In this webinar from The Energyst with Shawton Energy, speakers Jamie Shaw (CEO) and James Williams (Sales Director) outlined how UK organisations can unlock the financial and operational case for on-site solar PV. Against a backdrop of volatile energy markets and growing decarbonisation pressures, they positioned solar as a practical, low-risk way to lower cost, cut carbon and improve resilience — particularly when deployed through behind-the-meter Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or customer-funded capex.
James Williams opened by noting that, “Non-capex solar behind the meter can deliver power well below grid rates on long-term PPAs,” setting out the economic rationale for organisations seeking cost certainty. Shawton Energy focuses primarily on rooftop C&I systems from around 50kWp up to 20MW+, with rising interest in ground-mount and virtual/corporate PPAs. As Jamie Shaw put it, “We fund, design, build and maintain in-house — a full turnkey approach backed by Lazard Asset Management,” emphasising the company’s integrated model spanning design, funding, legal, delivery and O&M.
The PPA model is fully funded with no upfront cost, typically over 10–25 years, with longer terms yielding lower p/kWh. Pricing examples contrasted against retail indicate that long-term PPAs can come in around half the cost of grid-supplied electricity, although actual savings depend heavily on the site’s self-consumption, which often sits between 20–40% annually and peaks significantly in the summer.
Design begins with customer data. Organisations provide 12 months of half-hourly data, recent bills and site information so systems can be accurately sized. Jamie explained that right-sizing is critical: “We size to your base load — typically 80–85% — to limit low-value export.” This ensures organisations avoid exporting large volumes at low rates while maximising behind-the-meter utilisation.
Technology choice was another focus. Shawton Energy favour optimal systems for more granular monitoring, enhanced safety and improved uptime compared with traditional string configurations. James reinforced the value of a holistic service offering: “Monitoring, O&M and extended warranties are included in the PPA price.” This, they argued, protects performance over the multi-decade life of the asset. As Jamie added later, “PPAs are partnerships — the design has to work in year 2 and year 20.”
Process and timelines were set out clearly. Once data is provided, grid approvals (G99) typically take around 90 days, with planning and DNO processes run in parallel. Development usually spans 3–6 months, with total project timelines of 6–9 months depending on estate complexity. Property and legal arrangements remain the most common schedule risks.
The Q&A session explored Shawton Energy’s approach to credit and covenant assessment — described as pragmatic and structured to keep PPAs off balance sheet as operational leases — along with questions on export metering, battery integration and end-of-term options such as asset transfer or removal. Battery storage was acknowledged as valuable in some cases but not always optimal in a PPA environment, making detailed modelling essential. James also encouraged organisations that reviewed solar several years ago to revisit it: “If you looked at solar 2–3 years ago, prices have fallen — it’s worth a fresh look.”
Looking ahead, both speakers expect accelerated adoption of on-site and virtual PPAs as decarbonisation targets tighten, grid rules evolve (including moves toward half-hourly matching), and electricity demand rises. Well-sized behind-the-meter solar, they argued, is becoming an increasingly compelling financial hedge as well as a core decarbonisation tool.
