Warehouse solar asset finance is now a mature and well-understood market in the UK. Specialist commercial solar lenders (Close Brothers Asset Finance, Time Finance, Hitachi Capital, Novuna Business Finance, Grenke) offer terms specifically designed for commercial solar PV. The key insight for most warehouse operators: asset-financed solar is cash-flow positive in Year 1 — annual savings exceed the annual finance payment, creating net positive cashflow from day one without capital deployment.
Finance lease — the most common structure
Finance lease is the most common warehouse solar finance structure (approximately 60% of asset-financed installs in 2026). Structure: the lender owns the asset and leases it to you for an agreed term (typically 5-10 years). You pay a fixed monthly payment. At end of term: secondary period at nominal rent, or option to purchase at market value (minimal). Tax treatment: lease payments are tax-deductible operating expenditure — removes the capex approval requirement in many businesses. The lessee is treated as owner for AIA and FYA purposes in most UK finance leases meeting HMRC criteria. VAT on solar equipment: zero-rated for owner-occupier installs post-November 2023 (HMRC update). Zero capex for lessee. Off-balance-sheet in some circumstances (IFRS 16 treatment varies).
Hire purchase — balance sheet ownership with monthly payments
Hire purchase (HP) is appropriate where ownership is desired from day one. Structure: you take possession and legal ownership of the asset immediately. Monthly HP instalments repay the lender over the term (typically 3-7 years). At end of term: asset fully owned, no further obligation. Tax treatment: depreciation charge + finance charge tax-deductible. AIA: 100% AIA claimed in Year 1 on full system cost (lender provides the capital, you get the AIA). VAT: zero-rated (as for owner purchase). HP is the preferred structure when: (1) full AIA claim in Year 1 is the priority; (2) balance sheet treatment is neutral; (3) the business has credit strength for HP terms.
PPA — zero capex, off-balance-sheet
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): third-party investor owns and operates the system. You pay per kWh consumed at a tariff below your grid retail rate. Structure: 10-25 year PPA contract. Zero capex. Maintenance and monitoring included in PPA. Best for: tenants on short leases (under 7 years remaining); businesses without board capex approval for CAPEX spend; businesses wanting off-balance-sheet treatment. The PPA tariff typically starts at grid parity or below and is index-linked (RPI or CPI). PPA operators in UK commercial solar: Lightsource bp, Statkraft, GRIDSERVE, Octopus Energy Generation, British Solar Renewables.
Worked cashflow example: 1 MW warehouse, finance lease
1 MW warehouse solar install: £750,000. Finance lease: 7-year term, 5.9% effective rate, monthly payment £10,975. Annual finance payment: £131,700. Annual savings (1 MW at 81% self-consumption, 25p/kWh): £202,500. Year 1 net cashflow: +£70,800 (savings exceed payments). Tax treatment: lease payments tax-deductible (£33,000 tax saving at 25% corporation tax). After-tax Year 1 cashflow: +£103,800. At end of 7-year term: system fully paid off, no further payments. Annual savings: £202,500 net. 25-year NPV (8% discount rate): £1.8m.
Common questions about asset finance solar
Is warehouse solar cashflow positive from Year 1 with asset finance?
Yes — in most cases. For a 1 MW install at £750,000 on 7-year finance lease at 5.9%: annual payments £131,700. Annual savings: £202,500 (at 81% self-consumption, 25p/kWh). Net Year 1 cashflow: +£70,800 before tax benefit. After-tax (lease payments tax-deductible): net cashflow +£103,800. The savings exceed the payments from Day 1.
What is the difference between finance lease and hire purchase for solar?
Finance lease: lender owns asset, you pay monthly lease payments (operating expense). AIA still available to lessee on qualifying finance leases. HP: you own asset from day one, HP instalments are balance sheet debt. AIA claimed on full cost in Year 1. Key difference: ownership and balance sheet treatment. Both are cash-flow positive from Year 1 in most warehouse solar scenarios.