For many UK businesses solar is one of the most effective ways to reduce operating costs and meet sustainability goals. Despite the clear long-term benefits of solar investment, many businesses can delay or abandon projects due to uncertainty, unexpected costs or confusion on how to fund the full installation, not just the panels themselves.  

Here, our Key Account Manager and Solar expert, Mark Johnston, breaks down the challenges businesses face and how working with the right finance partner like Bluestone can help.

Hidden Pain Points of Commercial Solar Projects

UK businesses can sometimes face some barriers when embarking on solar investment projects, but Bluestone are here to bust some of those myths and look at how you can best address them when considering solar PV.  

1. High upfront costs

Solar installations can often be expensive at the outset, especially for larger commercial roofs. Even when profitable businesses have the cash available, many prefer to not tie up capital in a long-term asset. Without the right finance solution in place, this becomes a large barrier to getting the project off the ground.  

Utilising a finance solution such as a hire purchase or finance lease facility with a broker such as Bluestone who works with lenders that have experience with solar projects, will ensure your solar project can proceed without large upfront costs, while preserving cashflow and providing predictable, fixed monthly payments.

We can also support staged payments which some businesses find difficult to access otherwise.  

2. Uncertainty of return on investment, is it worth it?

Many businesses have concerns that solar won’t deliver the return that they expect or that the payback period will be too long. Because of these concerns, many can have some hesitations with embarking on the project or receive internal pushback. However, energy prices continuing to increase, the long-term savings and cost predictability outweigh the initial investment.  

A clear example of how solar panels provide a strong ROI is seen in our blog with Beamish Park Golf Club. Since installing solar panels with funding through Bluestone, the club was able to reduce their monthly energy bill from £5,000 to just £1,200. With predictable monthly payments, the project has strengthened cashflow and protected the business from increasing energy prices and provided them an instant saving of £3,000 per month. This shows how when structured correctly, solar projects can deliver immediate benefits, long-term cost certainty and sustainability goals.  

You can watch our video case study with Treasurer of Beamish Golf Club, Phillip Dobson, here, to explore the financial benefits further.  

3. Not knowing the actual project cost

A common misconception is that the cost of a solar installation project will be only of the panels themselves. In reality, panels are just one element of the project. Roof works to prepare for the panels, scaffolding, installation, labour, inverters/batteries, surveys and DNO approvals all contribute to the total cost. Many businesses only discover these costs late in the process which affects budgets and timelines.  

At Bluestone, we understand the different elements of the installation that need to be included in the cost of the project and can finance the total cost and not just that of the panels.  

4. Unexpected issues once the project starts

Even with expert solar suppliers, challenges can still arise through the process such as delays in DNO approval, restricted or difficult access to the installation area
and structural issues uncovered in surveys. These complications can lead to increased costs or delayed commissioning. Working with a finance partner familiar with these challenges ensures you have the flexibility to navigate unexpected changes without disrupting cashflow.  

How Much Do Solar Panels Really Cost?

A common misconception is that finance is only available for the actual panels themselves, when many funders that we work with can cover full project cost, including the:  

• Roof works

• Scaffolding

• Installation

• Surveys

Even better, with stage payments available, suppliers can be paid as work progresses. This simplified cashflow and ensures that your solar project stays progressing. This ensures you’re never left trying to bridge budget gaps halfway through the project.

Is Solar Worth it for UK Businesses?  

If structured correctly, yes, the investment of solar projects does pay for themselves in long-term savings.

Solar offers UK businesses predictable long-term savings, reduced reliance on the volatile energy markets, and measurable progress towards sustainability targets. The payback period has shortened significantly in recent years due to rising energy prices and more efficient panel technology.

Businesses with daytime operational hours (manufacturing, logistics, retail, warehousing, education, hospitality) often benefit the most because they can consume the energy generated on-site.)

This is displayed in our case study with industry leading manufacturer Joloda Hydraroll.  As they operate in the daytime, Joloda Hydraroll were in a good position to maximise on-site solar generation through solar panels. Working with Bluestone to finance a solar installation meant that they were able to invest in their renewable energy project, that now supplies approximately 25% of their electricity usage, without tying up a significant amount of capital.  

You can read our case study with Joloda Hydraroll here.  

Funding renewable energy for your business

Bluestone is an ethical and FCA-regulated finance intermediary. We are committed to ensuring that our clients make informed financial decisions based on their requirements and always recommend that our clients seek independent financial advice from an authorised source before committing to any financial agreements. If you would like to explore finance solutions in more detail, get in touch using the enquiry form below, or contact us here. One of our friendly and experienced team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Bluestone also works directly with solar installers, renewable energy companies and UK businesses to create accessible finance packages that enables their customers to adopt clean energy sooner whilst making it much more affordable.  Find out more about offering finance for your renewable business here.

Further information about finance solutions for solar panels can be found here.  

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