Global energy markets have reacted sharply to the conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose to $119.50 per barrel on 9 March 2026, its highest level since mid-2022, before falling by more than 7% the following day after signs of possible de-escalation.
The speed of that movement highlights how quickly geopolitical tensions can trigger energy price volatility.
Contact our team today to secure your energy security.
Businesses Are Already Operating From A High-Cost Base
This latest market shock matters even more because businesses are not starting from a cheap energy environment. The ONS says average electricity prices for UK non-domestic users rose from 14.81p/kWh in Q1 2021 to 25.97p/kWh in Q4 2024, which is still 75% higher than at the start of 2021.
The same ONS analysis says average gas prices for UK non-domestic users had fallen back to 5.52p/kWh by Q4 2024, but that was still more than double the level seen in early 2021.
The commercial impact is clear. The ONS also found that the real output of UK energy-intensive industries fell by 33.6% between Q1 2021 and Q4 2024. That underlines a key point for business owners: energy volatility does not just affect utility bills, it can materially affect output, margins, competitiveness, and growth.
It’s clear that approaching these challenges with commercial solar installation will deliver energy security and energy cost mitigation.
The key point for business owners is simple: you are exposed again.
How Higher Oil And Gas Prices Feed Through Into Business Costs?
Higher Electricity And Gas Bills
If wholesale oil and gas markets remain elevated, businesses renewing energy contracts or buying on flexible terms can be hit through higher rates and tighter pricing. Because UK power prices are still closely linked to gas, the impact does not stay confined to fuel markets alone.
Higher Logistics And Transport Costs
Higher oil prices typically feed into diesel, petrol, shipping, haulage, and delivery costs. That means even businesses that are not especially energy intensive can still feel the pressure through transport and supplier charges. Reuters reports that the wider commodity complex has already moved higher alongside oil.
Greater Supply-Chain Pressure
When fuel, transport, materials, and utilities all start moving up together, suppliers often pass at least part of that increase on. This is where an energy shock stops being just an energy issue and becomes a wider operating-cost issue.
More Inflation Risk
In its February 2026 Monetary Policy Report, the Bank of England said headline CPI inflation was projected to slow to 2.1% in 2026 Q2, helped in part by lower energy prices. The latest conflict now puts that softer inflation path under more pressure.
Reuters reports that the oil surge has already hit sterling and UK gilts, with investors worrying that higher energy prices could reignite inflation pressure and complicate the Bank of England’s rate outlook.
Why This Is A Commercial Warning Sign, Not Just A News Story
Even if your next energy bill does not jump overnight, your business can still feel the impact through future contract pricing, distribution costs, supplier increases, inflationary pressure, and tighter financing conditions.
Reuters reports that Britain is seen as more vulnerable than some other European countries when energy prices spike, which is one reason markets reacted so sharply in the UK.
This is exactly why energy resilience matters. The last few years have already shown how quickly global events can feed into UK operating costs. The latest Iran-related shock is another reminder that fossil-fuel volatility remains a live business risk.
Why Energy Sustainability Matters More In Moments Like This?
Solar is not just a sustainability measure. It is a practical way for businesses to reduce exposure to wholesale energy volatility and take greater control over one of their most unpredictable operating costs. While solar can deliver strong financial returns through ROI and IRR, it is also a strategic investment that helps protect operations against future energy price shocks.
For many organisations, solar is also the starting point for a broader energy strategy. Technologies such as battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, smart grid solutions, and HV/LV electrical upgrades can work alongside solar to maximise self-consumption, support electrification, and prepare sites for future energy demand.
Through consultancy, design, installation, optimisation, and long-term aftercare, EvoEnergy helps businesses plan and deliver integrated energy solutions tailored to their sites and operational needs. This approach allows organisations to move beyond simply installing solar panels and instead build a more resilient, future-ready energy infrastructure.
The Cost Of Waiting
Waiting for markets to calm down may feel like the safer option, but it can leave your business fully exposed in the meantime.
The best time to start preparing for greater energy resilience was before the next disruption. The second-best time is now. Starting the solar journey does not mean committing to everything at once.
It means understanding your site, reviewing your consumption profile, assessing your roof space, exploring what system is right for you, gaining permissions to install the system and having EvoEnergy’s installers completing the system before the next price spike happens.
Start Your Solar Journey Now
At EvoEnergy, businesses can take that first step with practical advice, commercial solar expertise, and solutions designed to reduce grid reliance and improve long-term cost certainty.
If recent events have highlighted how exposed your business still is to external energy shocks, now is the time to start the conversation.
Get in touch with EvoEnergy to explore how solar can help your business reduce grid reliance, improve cost certainty, and take the first step on your solar journey.