Commercial Solar Finance
- Immediate cost savings and more predictable returns
- No upfront capital expenditure required, subject to approval
- Finance available for solar panels, batteries and EV charging systems
- Terms available from 12 to 84 months
- Asset Finance, Leasing and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) facilities available
- Option to include installation, consultancy, maintenance costs and additional energy assets into one agreement
Commercial Solar Energy Financing for Businesses
Installing solar panels is becoming one of the most effective ways for UK businesses to reduce energy costs and protect themselves from volatile electricity prices.
Commercial solar systems allow companies to generate their own power on site, lowering reliance on the National Grid and providing long-term cost certainty. Businesses that install commercial solar systems can significantly reduce electricity bills while improving their environmental credentials and energy resilience.
At Reality Finance, we help businesses fund commercial solar energy systems through flexible asset finance, allowing you to spread the cost of installation over manageable monthly payments rather than committing a large amount of capital upfront.
Businesses that Benefit Most From Solar
Solar panels work particularly well for organisations that operate during daylight hours and have significant electricity usage.
Industries adopting commercial solar energy finance include:
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manufacturing and engineering companies
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warehouses and logistics businesses
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farms and agricultural operations
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retail parks and supermarkets
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hospitality venues and hotels
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schools, universities and public sector buildings
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leisure centres and gyms
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care homes and healthcare facilities
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offices with high daytime occupancy
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car dealerships and vehicle repair centres
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garden centres
Businesses with large roof areas and consistent daytime energy demand, such as warehouses and manufacturing sites, are often strong candidates for rooftop solar. The potential cost savings will depend on the size of the solar energy system, available roof space, electricity usage, installation costs and the finance structure selected.
Typical Commercial Solar Energy Projects We Can Arrange Funding For
Reality Finance can arrange funding for a wide range of renewable energy assets and supporting infrastructure.
Commercial Solar Panel Installations
Rooftop solar PV systems for warehouses, factories, offices, retail premises, healthcare settings, education sites and agricultural buildings.
Ground-Mounted Solar Systems
Large solar installations for industrial sites, farms or businesses with suitable available land.
Solar and Battery Storage Systems
Battery energy storage allows businesses to store surplus electricity generated during the day and use it during peak demand periods.
Solar Carports
Solar canopies installed above car parks that generate electricity while providing covered parking.
EV Charging Infrastructure
Charging stations powered by solar energy for electric vehicle fleets, workplace charging and customer parking facilities.
Integrated Energy Systems
Many businesses are combining solar panels with smart energy systems, battery storage and electric vehicles to create fully integrated energy ecosystems.
Commercial Solar Carports and Canopies Finance
Solar carports transform existing parking areas into energy-generating assets, combining renewable energy with vehicle infrastructure.
Why Finance Solar Carports?
Dual-Use Infrastructure:Generates clean energy while providing covered parking.
Enhanced ROI Potential:
Efficient Use of Space:
Sustainability Visibility:
Flexible Funding Structures:
Commercial Solar Finance FAQs
Businesses considering solar panels, renewable energy systems or EV charging infrastructure often have questions about how commercial solar finance works and what can be included within a funding package.
Can businesses finance solar panels?
Yes. Many businesses choose to finance solar panels rather than paying the full installation cost upfront. Commercial solar energy finance allows companies to spread the cost of a solar PV system over monthly payments while benefiting from the energy savings immediately.
What is commercial solar energy finance?
Commercial solar energy finance is a funding option that allows businesses to install solar panels and related renewable energy systems without committing a large upfront capital investment. Instead, the cost of the solar installation is spread over a fixed term through monthly payments.
What types of commercial solar projects can be financed?
Businesses can finance a wide range of solar energy systems including rooftop solar panels, ground-mounted solar arrays, battery storage systems, solar carports and EV charging infrastructure.
How long can you finance solar panels for?
Solar panel finance agreements typically range from 12 months to 5 years, depending on the lender, size of the project, business profile and finance structure. Longer terms may be available for larger renewable energy installations.
Is commercial solar financing available for small businesses?
Yes. Solar panel finance is available to businesses of all sizes, from small companies installing rooftop solar systems to larger organisations investing in commercial solar arrays or wider energy infrastructure.
Can solar panels reduce a business’s electricity bills?
Yes. Solar panels allow businesses to generate their own electricity during daylight hours. This reduces the amount of electricity purchased from the grid, helping lower energy bills and protect against rising electricity prices. The level of saving will depend on factors such as energy usage, system size, tariff rates, installation costs and how much generated electricity is used on site.
What are the benefits of financing solar panels instead of paying upfront?
Financing solar panels allows businesses to preserve working capital while still investing in renewable energy. It also allows companies to spread the cost of installation and potentially offset finance payments with the savings generated from reduced electricity bills, depending on system performance and energy usage.
Can installation and consultancy costs be included in commercial solar finance?
Yes. Solar finance agreements can often include additional project costs such as installation, consultancy, electrical work, system design and maintenance services as part of the funding package.
