Asset finance
Solar panel finance: commercial solar PV for your premises
Solar panel finance helps a limited company pay for a commercial solar PV system, with the SEAI grant and lower electricity bills helping to cover the repayments.
- How long
- Usually 3 to 7 years
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 3 to 4 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
Quick eligibility check
Planning solar panels for your premises?
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
About 60 seconds · no credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register
Prefer to talk? +353 1 536 9910- How long
- Usually 3 to 7 years
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 3 to 4 weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
- Irish limited companies
- Several lenders, one request
- No fees for your company
- No obligation
At a glance
Solar panel finance at a glance
around 3 to 4 weeks
- Irish limited companies
- Often 12+ months trading
- Depends on the lender
- 1
Tell us what you need
Three taps: purpose, amount, business type. About 60 seconds, no credit search and not recorded on the Central Credit Register.
- 2
We match you to lenders
We check your profile against lender criteria and approach only those likely to consider it. One request, only to lenders likely to consider it.
- 3
Compare any offers
See the rate, fees, security and any personal guarantee side by side before you decide anything.
Lenders we work with
We are a broker, not a lender. Lender names and logos are trademarks of their owners and are shown with permission. Their inclusion does not mean the lender endorses Welcome Finance. Finance is subject to each lender’s own approval, which is not guaranteed.
About solar panel finance
Commercial solar panel finance lets your company pay for a solar PV system on its roof or land over several years. The savings on electricity, and any payment for exported power, can help cover the repayments. Funding options include a business loan, a green loan from a bank, hire purchase or a lease from an installer's finance partner.
Grants can cut how much you borrow. SEAI's Non-Domestic Microgen Grant is open to businesses for systems up to 1,000 kWp. SEAI raised the grant to an effective 45% of eligible costs for applications from 6 October 2026, for nine months; check the current maximum on seai.ie. You must use an SEAI registered installer, sign a contract first and wait for SEAI's letter of offer before any work starts, or you may lose the grant. Grants are paid after installation, so many companies need finance to bridge the full cost first.
Solar equipment on SEAI's Triple E register can qualify for the Accelerated Capital Allowance, a 100% first-year write-off, extended to 2030. Our panel may help with an unsecured business loan to pay for the equipment, which your company then owns from day one. The lender makes the decision and sets the rate; approval is never guaranteed. See also green and energy-efficiency loans.
What it’s used for
- Rooftop solar PV
- Ground-mounted systems on company land
- Battery storage alongside panels
- Bridging the gap until the SEAI grant is paid
Who it’s for
- Companies that own or lease their premises long term
- Manufacturers, food businesses and cold stores with high daytime use
- Farm companies and agri businesses
- Retail, hospitality and offices with large roofs
No credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register · about 60 seconds
Solar panel finance calculator
Estimated monthly repayment
€3,179.97
- Total interest
- €14,479
- Total repayable
- €114,479
- Equivalent APR (effective)
- 9.38%
- Factor rate
- 1.1448
- Equivalent flat rate (per year)
- 4.83%
Illustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.
How solar panel finance works
- 1
Get quotes
Ask SEAI registered installers for designs, savings and a contract.
- 2
Apply for the grant
Your installer helps apply to SEAI; wait for the letter of offer.
- 3
Arrange finance
Compare a loan, green loan or lease on total cost.
- 4
Install and repay
After installation the grant is paid and your company repays as agreed.
Types of solar panel finance
Business or green loan
Your company borrows and owns the system; may suit the ACA.
Hire purchase or lease
Arranged by a provider or installer partner, paid monthly.
Short bridging loan
Covers the grant share until SEAI pays, then is cleared.
Typical eligibility
Every lender sets its own criteria. These are common starting points. We’ll tell you which lenders are likely to consider your business.
- Irish limited company, usually owning the premises or with a long lease
- Installer quote and SEAI grant offer
- Bank statements and accounts that support repayments
- Landlord consent if the premises are rented
What you’ll usually need
- Installer quote, design and savings estimate
- SEAI letter of offer
- Electricity bills for the last 12 months
- Recent business bank statements and filed accounts
Advantages
- Lower electricity bills from day one
- A large SEAI grant for new applications until July 2027
- Tax relief may reduce the net cost
Things to consider
- Savings depend on your daytime electricity use
- Grant rules must be followed exactly
- Finance runs for years, so check your lease and plans
Rates, fees and costs
Costs depend on the system size, the finance type and term. Work out repayments against your expected savings, after the SEAI grant and any tax relief your accountant confirms. Ask every provider for the total cost in euro.
