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The Certainty Blueprint: How Integrated Engineering is Reshaping the UK Solar Landscape

Written by Negin Hashemi | Feb 3, 2026 7:35:38 AM

Across the UK, solar energy has matured from a niche technology into a fast-growing sector under immense pressure. In today's competitive market, scale alone isn't enough. Commercial and industrial clients are demanding more agile execution, tighter cost control, and solutions engineered for decades of sustained efficiency and reliability.

This is where companies like Alt-Group are reshaping the landscape. They are not just installers; they are a solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) provider that puts in-house engineering, innovation, and integrated implementation at the very heart of solar development, building certainty into every project.

A Market That Demands More Than Standard Solutions

As global solar deployment has surged, the race to lower costs has pushed many developers toward standardized, offshore supply models. While this accelerated adoption, it also exposed critical vulnerabilities:

  • Long lead times
  • Limited customization options
  • Design constraints that can derail projects on unique UK sites

Commercial clients now expect more than just low-cost deployments. They want high-performing, future-ready systems that offer reliable returns over 20 to 30 years. In this climate, innovation is no longer a nice-to-have; it's essential. Alt-Group's response has been to take control where it matters most, starting with the very foundation of a solar array: the mounting system.

Solving from the Structure Up: The Power of In-House Mounting

For many EPCs, mounting systems are treated as a commodity. For Alt-Group, they are a key variable in overall project performance. The company's dedicated Solar Mounting division works hand-in-hand with its design and delivery teams to develop tailored substructures that match the technical and commercial goals of each project. This collaboration often unlocks significant savings in time, cost, embodied carbon, and long-term maintenance.

A recent 8 MW ground-mount project in Derbyshire provides a powerful example. Initially judged too expensive to proceed due to a reliance on concrete ballast, the project was transformed by a complete redesign of the foundation. Alt-Group's engineering team developed a bespoke driven steel pile system that met all structural demands while drastically reducing cost and emissions. This brought the project back within budget and ahead of schedule, proving that the real difference in performance often lies in what’s built beneath the surface.

This engineering-led approach also delivers long-term adaptability. In another commercial rooftop project, the team delivered a structurally adapted subframe that minimized roof load and integrated infrastructure for future monitoring. This smart design enabled the client to add battery storage at a later date without any structural rework.

Design That Pays Long-Term Dividends

Alt-Group's in-house engineering capability is what allows it to respond to site conditions in real time. This means fewer surprises, fewer change orders, and systems engineered for long-term yield. This agility is especially valuable in the UK, where solar sites are often smaller, fragmented, and shaped by planning policies that make one-size-fits-all solutions unviable.

By aligning design, mounting, procurement, and delivery under a single team, Alt-Group improves visibility, minimizes delays, and ensures consistency from the planning phase right through to commissioning.

Building the Future with Precision

Founded in 2017, Alt-Group has grown alongside the UK's renewable energy sector. The decision to build out its internal mounting and design functions wasn't just about speed; it was about taking ownership of outcomes, timelines, and performance certainty.

Today, it is one of the few UK EPCs offering complete, end-to-end solar project delivery for both rooftop and ground-mount systems. In a sector increasingly defined by complexity, Alt-Group is proving how deep engineering expertise and agile project thinking can turn challenges into opportunities.

What are your thoughts on the importance of in-house engineering for delivering robust and reliable solar projects? Share your perspective in the comments below.

If you're considering a solar project, get in touch with Catherine Simpson, Alt-Group's Head of Sales, at catherine.simpson@alt-group.uk.