Fund your energy project with BHESCo's
'Pay As You Save' finance initiative
Remove the financial burden of taking action on climate change
At BHESCo we know that most property owners in the UK love the idea of generating their own renewable energy and making their buildings more energy efficient.
We also know that most people often do not have the time, the technical know-how, or especially the finances to turn this dream into a reality.
That’s why BHESCo was established – to help communities overcome these obstacles and take control over their energy bills and carbon emissions.
One of the most important ways that BHESCo supports our customers is by providing upfront financing for energy upgrades using our innovative ‘Pay As You Save’ financing.
How does BHESCo's 'Pay As You Save' financing work?
BHESCo’s unique financing initiative enables property owners to pay for the cost of energy upgrades with the savings they achieve on their monthly energy bill.
BHESCo designs the new energy project, pays for the cost of the installation, and then recoups that cost over a number of years from the customer, who makes instant savings on their bill.
Here’s what’s involved:
1. Research & development
BHESCo designs a new low-carbon energy plan for your property, including a 20 year economic model which details the anticipated reduction in energy use and costs. You choose the technologies you want, and BHESCo tender the work to our network of trusted local suppliers.
2. Project financing
Once the total cost required for equipment and labour is known, BHESCo will proceed with a fundraising campaign whereby members of the public are invited to buy shares in BHESCo in return for an attractive annual interest payment (typically 5%).
3. Project Install
When the upfront project costs have been raised, the installation of your energy saving/ energy generating equipment begins. This means that customers start to make savings immediately without having spent any money at all.
4. Lease period
A portion of the savings that you make from your monthly energy bill is used to repay the upfront project cost to BHESCo. For example, if you are now saving £500/ month, then £300 could go to BHESCo, and £200 is kept by you.
5. Ownership transfer
After an agreed number of years the upfront cost is fully repaid to BHESCo and you become the sole owner of their energy saving/ energy generating equipment, meaning you can enjoy the full financial benefit for the remaining operational lifetime of the equipment.
By providing upfront project financing in this way, BHESCo empower individuals, businesses and whole communities to reduce their long-term energy costs and environmental impact.
What different types of project financing do BHESCo offer to customers?
BHESCo works with a range of customers with differing needs and concerns. Experience has enabled us to develop a variety of finance options to empower all types of property owner to take control of their energy bills.
There are examples where a customer may want to pay something upfront to shorten the lease period or reduce the monthly payments, or where BHESCo cannot achieve savings from the measures that are installed, such as with asbestos removal or installing heating where none had previously existed..
Here are some of the most common types of financing options that BHESCo offers to our customers:
Power Purchase Agreement
The customer purchases electricity from the renewable energy system installed.
A typical example would be a solar PV installation, where BHESCo sell the electricity generated from the solar panels to the property owner at a significantly reduced price than they would get from an energy supplier.
Hire Purchase Agreement
The customer owns the equipment for finance and tax purposes and pays a monthly amount to pay back BHESCo’s upfront investment.
Once the monthly payments come to an end, the ownership of the installation is transferred to the customer
Operating Lease Agreement
The customer pays BHESCo for the right to use the equipment that we have installed on their premises but does not take ownership of the equipment.
Loan Agreement
This is similar to a collateralised loan that someone would get from a bank, only that BHESCo’s rate is more customer friendly.
Loan agreements are normally taken for smaller amounts rather than bigger projects.
Case Study
In 2019, BHESCo installed a 50kW rooftop solar array at Saltdean Primary School in Brighton, using a ‘Pay As You Save’ financial model where all upfront project costs were met through a community share offer.
The solar array has performed exceptionally well, resulting in a significant reduction in the volume of electricity that the school needs to purchase from their energy supplier.
As illustrated in the graph below, the school has achieved significant savings on the cost of their annual energy bill.
What are the next steps in partnering with BHESCo to finance your energy improvements?
If you are interested in partnering with BHESCo to design, install and potentially finance a new low-carbon heating system for your property then please complete the short contact form below and a member of our team will get back to you soon.
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are here to answer your questions and help you begin your journey to energy independence.