This is a tool to help landlords understand the decisions they need to take when designing a Solar PV project — in particular when they are seeking to access additional investment. Whether you're looking at a single building, a pilot project, or a whole portfolio, it helps you find the right financing and delivery route.
Most landlords will find their situation best described by one of these three routes. Each card sets out the typical steps in the procurement process for that pathway. Use the decision tool to confirm which is right for you.
Note: Pathways 2 and 3 can also be delivered with a licensed energy company acting as the operator — the operator role isn't limited to specialist billing providers.
A single partner finances, installs, and operates everything. The partner owns the assets and recovers investment through resident energy revenues. No landlord capital required — but if you have a grant or partial budget, this can be used as leverage to secure better commercial terms or a blended structure where you retain more revenue upside.
Steps in the procurement processLandlord funds the installation (HRA, PWLB, NWF or grant) and owns the assets, and procures a specialist to manage resident billing, grid services, and maintenance. Where a financial return is required, we advise procuring the operator first — their requirements will impact on the system specification. The operator can also deliver supply and install as a single contract, or supply & install can be procured separately if linking to re-roofing or other programmes. An energy company can also act as the operator under this pathway.
Steps in the procurement processThe landlord funds and installs solar using grant and/or own capital, and manages the outcome directly. This can mean passing 100% of savings to residents (no revenue collected), or collecting a modest service charge to recover investment. No complex third-party operational model required.
Steps in the procurement processFive factors determine which route is right for your organisation. The decision tool explores each one.
Do you have capital or borrowing capacity, or does a partner need to bring the finance?
Houses, flats, or mixed? Flats need specialist metering and not all providers cover them.
How much do residents benefit, and how comfortable are you with energy billing?
Do you want to maximise revenue through grid services, or keep it simple?
Novel contracts and long-term structures create a different risk profile, but may be important for securing investment.
The tool asks simple questions first and guides you to a clear recommendation — with named providers and procurement routes.
An overview of organisations active in the social housing solar and battery market — what they offer and who they suit.
Background, acknowledgements, and how to get in touch.
This decision tool was developed to help councils and registered providers in London (and beyond) navigate the rapidly evolving market for solar PV and battery storage on social housing. It draws on the Zero Carbon Accelerator Market Assessment for Financing Solar Power on Council Housing at Scale (March 2025), project documents from pilot programmes, and direct conversations with providers, councils and housing associations through early 2026.
The aim is to help landlords identify which financing and delivery pathway best fits their organisation — and to find the providers most likely to be relevant to their situation. This is an emerging market with models which are evolving; this tool is intended as a starting point, not a substitute for professional advice.
This tool has been developed with the assistance of AI. All content has been reviewed and verified by Energiesprong UK — and, for provider information, checked with the suppliers themselves or against published sources.
This work would not have been possible without the generous input, time and thinking of partner organisations and individuals — in particular:
Thank you also to all the providers, councils, lenders and advisers who shared their experience and helped sense-check the routes set out in this tool.
This Report has been prepared solely for use by the party which commissioned it (the ‘Client’) in connection with the captioned project. It should not be used for any other purpose. No person other than the Client or any party who has expressly agreed terms of reliance with us (the ‘Recipient(s)’) may rely on the content, information or any views expressed in the Report. This Report is confidential and contains proprietary intellectual property and we accept no duty of care, responsibility or liability to any other recipient of this Report. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made and no responsibility or liability is accepted by us to any party other than the Client or any Recipient(s), as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Report. For the avoidance of doubt this Report does not in any way purport to include any legal, insurance or financial advice or opinion.
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Version history for the Solar Decision Tool. Update this table when issuing new revisions.
| Revision | Date | Originator | Checker | Approver | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 2026 | Energiesprong UK | Energiesprong UK | Mott Macdonald | Initial release for submission — three pathways, nine provider profiles, and decision logic across building stock, finance, ownership, billing, batteries and complexity. |
| 2 | June 2026 | Energiesprong UK | Energiesprong UK | Mott Macdonald | Supplier information updated for Sero and Utilita following review of the completed supplier data-collection forms; National Wealth Fund removed (NWF is a finance source rather than a comparable operational model). |
| 3 | June 2026 | Energiesprong UK | Energiesprong UK | Mott Macdonald | Supplier-verified release. Provider information has now been reviewed and confirmed with suppliers: the Metis, Octopus, Sero and Utilita profiles reflect updated information from their completed supplier data-collection forms and direct responses. The Emergent, Allume/SolShare and Energy Local profiles are based on published information (principally the Zero Carbon Accelerator Market Assessment, March 2025). |
Developed by Energiesprong UK on behalf of the Zero Carbon Accelerator (Mayor of London).
For further information, feedback, corrections, or to share your experience using the tool, please contact Energiesprong UK at info@energiesprong.uk.