FULLY FUNDED SOLAR

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a long-term contract where a third-party investor funds, installs, and maintains a solar PV system on your site.

Instead of buying the system, your business simply agrees to purchase the electricity it generates at a fixed, typically lower rate than grid electricity.

In simple terms:

• You buy the power it produces
• You provide the roof or land
• The investor installs and owns the system

Installation timelines vary depending on system size, site complexity, and grid requirements—but A PPA removes the need for capital expenditure while still delivering the benefits of solar.

The Process:

Ongoing Operation & Maintenance
The investor remains responsible for system performance, maintenance, and monitoring.

Site Assessment
Your building is assessed to ensure it’s suitable for solar generation (roof space, usage profile, energy demand).

System Design & Funding
A funding partner designs and fully funds the installation.

Installation
The solar system is installed with no upfront cost to your business.

Energy Supply Agreement
You purchase the electricity generated at an agreed unit rate (typically lower than your current tariff).

1. No Upfront Investment

The most obvious advantage, you can install solar panels without using capital or impacting cash flow.

2. Immediate Cost Savings

Electricity generated on-site is usually cheaper than grid power, meaning you start saving from day one.

3. Protection Against Energy Price Volatility

PPAs offer long-term price certainty, helping you manage risk in an unpredictable energy market.

4. Reduced Carbon Emissions

Switching to solar helps lower your Scope 2 emissions and supports your net zero strategy.

5. No Maintenance Responsibility

The system is owned and maintained by the funder, reducing operational burden on your team.

While PPAs are highly attractive, they’re not suitable for every business.

Key factors include:

• Contract length (typically 10–25 years)
• Energy usage profile (daytime demand is ideal)
• Roof ownership or lease terms
• Electricity pricing structure

It’s important to assess whether a PPA aligns with your long-term energy strategy.

Factor	Fully Funded PPA	Owned Solar System
Upfront cost	None	Capital investment required
Savings	Immediate, but shared with the investor	Higher long-term savings
Maintenance	Covered by provider	Your responsibility
Asset ownership	Third party	Your business
ROI	No capital ROI, but operational savings	Strong ROI over time

In short, a PPA is about accessing solar with zero risk, while ownership is about maximising long-term returns.

PPAs work best for businesses with:

• Large roof space or available land
• High daytime electricity usage
• Long-term site occupancy
• Strong energy demand (typically 100,000+ kWh per year)

If your business meets these criteria, a PPA could unlock significant savings without capital investment.

With energy prices remaining volatile and sustainability targets tightening, PPAs are becoming a go-to solution for commercial solar.

They allow businesses to:

• Decarbonise quickly
• Avoid capital expenditure
• Improve ESG reporting
• Demonstrate commitment to sustainability

At Flame Energy, we act as an independent partner — helping you assess whether a PPA is the right option and connecting you with trusted funding providers.

We support you with:

• Site feasibility assessments
• PPA provider sourcing and comparison
• Commercial and contract evaluation
• End-to-end project management

Our focus is on ensuring you get a solution that works commercially, not just technically.

If you’re interested in solar but want to avoid upfront costs, a PPA could be the ideal solution.

Speak to our team today to arrange a site assessment and discover how quickly you could be generating your own renewable energy.