Energy & Renewables Finance
The capital goes in years before the income stabilises. We place finance for solar installers, EV charging operators, battery storage developers and heat pump contractors who need lenders that understand how the returns actually work.
50%+ in 2023
UK renewable electricity share
180,000+ per year
Commercial solar installations
The core tension in energy and renewables is timing. A commercial solar array costs £80,000 to £400,000 to install. The energy savings and export revenue come back over 10 to 25 years. The installer gets paid once the system is commissioned, not in stage payments like a construction project, so they carry labour and equipment costs until sign-off. EV charging infrastructure has the same shape: you spend now, revenue comes from utilisation that builds slowly. We have placed asset finance for solar and battery kit, development lines for ground-mounted arrays, and unsecured working capital for installers growing their pipeline. The lenders who say yes here are rarely the high-street banks. They are specialist asset lenders who understand the technology and know how to value the income stream. As a broker we do not lend or set the terms; the lender decides based on the business, the asset and the site. Our job is to get your case in front of the desk most likely to fund it.
Common Challenges in Energy & Renewables
Equipment cost before commissioning
Panels, inverters, batteries and EV chargers must be bought before a single kilowatt is generated or a single charge session is billed. Installers carry that stock risk, often on 60 to 90 day supplier payment terms.
Grid connection queues
A ground-mounted solar or battery storage project can sit in the DNO queue for 12 to 36 months after planning consent. Development finance drawn down too early bleeds interest; drawn too late and you miss the build window.
Lender comfort with the technology
Plenty of mainstream lenders still treat solar panels and battery packs as unfamiliar assets. Appetite exists, but it sits with a smaller group of lenders who track degradation rates and have done enough deals to hold a view.
Revenue recognition for installers
MCS-certified installers often invoice on completion. A pipeline of 10 installs a month can look profitable on paper while the business runs short on cash, waiting on surveys, grid approval and sign-off before the invoice even goes out.
Finance Solutions for Energy & Renewables
We work with specialist lenders to find the right product for your business.
Asset Finance
The standard route for solar panels, battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps. The asset itself is the security, so the lender assesses the kit as much as the balance sheet. Terms typically run 3 to 7 years, and monthly repayments are often offset by the energy savings or utilisation income.
Learn moreConstruction & Development Finance
For ground-mounted arrays, rooftop portfolios and larger battery storage sites, a development line draws in tranches as work progresses and exits once the project is operational or refinanced onto a long-term facility. Day-one LTV and exit route are what lenders scrutinise here.
Learn moreUnsecured Business Loans
Working capital for MCS installers, EV charging operators and energy services businesses growing their order book faster than invoices clear. Typically up to £500k without a first charge on property.
Learn moreCommercial Mortgages
If the business owns or is buying the site where equipment will be installed, a commercial mortgage can fund the property and release equity to part-fund the install. Lenders size it on DSCR from rental income or projected energy revenue.
Learn moreWork out your numbers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get asset finance for a commercial solar installation?
Yes, and it is one of the cleaner deals to place. The panels and inverters are the security, lenders have years of performance data now, and the energy savings give a reasonable proxy for repayment capacity. Terms of 5 to 7 years are typical. The business still needs to show it can service the debt, particularly in the first year before savings fully materialise. Funding always depends on the lender's assessment of your business.
Is there finance for EV charging infrastructure?
There is, though appetite varies by site. Lenders want a credible utilisation case: a car park with footfall data, a fleet depot with contracted vehicles, or a forecourt with existing throughput. A standalone charger in a low-traffic spot is harder to place because the revenue is too speculative. Come with the usage numbers and the site agreement, not just the hardware quote.
How do development lenders assess a ground-mounted solar project?
Planning consent, grid connection offer and offtake agreement are the three things lenders reach for first. Without a grid connection offer the project has no confirmed output capacity, and without an offtake (or a credible self-consumption case) there is no exit income to service the debt. Day-one LTV on development lines in this sector is typically 55 to 65 percent of gross development cost. The exit is usually a refinance onto a long-term commercial mortgage or a sale once the project is operational.
Can a sole trader or partnership apply for energy business finance?
Asset finance and unsecured loans are available to sole traders and partnerships for commercial energy kit. Development finance for larger projects is almost always placed through a limited company. If your business is unincorporated and the deal is material in size, incorporating first is worth discussing before you approach lenders.
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