
Company announcement
GRID adds Power Purchase Agreements to its UK energy routes
UK businesses can now ask GRID to compare an on-site Power Purchase Agreement with ownership and finance routes as part of the same commercial energy conversation.
17 September 2026 · GRID Asset Finance · 5 min read
A fourth route for commercial energy projects
GRID has added Power Purchase Agreements to the routes it can assess for UK businesses planning commercial solar and related energy infrastructure.
The addition closes an important gap. Some businesses want to own the equipment and preserve working capital through asset or project finance. Others want the benefit of renewable generation without committing capital to the asset. A PPA gives that second group a credible route to explore.
What a PPA changes
Under an on-site commercial solar PPA, a specialist provider typically funds, installs and owns the generation equipment. The host business buys the electricity produced under a long term contract at an agreed price or pricing formula.
That is not the same as free solar and it is not finance. The business is exchanging an equipment purchase for a long term energy commitment. Price indexation, roof or land rights, performance obligations, termination provisions and the end of term position all matter.
Why GRID has added PPAs
GRID starts with the power case rather than a preferred product. We review what the site consumes, when it consumes it, what can be generated and what the project needs to achieve. Only then should a business decide whether to own, finance or buy the output.
Offering a PPA route means that advice can now run full circle. A business can compare the long term economics and obligations of a PPA with the control, capital allowances and lifetime value that ownership may offer.
- Businesses seeking solar with little or no upfront capital expenditure
- Sites with stable daytime demand and a strong self consumption case
- Organisations prioritising price visibility and renewable electricity procurement
- Projects where preserving existing cash and bank facilities is central
Expert assessment, then the right route
GRID will assess the project and, where a PPA merits consideration, introduce the business to a suitable specialist provider. GRID does not generate or supply electricity and is not the contracting PPA counterparty.
The objective is straightforward: give businesses an honest comparison before they become committed to a funding structure or a long term energy contract.
Common questions
Is a Power Purchase Agreement a finance product?
No. A PPA is a contract to buy electricity over a long period. The generation equipment is normally funded and owned by the provider, so the business is signing an energy supply commitment rather than borrowing to buy an asset.
Should a UK business choose a PPA or asset finance for solar?
It depends on the site. A PPA suits businesses that want generation without capital outlay and are comfortable with a long contract. Finance suits businesses that want to own the system, claim available capital allowances and keep the full benefit after the term ends.
Does GRID supply the electricity under a PPA?
No. GRID assesses the project and introduces suitable businesses to specialist PPA providers. GRID is not the generator or the contracting counterparty.
More insight
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