From scoping call to grant approval in 16–22 weeks.
Five steps. Start to grant decision typically 16–22 weeks. Project delivery a further 12–16 weeks. The first step — the scoping call — is free and there is no obligation. Most clients have a written eligibility shortlist within one working day of the form submission.
- 01Duration1 weekCostFree, no obligation
Eligibility scoping & free consultation
A 20-minute call covering your sector, postcode, annual electricity spend and the asset you are considering decarbonising. We come back within 24 hours with a written shortlist of grants you would credibly win, indicative system sizing, and ballpark capex with payback after support.
Deliverables- Written grant eligibility shortlist
- Indicative project sizing (kWp, capex range)
- Funding stack analysis (grant + tax + PPA modelled)
- Decision on whether to proceed
- 02Duration4 weeksCostFixed-fee scoping (£950 + VAT) or rolled into application fee
Energy audit, design & financial modelling
We pull half-hourly meter data (typically 4 years), commission structural and electrical surveys, build an MCS-compliant PV design (and battery sizing if relevant), and produce a fully costed financial model — capex, opex, payback, IRR, NPV at three energy price scenarios. This is the document set that supports both the grant application and the eventual board paper.
Deliverables- IETF/PSDS-compliant energy audit
- PVsyst-modelled solar yield assessment
- Structural assessment + DNO pre-application
- Full financial model with sensitivity analysis
- Board-paper-ready summary
- 03Duration3 weeksCost£3,500–£8,500 fixed fee, or 3% success fee (capped £40k)
Application drafting & submission
For grant routes (IETF, PSDS, REPF), we write the funder-specific narrative. IETF needs decarbonisation pathway alignment, carbon-saving narrative and full state-aid declaration. PSDS needs an integrated Heat Decarbonisation Plan and procurement compliance. REPF needs productivity-anchored rural growth outcomes. The narrative work is the highest-leverage piece of the engagement — assessors score on what is on the page.
Deliverables- Funder-specific application narrative
- Supplier quotes (3+ per measure)
- Subsidy control / state-aid analysis
- Risk register and contingency plan
- Monitoring & verification commitments
- Submission via funder portal
- 04Duration8–12 weeksCostIncluded in application fee
Funder review & decision
DESNZ (IETF), Salix (PSDS) or the relevant council (REPF) reviews and scores the application. We handle clarification questions on your behalf — these typically focus on energy data interpretation, monitoring methodology, and supplier quotation quality. Most clarifications resolve within 48 hours of being raised. Awards are announced as a batch at window close.
Deliverables- Clarification question responses
- Funder negotiation if scope adjustment requested
- Award letter receipt
- Grant funding agreement signed
- 05Duration12–16 weeksCostOptional 2% project management fee, or PPA-funded
Project delivery & milestone draw-down
On grant award, we project-manage the build through one of our six MCS-certified delivery partners, picked by region and project type. You sign one set of contracts; we hold the milestones, manage the DNO connection, and stay on the line through to commissioning sign-off. Grant funding draws down against actual milestones, with monitoring & verification continuing for 18–36 months post-commissioning.
Deliverables- EPC contractor selection and procurement
- DNO G99 connection management
- Build supervision and quality control
- Commissioning and handover sign-off
- M&V data submission to funder
- O&M handover to client team
What we don't do
We don't sell solar panels. We don't take commission from installers. We don't sign you up to multi-year retainers. We don't apply for grants we don't think you will win. And we don't ever submit an application without you having sat with us through the financial model line by line. About 30% of clients we scope are advised against proceeding because the project doesn't pay back; we say so before any application work starts.
What's different about how we work
Our revenue comes from successful applications and project management on grant-funded builds, not from selling panels. That means we have no incentive to push you into a £400,000 system when £180,000 would pay back faster. About a third of the projects we audit have a stronger answer in a Power Purchase Agreement or Annual Investment Allowance alone than in any cash grant. The remaining sites get a properly competitive grant application written by people who have authored hundreds of them.
Where we work
UK-wide. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — each has its own decarbonisation funding architecture, and we apply through the correct route for each project. Our nearest associates are in Salford Quays, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and Exeter, which keeps most site visits within the same working week as the initial scoping call.
See which grants your business qualifies for — free 20-minute funding review.
Tell us your sector, roof size and energy spend. We come back within one working day with a shortlist of grants and the realistic capex you can expect to recover.
No obligation. We don't charge for grant scoping.
Funding by asset class
The allowance depends on the asset, and most pages on this topic get it the wrong way round. Solar PV is special-rate expenditure (HMRC Capital Allowances Manual CA22335), so the 100% year-one route is the Annual Investment Allowance — Full Expensing is a main-rate measure and does not reach it. Battery storage, EV charging and heat pumps are main-rate plant, so Full Expensing genuinely does apply to those.
- commercial heat pump costs and payback
Main-rate plant, so Full Expensing does apply here.
- financing commercial battery storage
Main-rate plant. Stacks with solar for self-consumption.
- commercial solar pricing by system size
Capex bands per kWp before any relief.
- solar for industrial units and warehouses
Large roofs, high daytime load — the strongest case.
- how AIA works on commercial solar capex
Solar is special-rate, so AIA is the 100% year-one route.
Find out which 2026 schemes your site actually qualifies for
- 1. A short written funding note naming every scheme your site qualifies for in 2026 — and the ones it does not.
- 2. Indicative system size and a capex band for your roof.
- 3. Year-one tax treatment per asset in £ — solar is special-rate expenditure, so the route is the Annual Investment Allowance; battery storage and heat pumps are main-rate plant, where Full Expensing does apply. Most pages get this the wrong way round.
- 4. Projected SEG export revenue at current rates.
- 5. Any red-flag eligibility or DNO issues we can see up front.
Covers solar PV, battery storage, EV charging and commercial heat pumps — separately or as one bundled project. If your project is a heat pump or a battery rather than a roof, say so in the message box and the note is written against that asset instead.
- · We do not pass your details to multiple installers.
- · We do not run a lead auction, and we never ask for your phone number.
- · No marketing lists, no unsolicited calls.
- · We are an independent funding consultancy — not an installer, and we take no installer commission.