Funding hub
Commercial solar funding: how UK businesses pay for solar
Every route to funding commercial solar and battery storage — from £0-upfront PPAs to buying outright — with a full guide to each. Independent, introducer-led, no obligation.
UK businesses fund commercial solar in four main ways: a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), where a funder pays for the system and you buy the power at a fixed rate below the grid with £0 upfront; hire purchase or leasing, which spread the cost; buying outright (CapEx); and, occasionally, grants. A PPA is the most common route for zero-upfront solar.
The routes
Four ways to fund commercial solar
A PPA is our flagship because it removes the upfront cost entirely — but it isn't the only option. Here's each route at a glance; compare them side by side on our funding options page.
PPA
Zero upfront. Pay only for the clean power you use.
£0 upfront
CapEx
Own it from day one and keep 100% of the savings.
Full system cost upfront
HP
Spread the cost, own the system at the end.
Deposit upfront
Lease
Low upfront, predictable rentals as an operating cost.
Low / none upfront
Commercial solar funding compared at a glance
How the four routes differ on the things that matter — upfront cost, ownership, maintenance and accounting treatment. Figures are structural, not a quote; we compare each against your own numbers.
| PPA £0 upfront | CapEx | HP | Lease | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | £0 | Full system cost | Deposit | Low / none |
| Payment | Fixed rate per kWh | One-off capital cost | Fixed monthly instalments | Fixed rentals (opex) |
| Ownership | Yours for £1 at end of term | Yours from day one | Yours at end of agreement | Return, extend or buy at end |
| Maintenance | Fully included | Optional O&M package | Optional O&M package | Optional O&M package |
| Accounting treatment | Off-balance-sheet (operating cost) | Capital asset | Asset on balance sheet | Rentals as operating expense |
| Best for | Businesses that want no capital outlay, no risk and no maintenance — just lower bills from day one. | Businesses with capital available that want the strongest long-term return and full ownership. | Businesses that want to own the system but spread the cost and protect their cash flow. | Businesses that want minimal upfront cost and predictable, tax-efficient operating payments. |
Funding & PPA knowledge centre
Everything you need to decide
Plain-English guides on funding routes, how a PPA works, and the costs, savings and tax — so you can choose the right way to fund solar for your business.
Funding routes
The ways a UK business can pay for commercial solar — and what each means for cost, ownership and risk.
- Can my business get free solar panels? What “free solar” really means
- What does “£0 upfront” commercial solar actually mean?
- What is a corporate PPA?
- Types of PPA explained: on-site, off-site, sleeved and virtual
- Solar PPA vs buying outright: which is right for your business?
- Solar PPA vs leasing: what's the difference for business?
- On-Balance-Sheet vs Off-Balance-Sheet Solar: How the Funding Route Shows in Your Accounts
- Grants and funding for commercial solar in the UK
How a solar PPA works
The detail of the most common zero-upfront route — the contract, the rate, billing and what happens at the end.
Costs, savings & tax
What commercial solar costs, what it saves, and how the numbers work for your business.
- How much do commercial solar panels cost in the UK?
- How much can your business save with commercial solar?
- Commercial solar payback period: what to expect
- Is a solar PPA worth it for your business?
- Capital allowances on commercial solar: full expensing & AIA explained
- VAT on commercial solar explained
Browse all commercial solar guides, or see solar by industry and by location.
Common questions
Commercial solar funding, answered
How can a business get commercial solar with no money upfront?
Through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). A funder pays for the design, equipment, installation and maintenance, and your business buys the electricity the system generates at a fixed rate guaranteed at least 30% below the grid. There is no capital cost, and the system becomes yours for £1 at the end of the term.
What is the best way to fund commercial solar?
It depends on your capital and priorities. A PPA suits businesses that want zero upfront cost and no maintenance risk; buying outright suits those with capital who want the full lifetime savings; hire purchase and leasing sit in between. As an introducer, we compare each against your own numbers.
Who owns the solar panels under a funded agreement?
Under a PPA the funder owns and maintains the system for the term (typically around 20 years), then it transfers to your business for a nominal £1. With hire purchase or an outright purchase you own the system from the outset.
Are there grants for commercial solar in the UK?
Grants exist but are limited and usually part-fund a purchase rather than cover the whole cost. For most businesses a PPA or asset finance is a more reliable route to zero or low upfront cost. We can flag any current schemes relevant to your situation.
Find the right way to fund your solar
Tell us about your site and we'll compare every funding route against your numbers — free, no obligation.
- £0 upfront cost
- Rates 30%+ below the grid
- Fully funded & maintained
- No obligation