What is Solar Lease / PPA?
Financing options where a company installs solar panels on your roof for no upfront cost. A lease charges a fixed monthly fee; a PPA charges per unit of electricity the panels produce.
Quick Answer
In Ireland, residential solar leases are offered as 'solar as a service' by a small number of providers such as MySolar and SolarStream, with fixed fees from around €40 per month, while PPAs are mainly a commercial product offered to businesses by companies like UrbanVolt. Leased panels can complicate selling your house, as the buyer must take over the contract or you must buy it out. Most Irish homeowners still buy their systems outright or with a green loan, because the SEAI grant of up to €1,800, 0% VAT, and export income all favour ownership; third-party-owned systems don't qualify for the grant.
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
Solar Lease / PPA Explained
A solar lease and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) are both third-party-ownership arrangements: a company owns, installs, and maintains solar panels on your property, and you pay nothing upfront. The difference is how you pay. Under a lease, you pay a fixed monthly fee regardless of how much the panels generate. Under a PPA, you pay per kilowatt-hour of electricity the panels actually produce, at a rate below your supplier's price. A lease gives predictable payments; a PPA ties your cost to real output, so you pay less in a dull month but more in a sunny one. In both cases the company handles installation, maintenance, insurance, and monitoring, and at the end of the contract (typically 10–25 years) you can usually buy the system at a reduced price, extend, or have it removed.
How Does Solar Lease / PPA Work in Ireland?
In Ireland, residential solar leases are offered as 'solar as a service' by a small number of providers such as MySolar and SolarStream, with fixed fees from around €40 per month, while PPAs are mainly a commercial product offered to businesses by companies like UrbanVolt. Leased panels can complicate selling your house, as the buyer must take over the contract or you must buy it out. Most Irish homeowners still buy their systems outright or with a green loan, because the SEAI grant of up to €1,800, 0% VAT, and export income all favour ownership; third-party-owned systems don't qualify for the grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a solar lease and a PPA?
Payment structure. A solar lease charges a fixed monthly fee no matter how much electricity the panels produce. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) charges per kilowatt-hour actually generated, at a discounted rate. Leases give predictable bills; PPAs track real output.
Should I lease or buy solar panels in Ireland?
Buying is usually better in Ireland because you keep the SEAI grant (up to €1,800), benefit from 0% VAT, earn export income, and own the system outright. Leasing gives up most of the long-term savings in exchange for no upfront cost.
Can I get a solar lease in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland?
Yes, but options are limited. A few providers offer residential solar-as-a-service nationwide, including Dublin, with fixed monthly fees from around €40. Commercial PPAs are more established for Irish businesses. Compare the lifetime cost against a green loan before signing.
What happens to a solar lease when I sell my house?
The lease usually transfers to the buyer, who must be willing to take over the contract, or you buy out the remaining term before the sale. This can slow a sale, so check the transfer and buyout clauses before signing a lease or PPA.
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John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the Irish solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official SEAI data and maintains relationships with SEAI-registered installers across Ireland.