Commercial solar finance
Funding for rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV on UK commercial premises, arranged around who owns the building and how long the occupation runs.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a commercial solar?
Yes. Commercial solar PV is routinely financed for UK businesses, but it is underwritten differently from a machine you could roll out of the door. A roof-mounted array becomes a fixture of the building, so a funder cannot lift it off and resell it if things go wrong. That pushes the decision onto the strength of the trading business, whether you own the freehold, and how long is left on any lease. Ground-mounted arrays sit slightly better because they are more recoverable. We are a broker, so we place the case with funders who understand fixed renewable assets.
Used kit: Rarely. Second-hand panels and used inverters are difficult to fund because warranty cover and performance history are hard to evidence, though de-installed ground-mount frames occasionally get looked at.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a commercial solar cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
The central issue is that a roof array is a fixture. Once it is bolted to your building it is legally part of the property, so recovery value in a default is weak and funders lean on the covenant of the trading business instead. Freeholders get the widest choice. If you are a tenant, the length of the unexpired lease matters enormously — a short lease is a genuine complication, because the asset may outlive your right to occupy. A landlord waiver confirming the landlord will not claim the array is commonly required. Where the array underpins a measurable generation benefit, some funders will consider that income or saving alongside the accounts rather than the balance sheet alone.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| SolarEdge SE100K inverter | Three phase commercial string inverter |
| SolarEdge Power Optimisers | Module level optimisation and monitoring |
| Huawei SUN2000-100KTL-M1 | Commercial three phase inverter |
| Fronius Tauro ECO 100-3-D | Outdoor rated commercial inverter |
| SMA Sunny Tripower CORE1 | Free standing commercial inverter |
| Sungrow SG110CX inverter | Multi MPPT commercial inverter |
| JA Solar DeepBlue 4.0 modules | Commercial roof mounted PV modules |
| Longi Hi-MO 6 modules | High efficiency PV panels |
| K2 Systems roof mounting | Rooftop PV mounting and ballast |
| Van der Valk ground mount frames | Ground mounted array framework |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Manufacturers with large shed roofs, cold stores running compressors all day, poultry and dairy units, hotels, schools and academy trusts, and logistics operators with warehouse space. The usual trigger is a renewal quote from the energy supplier that lands far above the last one, or a customer contract that asks suppliers to evidence on-site generation. Many come to us with an installer proposal already priced and want the capital outlay spread rather than taken from working capital.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Commercial solar finance questions
Can I finance solar panels if I rent my unit?
Often yes, but it is harder. Funders want to see enough unexpired term on the lease that the asset is genuinely useful to you for its working life, and they will usually ask the landlord to sign a waiver confirming they will not claim the array as part of the building. A short lease narrows the options considerably.
Does the solar array have to be on the roof?
No. Ground-mounted arrays on land you own are common on farms, depots and larger sites. From a funding point of view they are often viewed more favourably than rooftop, because the frames and panels can in principle be recovered, whereas a roof array is treated as part of the building.
Will the funder want a landlord waiver?
If you lease the premises, almost certainly. The waiver is a short document in which the landlord acknowledges the equipment belongs to the funder and agrees not to treat it as a fixture of the property. Getting the landlord to engage early is usually the slowest part of a solar finance application.
Can the electricity saving be used to support the application?
Sometimes. Where an installer has produced a credible generation model, certain funders will look at the reduced energy cost or export income as part of the affordability picture. It supports the case rather than replaces it — the trading history of the business still carries most of the weight.
Do I need to finance the whole installation or just the panels?
Most funders prefer to fund the installed system as a package, including inverters, mounting, cabling and commissioning, because splitting it out leaves an asset that does not work on its own. Scaffolding, roof repairs and builders’ work are sometimes treated separately, so tell us what the installer quote actually includes.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.