward smarter, more integrated land use.

Thinking about solar panels and a home battery? The process is far simpler, quicker, and calmer than most people expect. At East Green Energy, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners make the switch - and the reaction is almost always the same: “I should have done this sooner.”

Here’s what the installation is really like, what it feels like to live with solar and a battery, and why waiting could end up costing you more.

Gas and power prices are climbing again as Middle East tensions disrupt LNG routes and squeeze global supply. Europe’s storage is low, renewables have dipped, and competition for cargoes is pushing prices higher.

It’s another reminder that energy security starts at home. More businesses are turning to local renewables to cut risk and stabilise costs.

Rising tensions in Iran and across the Middle East are causing major disruption to global oil and gas supplies, sending energy prices sharply higher and creating fresh uncertainty for the UK. With markets reacting to every new escalation, from tanker disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to LNG supply interruptions, the volatility is already feeding into higher fuel, gas and electricity costs at home. This instability is driving more businesses, landowners and households to turn to renewable energy, not as a trend, but as a reliable shield against global price shocks. Local solar and battery systems provide stability, predictable long‑term costs and greater energy independence at a time when international fossil‑fuel markets are proving anything but secure.