We are paid commission by the lender when finance completes. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront.
Example (for illustration only): a company borrows €50,000 over 5 years for a solar PV system on its roof. If a lender’s offer showed a total repayable of €58,500, the repayments would be 60 monthly payments of €975. Set those repayments against the expected savings on electricity, after any SEAI grant. The real cost depends on the lender’s offer, and finance is subject to status and lender approval.
If savings are lower than forecast, your company still has to make every repayment. With a lease or HP, the equipment can be taken back if payments are missed. Starting work before the SEAI letter of offer can mean losing the grant.
Finance is subject to status and the lender’s approval. Welcome Finance is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We arrange finance for limited companies for business purposes only; this is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Compare solar panel finance with alternatives
Not sure this is the right fit? Here’s how it compares with the options businesses most often weigh it against.
Solar panel finance
This page- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Usually 3 to 7 years
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 4 weeks; not guaranteed
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Bank green loans up to 7 years
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 4 weeks
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 24 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Usually 3 to 5 years
- Typical speed
- Usually within days; not guaranteed
- Security
- The asset
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Until the grant or credit is paid
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 3 weeks
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 12 months
| Detail | This page Solar panel finance | Green and energy-efficiency loans | Equipment leasing | Grant and R&D tax credit funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Term | Usually 3 to 7 years | Bank green loans up to 7 years | Usually 3 to 5 years | Until the grant or credit is paid |
| Typical speed | Usually 1 to 4 weeks; not guaranteed | Usually 1 to 4 weeks | Usually within days; not guaranteed | Usually 1 to 3 weeks |
| Security | Depends on the lender | Depends on the lender | The asset | Depends on the lender |
| Typical min. trading | 12 months | 24 months | 12 months | 12 months |
How we work
Solar panel finance: frequently asked questions
Is there a grant for commercial solar panels in Ireland?
Yes. SEAI's Non-Domestic Microgen Grant supports business solar PV systems up to 1,000 kWp. SEAI raised the grant to an effective 45% of eligible costs for applications from 6 October 2026, for nine months; check the current maximum on seai.ie. Do not start work before the letter of offer.
When is the SEAI solar grant paid?
After installation, once your installer uploads all the documents. SEAI says payment usually takes 4 to 6 weeks after complete documentation, longer if an inspection is needed. Your company therefore usually pays the full cost first, which is why many companies use finance.
Can I claim tax relief on solar panels?
Possibly. Equipment listed on SEAI's Triple E register can qualify for the Accelerated Capital Allowance, a 100% write-off in the first year, which Budget 2026 extended to 2030. It must be new, used in the trade and not leased to you. Ask your accountant.
Should I use a loan or a lease for solar?
A loan means your company owns the system and may claim the ACA. A lease spreads the cost but the equipment usually belongs to the provider until the end. Compare total costs over the full term, after the grant.
Can my company get solar finance if we rent our premises?
Sometimes. You will usually need the landlord's written consent and a lease long enough to cover the finance term. Lenders may be more cautious, because the panels are attached to a building your company does not own.
Does Welcome Finance arrange SEAI grants?
No. Your installer helps you apply to SEAI, and SEAI decides. Welcome Finance does not arrange grants. We can help your company look at finance through our lender panel.
Check in 60 seconds
Planning solar panels for your premises?
Tell us the system cost and whether you have an SEAI offer. We will tell you honestly whether our panel may help with a business loan.
- No credit search, not recorded on the Central Credit Register
- One request, several lenders: we’re a broker, not a lender
- For limited companies registered in Ireland
- No fees for your company: we’re paid commission by the lender
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
Sources: Commercial solar PV (Non-Domestic Microgen Grant), SEAI (checked 26 Oct 2026); Accelerated Capital Allowance, SEAI (checked 26 Oct 2026); Green measures in Budget 2026, Chartered Accountants Ireland (checked 26 Oct 2026); Frequently asked questions, Linked Finance (checked 26 Oct 2026).