Renewable energy supplier Two Blues Solar has completed the installation and power of a 165 kWp system at one of a livestock feed supplier’s sites in Stoke-on-Trent.
ForFarmers UK’s Newcastle-under-Lyme site has 388 solar panels on the roof, which will supply almost 100% of the site’s energy consumption. The company has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by a third by 2030.
Two Blues Solar financed 100% of the solar installation costs, meaning there are no upfront costs for ForFarmers. Two Blues Solar works on the basis of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model and, after the project costs have been covered, will sell the energy generated by the solar panels back to ForFarmers at a fixed rate that is below the market price during the term of the contract of 25 years.
Working with its partners Photon Energy and North PM, Two Blues Solar managed and financed the full scope of the project, from initial roof repairs and re-roofing to mounting system installation, solar panel mounting and testing and training of customers on location. The system went live in early November 2024.
Craig Rogers, Regional Operations Manager at ForFarmers, said the eight-week installation caused no disruption to site operations.
Daniel Levene, co-founder of Two Blues Solar, explains: “By arranging the financing and handling of both the roof repairs and the solar installation, we minimize overall project costs and disruptions, allowing businesses to quickly benefit from lower energy costs and fewer emissions.”
Two Blues Solar specializes in reducing costs for companies with a high energy demand through solar installations and offers PV arrays for roofs, parking garages and grounds. The British renewable energy company was founded with the help of a seed loan from the government and announced a joint venture agreement with True Green Capital Management (TGC) in 2024.
TGC is a private equity firm for sustainable energy infrastructure, focused on the US and Europe. When the joint venture with Two Blues Solar was announced, Dillon Cane, the company’s other co-founder, said the deal would enable the installation of approximately 300 new on-site solar projects with a combined capacity of up to 120 MW.
Solar subscriptions and upfront costs
Two Blues Solar’s strategy focuses on commercial projects costing more than £200,000, a segment that includes smaller system sizes than traditional lenders typically offer.
Financing models such as subscriptions and leasing have been proven to accelerate solar adoption, especially among those who are not top earners. This pattern is visible in the US, where similar models have driven growth in recent years.
Similar offers are available on the residential market; In March last year, Norwegian solar marketplace Otovo launched its solar subscription product in Britain, allowing British homeowners to access installed solar energy systems at no upfront cost.
