Finance for solar and renewable energy
Two very different funding problems: installers needing stock and vans, and projects needing capital against long-dated, often contracted revenue.
Request a callback- Commonly funded
- Stock, vans, plant, projects
- Typical facilities
- Asset finance, term lending
- Lender focus
- Accreditation and offtake
This page describes what businesses in this sector typically fund and what lenders generally look for. It is not a recommendation, and what is available to you depends on your own circumstances.
About solar & renewable
Installation businesses face a working capital problem more than an asset one. Panels, inverters and batteries have to be bought before a job starts, and customers often pay on completion, so growth swallows cash faster than expected. Stock funding, invoice finance and vehicle finance do most of the work here.
Generation projects are a different exercise altogether. Funding rests on the expected output, the strength of any offtake agreement or power purchase arrangement, and the site itself. These are longer, larger and more structured facilities, and they take considerably more time to arrange.
What gets funded
- Panels, inverters, batteries and mounting systems held as stock.
- Installation vans, tool stock, access equipment and scaffold towers.
- Battery storage systems, both for resale and for a business's own site.
- EV charging infrastructure for commercial premises and fleets.
- Ground-mounted and rooftop generation projects, funded against expected output.
What lenders want to see
- Relevant accreditations and certification for the work being carried out.
- For installers, a pipeline that is contracted rather than merely quoted.
- For projects, a credible yield assessment and a firm route to market for the power.
- Warranty and performance guarantees from equipment manufacturers.
- How exposed the business is to subsidy or tariff changes.
Frequently asked
Can I fund solar on my own commercial premises?
Yes, and it is increasingly common. The equipment can be funded on hire purchase or lease, with the savings on energy cost typically covering a good portion of the monthly payment. The arithmetic depends heavily on your consumption pattern.
How long does project funding take?
Considerably longer than equipment finance — think months rather than weeks. Site assessment, grid connection, planning and legal work all take time, and lenders will want each properly evidenced before committing.
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Tell us what your business does
We will tell you which funders lend into your industry, and roughly what they are likely to say.
