SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) has been mandatory for large UK companies since April 2019. For warehouse operators, electricity is the dominant Scope 2 category — and solar PV is the primary measure to reduce it. This guide covers how solar PV flows through SECR reporting and what monitoring data you need to stay audit-ready.
What SECR requires warehouse operators to report
Annual energy use (kWh) for the financial year: electricity (imported from grid + on-site generated), gas, and transport fuel. Annual greenhouse gas emissions in tonnes CO2e: Scope 1 (direct — gas, diesel, refrigerant leakage), Scope 2 (purchased electricity). Intensity metric. Energy efficiency actions taken in the year — solar PV is a reportable action. SECR is mandatory for large UK companies: 250+ employees, OR £36m+ turnover and £18m+ balance sheet.
Location-based vs market-based Scope 2
SECR requires Scope 2 on a location-based basis (UK grid emissions factor). Optional additional disclosure on a market-based basis (residual mix factor or energy attribute certificates). On-site solar generation is zero-carbon on both bases — location-based zero-carbon by definition (no grid-imported electricity for self-consumed solar). Location-based Scope 2 calculation: grid imported kWh × UK grid emissions factor (0.207 kgCO2e/kWh in 2025, declining ~3%/yr). For 1 MW warehouse install generating 920 MWh/yr at 80% self-consumption: 736,000 kWh self-consumed. Scope 2 reduction: 736,000 kWh × 0.207 kgCO2e/kWh = 152 tCO2e annually.
What monitoring data SECR requires
SECR submissions are subject to board-level sign-off and external audit. Auditors need: metered half-hourly import data (from energy supplier or smart meter); solar generation data from monitoring platform (PVSyst-calibrated); export data from SEG smart export meter. Our monitoring platform provides pre-formatted SECR data exports (monthly CSV + PDF) aligned with current UK Conversion Factors — compatible with SECR Reporter, Greenstone, Worldfavor, Watershed, and Persefoni reporting platforms.
How solar PV improves your SECR position
Four ways solar affects the SECR narrative: (1) Direct Scope 2 reduction (quantified in tCO2e); (2) Reportable energy efficiency action (positive narrative for board directors' SECR statement); (3) Improved energy intensity metric (tCO2e per £m turnover or per tonne output — improves as Scope 2 falls); (4) Alignment with Paris Agreement trajectory (the SECR guidance encourages forward-looking statements linking actions to net zero commitments).
Worked example: 800 kW distribution centre, £34m turnover
Pre-solar SECR: Grid imported electricity 1,600 MWh/yr. Scope 2: 331 tCO2e. Post-solar (800 kW, 75% self-consumption): Solar generated 744 MWh/yr. Self-consumed: 558 MWh. Grid imported falls: 1,600 - 558 = 1,042 MWh. Scope 2 post-solar: 1,042 MWh × 0.207 = 216 tCO2e. Scope 2 reduction: 115 tCO2e (35%). Energy intensity improvement: tCO2e/£m turnover from 9.7 to 6.4 (-34%).
See more
SECR guide for warehouse operators: /guides/warehouse-solar-secr-reporting-guide/. Net zero strategy guide: /guides/warehouse-net-zero-solar/. Free SECR-aligned monitoring: /contact/.