Every Solar Britain proposal comes with a funding plan — not just a price
We've partnered with leading UK funders so every quote arrives with a finance package built around your business. Every desktop survey includes a clear economic breakdown — break-even point, repayment structure and lifetime profit — so you can see exactly how the numbers work before you commit a penny.
For many businesses, asset finance makes solar cashflow-positive from day one — repayments can be lower than the energy you save.
- Lower energy bills
- Energy security
- Stronger ESG story
The short version
Three routes — we'll recommend the one that works hardest for your business
Spread the cost (Asset Finance)
Often cashflow-positive from day one — repayments can be lower than the energy you save.
Pay upfront (CapEx)
Most popular when cash is available. Best long-term return on the asset.
£0 upfront — just buy the power (PPA / Lease)
No capital, no maintenance, lower-than-grid rate.
Solar Britain isn't a lender — finance advice and lender introductions are included as part of every proposal.
Finance, cash, or someone else owns it
Every commercial solar project sits in one of these three buckets. We'll model all three for your site — most of our clients are surprised by how strong the asset-finance numbers are.
Spread the cost (Asset Finance)
Asset finance is the third most common form of business funding in the UK after overdrafts and loans — well-understood, mainstream, and built for exactly this kind of investment. A lender pays for the system; you make fixed monthly payments while the system generates savings and export income on day one.
Great if you...
- Keeps capital free for the rest of the business
- Monthly payment treated as an operating cost (tax-efficient)
- Frequently cashflow-positive from month one
- You own a £-generating asset at the end of the term
Watch out for
- Subject to credit approval
- Total cost includes finance interest
In many of our quotes, monthly savings + export income exceed the finance payment — meaning the solar system pays for itself while it's still being paid off.
Pay upfront (CapEx)
The most popular route when cash is available. You buy the system outright and keep every penny of saving and export income for the next 25+ years — a durable, income-generating asset on your balance sheet.
Great if you...
- Strongest long-term return on the asset
- Full ownership from day one
- Eligible for 100% Annual Investment Allowance
Watch out for
- Single large capital outlay
- Capital tied up in a roof-mounted asset
Most projects pay back in roughly 4–7 years, then generate near-free electricity for decades.
£0 upfront — just buy the power
A third party funds, installs and maintains the solar system on your roof. You simply buy the electricity it generates at a fixed rate — typically well below grid prices.
Great if you...
- Zero upfront cost
- No maintenance, no asset to manage
- Lock in a lower energy rate for 15–25 years
Watch out for
- You don't own the system during the term
- Long-term contract with the funder
Two flavours: PPA (pay per kWh) or Solar Lease (fixed monthly fee, you keep all the energy).
Asset finance, step by step
The route that turns a six-figure capital project into a monthly line item — often smaller than the savings it generates.
1. We design the system
We size and quote the right solar (and battery) system for your site.
2. Lender funds it
A vetted UK asset-finance lender pays the install cost on your behalf.
3. You start saving
From the day it's switched on, the system cuts your electricity bills and earns export income.
4. Monthly payment
You pay the lender a fixed amount each month — often less than what you save.
5. You own it
At the end of the term you own the asset outright. Free electricity for the rest of its life.
Keep your cash working
Capital stays in the business — doing what it does best — instead of being tied up in a roof asset.
Tax-efficient
Monthly payments are typically treated as an operating cost, with real cashflow and balance-sheet benefits.
The asset pays for itself
Energy savings + export income often exceed the monthly payment — and you own a £-generating asset at the end of the term.
Worked example: a system saves £2,400/month in bills and export income, and the finance payment is £1,800/month. That's £600/month of net positive cashflow — from day one, with no capital out the door.
PPA & solar lease, step by step
Zero capital. Someone else owns and maintains the system. You just plug in and pay a lower rate.
1. We assess your site
We confirm your roof is suitable and design a system the funder will fund.
2. Funder owns the asset
An investor pays for, owns, insures and maintains the solar system on your roof.
3. System generates
Solar electricity is produced on your roof and fed directly into your building.
4. You buy the power
You pay the funder a fixed rate per kWh — typically well below the grid price.
5. End of term
Take ownership of the system, extend the agreement, or have it removed — your call.
The government wants you to do this
Even if you self-fund, several UK incentives can take a serious chunk off the real cost.
100% Annual Investment Allowance
Deduct 100% of the install cost (up to £1m) from pre-tax profits in year one. For many companies that's an effective 25% cash-back on the project.
50% First-Year Allowance
Projects beyond the AIA can claim an immediate 50% deduction on qualifying solar assets — useful for very large installs.
Business rates exemption
Most new rooftop solar installations are exempt from business rates until 2035 — solar doesn't push your rateable value up.
Regional grants
Depending on your region, size and sector, you may qualify for grants that part- or match-fund energy-saving measures.
For the full picture on UK solar funding — see our grants & funding guide.
Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. Solar Britain is not a tax adviser — always confirm with your accountant before relying on any allowance.
Funding routes at a glance
| Route | Upfront cost | Who owns it | Who keeps savings | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset finance | Low / none | You (after the term) | You | Businesses that want solar to be cashflow-positive from month one without using cash reserves |
| Pay upfront (CapEx) | Full upfront | You | You — every penny | Cash-rich businesses chasing maximum long-term return |
| PPA | None | A third-party funder | Shared via a lower per-kWh rate | Sites that want zero capital and predictable rates |
| Solar lease | Low / none | Lessor (until end of term) | You | Operations that prefer a flat monthly fee |
Finance options are subject to eligibility, site suitability, lender approval and final proposal.
Finance is part of our service — not an extra
When you ask Solar Britain for a quote, you don't just get a price. You get a fully-modelled funding plan built around your business.
Every proposal you get from us already includes:
Funded options on every quote
We model CapEx, asset finance and PPA side-by-side so you can see which route works hardest for your business — no extra meeting required.
Break-even, repayments and lifetime profit
Every proposal shows when you break even, what each monthly payment looks like, and the total profit the system delivers across its life.
Introductions to vetted UK lenders
Kyle, our specialist finance partner, arranges the funding package — we've already done the work of picking lenders who understand commercial solar.
Tax relief & grant guidance
AIA, FYA, business rates exemption and any regional grants you might qualify for — built into the proposal so nothing is left on the table.
Note: all final financial decisions and agreements remain with you. We provide the technical evidence and the funding plan; you and your funder make the call.
Not sure which option fits your business?
Run the calculator for an indicative view, or go straight to a funded quote — Kyle, our finance partner, will model all three routes for your site.