Can businesses finance solar panels and battery storage together?
Yes. Many businesses choose to finance integrated renewable energy systems that combine solar panels with battery storage. Battery systems allow businesses to store excess solar power and use it when energy demand is higher.
How quickly can commercial solar energy financing be arranged?
Solar finance can often be arranged quickly once a quote for the installation is available. After reviewing the proposal and the business details, lenders can typically provide funding decisions and finance agreements within the same day.
Can businesses finance solar panels and EV charging infrastructure together?
Yes. Many businesses now install solar panels alongside electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Both assets can often be included within the same funding agreement, allowing companies to spread the cost of renewable energy generation and EV charging equipment over manageable monthly payments.
Can solar panels power electric vehicle fleets?
Yes. Businesses can use solar panels to generate electricity that powers EV charging stations on site. This allows organisations to reduce the cost of running electric vehicles while lowering their reliance on grid electricity.
What EV infrastructure can be financed alongside solar panels?
Businesses can finance a range of EV infrastructure including:
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workplace EV charging stations
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depot charging systems for commercial fleets
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rapid chargers for logistics operations
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solar-powered charging systems
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energy management systems that optimise solar and EV charging
These solutions allow businesses to support the transition to electric vehicles while controlling long-term energy costs.
Can electric vans and fleet vehicles be funded with commercial solar energy projects?
Yes. Electric vans, company cars and commercial EV fleets can often be financed alongside solar installations. This allows businesses to transition their transport operations to electric vehicles while using solar energy to power charging infrastructure.
What Do Our Customers Say?
Who can apply for Commercial Solar Finance?
Commercial solar finance is available to a wide range of UK businesses, from established companies investing in rooftop solar panels to organisations funding wider renewable energy infrastructure such as battery storage, solar carports or EV charging systems. Finance eligibility criteria can vary, but lenders will usually consider factors such as:
- Whether your business is UK-based
- The value and type of solar energy system being funded
- How long your business has been trading
- The business’s financial position and ability to afford repayments
- Credit history and overall application profile
- The information provided to support the application
Providing detailed information about the proposed solar installation, system costs, intended business use and wider finance requirement can help support a smoother and more efficient application process.
Get a Quote for Commercial Solar Finance
Investing in solar energy infrastructure often requires a commercial funding solution that reflects the scale and objectives of the project. Reality Finance helps businesses access funding for a range of commercial renewable energy investments.
Share details of your planned installation with our team, including any solar panels, battery storage systems, EV charging equipment and associated project costs. We will then review your available options through our lender panel.
Contact our expert team to discuss commercial solar finance or request a quote.
“Reality Finance provide competitive lease rates enabling our customers to spread the cost of purchasing new equipment with our Easy Payment scheme. They are happy to talk directly with our customers and offer expert financial advice. In this difficult economic climate, we are looking to build on our relationship to make purchasing even easier for our customers.”
Mark Jackson-Nichols , Director, Loma Systems
Having Reality Finance as a partner has enabled our customers to invest in our tray sealing lines which is vital capital equipment that has enabled them to grow their businesses and improve efficiencies much quicker than if they had waited to generate the cash to pay for these assets.
We have always found the team at Reality Finance to be extremely responsive and supportive of us and our joint customers through the whole purchasing process, making it as smooth and swift as possible.
Sam Ashton , Commercial Director, Packaging Automation Ltd
How does our Finance work?
You will have one point of contact at Reality and we believe in building relationships - we won't make you fill in online forms to make your application.
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Choose the asset or service your company needs
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Speak to us and we will use our panel of lenders to find you the best monthly payment option
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We take care of the paperwork and invoicing
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Your product or service is delivered to you
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You pay for your new asset as you use it
Case Study
We had a recent case where a client company had made the decision to make longer-term savings in their energy bills.
As part of this process, the company is investing close to £23,000 in a Solar Energy creation and storage solution for their business premises.
The business operates from a factory in the South of England where the roof is South Facing, ideal for harvesting Solar Energy.
The customer is also purchasing new electric vehicles, which can be charged at work and, which allow the company to offset a higher proportion of their cost against taxable income than their traditionally powered predecessors. In addition, the drivers also be entitled to a far lower benefit in kind charge for having the use of an electric powered Company vehicle.
- Our customer is financing the cost of the Solar Solution over five years via a Hire Purchase finance agreement. This should allow for a first year Super deduction allowance allowing the business to utilise 130% of the cost of the system in their writing down allowances calculation.
- They will be able to run the factory using energy created by the new solar system from the first day of installation.
- The cost of the Hire Purchase repayments will be lower than the old monthly electricity bill - an immediate cash benefit.
- If the system creates more power than is used by the company then it can be fed into the Grid which it will receive payments for.
Why Reality Finance?
5 star service rating
Verified by Feefo
Over 30 lenders on our panel
so we can source you the best deal
Lender in our own right
Provides additional flexibility
Funding hard and soft assets
Anything you need for your business
24 years of trading
Established in 2000 and privately owned