Zero-Capex Solar Financing: How It Actually Works

"Zero capex" gets used a lot in solar marketing, and it's fair to be a little skeptical of it. Here's what it actually means in practice, and the six steps that take a project from a first conversation to clean energy in production.

What zero capex actually means

It means exactly what it says: you don't pay anything upfront for the system. CIPA Energy Resources finances 100% of the solar installation, design, procurement, installation, grid connection, and commissioning, and carries that cost as the asset owner. You start paying only once the system is operational, and what you pay is a monthly energy tariff, not a loan repayment. There's no separate financing facility for you to arrange, and no impact on your existing borrowing capacity.

The six steps from enquiry to commercial operation

1. Enquiry and initial assessment. You contact us, we assess your facility, energy consumption profile, and suitability for solar, at no cost and with no commitment.
2. Feasibility study. A full study covering yield modelling, load analysis, site assessment, and technical system sizing, carried out with our local development and EPC partners.
3. Indicative offer. A no-obligation offer showing your projected monthly energy bill, equivalent kWh tariff, total savings over the contract period, and annual CO2 avoidance.
4. Due diligence and contracts. Legal, technical, and financial due diligence, followed by preparation of all contract documents.
5. Construction and commissioning. Your system is built to our technical standards by a qualified EPC partner, with an independent owner's engineer verifying everything before commercial operation begins.
6. Operations and asset transfer. Clean energy flows from day one, with monthly production and CO2 reports. At the end of the contract, full ownership transfers to you at a pre-agreed value.

Why this structure works for both sides

The model only works because the economics are genuinely favourable: your fixed tariff sits well below your current blended grid and diesel cost, so the arrangement pays for itself in monthly savings rather than depending on any subsidy or discount. That's also why every step before construction, the feasibility study and indicative offer especially, is free and comes with no obligation. If the numbers don't work for your facility, you'll know before you've committed to anything.

Start with a free assessment. We'll model your numbers within 5 business days, no obligation.