Wind turbine finance
Funding for mast-mounted commercial wind turbines on owned land, where the machine, the foundation and the grid connection are quoted as one scheme.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a wind turbine?
Yes, for turbines on land you own, though the funding splits in two. The turbine, nacelle, blades and tower are identifiable machinery and can in principle be dismantled and moved, which gives funders something to lend against. The reinforced foundation, access track and grid connection cannot be recovered at all. Underwriting therefore weighs the machine, the strength of the business and the security of the site. Planning consent and a firm grid connection offer need to be in place before most funders will progress a case.
Used kit: Yes. There is an established European market in used and repowered turbines, and funders will consider them where condition reports and service history exist.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
What would a wind turbine cost per month?
Business asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what this shows — with the equivalent APR underneath, because the two are not the same number. A quick guide only; your actual rate depends on the asset, term, deposit and lender.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 6.0% flat rate (equivalent to 11.5% APR representative), you would repay around £646 a month; total amount repayable approximately £31,000, of which £6,000 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. CW Asset Finance is an Appointed Representative of Rural Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 630701).
How lenders treat it
Wind sits between solar and CHP on the recoverability scale. A turbine is a large machine that erection contractors can take down, and there is an international market in used turbines, so it is not the dead end a roof array represents. The foundation is a different matter: a substantial concrete block cast into your land with no salvage value, and funders will often discount or exclude it along with tracks and cabling. Site security is therefore critical and freehold ownership is close to a requirement — nobody funds a turbine on ground you might lose. Where export or supply income is contracted, specialist funders will assess that revenue alongside your trading accounts rather than relying on 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 |
|---|---|
| Enercon E-53 turbine | Direct drive wind turbine |
| Enercon E-44 turbine | Direct drive turbine for windy sites |
| Vestas V52 turbine | Geared mid scale wind turbine |
| Vestas V90 turbine | Geared utility scale turbine |
| EWT DW54 turbine | Direct drive distributed wind turbine |
| EWT DW61 turbine | Low wind direct drive turbine |
| Siemens Gamesa SWT-2.3 turbine | Geared platform wind turbine |
| Repowered Vestas V27 turbine | Refurbished used wind turbine |
| Schneider Electric RM6 ring main unit | Grid connection switchgear |
| ABB medium voltage switchgear | Turbine grid connection equipment |
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
Who buys one
Farms and rural estates with exposed land, waste and water treatment sites, distilleries and food processors with high continuous demand, and port or coastal industrial operations. The trigger is generally a long-held planning consent nearing expiry, a heavy and predictable electricity demand on a windy site, or the replacement of an ageing turbine where repowering makes better sense than repair.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
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.
Wind turbine finance questions
Does planning permission need to be granted first?
In practice, yes. A funder will not release money for a turbine that may never be allowed to stand, so consent should be in place or at least resolved before an application is submitted. Send us the decision notice along with the quote and the grid connection position.
Is the foundation included in the finance?
Often only partly. A turbine base is a large concrete structure with no recovery value, and many funders discount it or exclude it from the fundable amount. The turbine itself, the tower sections and the electrical equipment carry the value they are lending against. Ask the contractor to price the civils separately from the machine supply.
Can export income support the application?
Yes, particularly with funders who know the sector. A signed power purchase or export agreement gives a credible revenue figure that can be assessed alongside your accounts. Where the turbine mainly offsets your own consumption, funders will instead look at your metered demand. Either way, the trading accounts still have to support the commitment.
Can I finance a turbine on rented land?
It is difficult. A turbine represents a long commitment to one location and a funder needs certainty about tenure for the whole of the agreement. Long leases with clear terms are sometimes workable, but freehold ownership makes an application very much simpler. Bring the lease or option documents with you when you first enquire.
What about repowering an old turbine?
Repowering is a recognised route and funders will consider it, particularly where the site is proven, the grid connection already exists and the consent is in place. The application then focuses on the replacement machine, its condition if used, and the cost of taking the old one down.
Get a quoteor call 07581 364281
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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 07581 364281 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.