London-based Sunsave banks €130 million to take solar mainstream with zero-upfront subscription model

Sunsave, a British energy startup making rooftop solar more accessible through its €0 upfront subscription model, has secured a €130 million in funding to scale its offer across England and Wales and become the UK’s first all-in-one home energy platform.

The oversubscribed round combines a €15 million Series A equity investment co-led by Norrsken VC and IPGL, and includes backing from Clearance Capital, early Wise employees, and investors such as Lord Michael Spencer (ICAP Founder), Lord Stuart Rose (former Chairman of Asda), and Roland Rudd (FGS Global Chairman). Also included is a €115 million debt facility from Crédit Agricole CIB, structured through its Distributed Generation franchise.

“Sunsave was founded in 2022 with a mission to make solar and battery storage accessible to all UK households. Since launch, our £0 upfront subscription has seen rapid adoption, helping homes save hundreds of pounds on their energy bills and make a real difference to their finances,” said Co-founder and CEO Alick Dru.

“This £113 million fundraise is a significant milestone in our journey – it will let us meet rapidly growing demand, launch new products, and give customers peace of mind that we’ll be here to support them for the long term,” he added.

Founded in 2022 by Oxford alumni Alick Dru and Ben Graves, Sunsave is addressing a market mismatch: while 70% of UK households express interest in solar panels, only around 5% have installed them – largely due to upfront costs exceeding €11k. Sunsave’s solution is a subscription model that eliminates the initial cost barrier entirely.

Customers can begin generating solar power from day one with fixed payments starting from €79 per month.

Ben Graves, Co-founder and COO, added: “Our customers don’t just want solar for the environmental benefits. Going solar can save you real money and help protect you from volatile energy bills. This funding validates our vision of making clean energy accessible and cheap to every UK household.

“We’re not just selling solar panels – we’re rebuilding the relationship between households and energy, making it more affordable, sustainable, and customer-centric.”

For those seeking ownership, Sunsave also offers Sunsave Plus, a financing option that grants full system ownership upon installation. This model includes the design, supply, installation and long-term support of a solar and battery system customised for each home. Customers receive 20 years of maintenance, insurance, monitoring and replacement parts as part of the package.

Unlike lease-based or ‘rent-a-roof’ schemes, Sunsave Plus aims to offer a path to both energy independence and financial clarity.

Since launching Sunsave Plus in January 2024, the company has grown over 32% month-on-month. Most customers are reportedly saving more annually on their bills than the cost of their subscriptions – in some cases over €791 a year.

The startup is currently the only FCA-authorised solar subscription service in the UK.

Agate Freimane, General Partner at Norrsken VC, noted: “Sunsave has cracked the code on making affordable solar a reality for the mainstream, removing the upfront cost that’s long held households back from making the switch. In just a short period of time, they’ve shown outstanding traction, solid unit economics, and secured strategic partnerships that set them apart. With the UK solar market on the brink of major growth, Sunsave is perfectly positioned to become a category-defining force in the energy transition.”

Looking ahead, Sunsave plans to evolve its service to include electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps and software tools that optimise household energy usage and help balance the grid.

With its new funding, Sunsave aims to help tens of thousands of British homes not just go solar, but become more energy self-sufficient.

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