Solar as a Service (SaaS)
Questions & Answers
Key Terms
- SaaS – Solar as a Service (on-site solar without capital expenditure)
- cPPA – Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (direct purchase of green energy from producer)
- PV – Photovoltaic installation
- O&M – Operation & Maintenance (installation servicing and upkeep)
- SCADA – Real-time energy production monitoring system
- IFRS 16 – Accounting standard defining lease classification
- PoA – Power of Attorney (authority for administrative formalities)
- ESG – Environmental, Social, Governance (sustainable business practices)
- CSRD – Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (EU sustainability reporting rules)
Basics of the SaaS model
1. What is Solar as a Service (SaaS) and how does it differ from purchasing a photovoltaic installation?
SaaS is a model in which a company uses an on-site photovoltaic installation without any capital expenditure. Instead of purchasing the installation, it pays a monthly fee for access to green energy.
Volta Polska, part of the international Volta Groupe operating in Poland, France, Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean, finances, designs and builds the PV (photovoltaic) installation on the client’s premises. Once operational, Volta takes full responsibility for servicing, monitoring and performance guarantees throughout the duration of the agreement.
Unlike a conventional investment in own photovoltaic infrastructure, the SaaS model requires neither capital nor technical expertise. Volta Polska assumes all technical and financial risk. The client pays a monthly fee and benefits from green energy from day one.
Volta Polska guarantees a contractual performance level for the installation. Once a year, the actual output is measured and the client receives a report. The monthly fee remains fixed throughout the year, making budget planning straightforward. Any adjustment is made once, following the annual settlement.
Upon contract expiry (typically 15–20 years), the client may take ownership of the installation for a symbolic amount or opt for its dismantling.
Leading companies pursuing decarbonisation goals are increasingly choosing on-site photovoltaics in the service model. In Poland, Solar as a Service installations are already operated by companies in the food and confectionery, cold chain logistics, construction materials and window manufacturing sectors. Across Europe, installations on corporate car parks and own land are operated by global theme parks, automotive corporations and FMCG producers.
2. How does SaaS differ from a cPPA and which model is the right fit?
Both models allow access to green energy without capital investment. The difference is in energy source and costs.
| SaaS | cPPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation location | On the client’s premises (rooftop, ground or car park) | Renewable energy installation off the client’s premises |
| Distribution charges | None (self-consumption) | Full distribution charges apply |
| Min. annual consumption | from 2,5 GWh | from 8–10 GWh |
| Contract duration | 15–20 years* | 5–20 years* |
* In the cPPA model, shorter contracts (down to 5 years) are possible for already-financed assets. In the SaaS model, Volta Polska covers the full cost of building the installation. The minimum contract duration is 15 years.
SaaS is the right choice when a company has space on its own premises and wants to reduce grid energy consumption and lower distribution costs. cPPA works better for higher consumption volumes, multiple locations, or when a company wants to support the development of new renewable energy farms in Poland.
3. What types of companies and institutions is SaaS best suited for?
The SaaS model works wherever there is adequate space (rooftop, ground or car park) and stable, significant energy consumption during daytime hours. It is particularly well-suited for:
- manufacturing and industrial facilities,
- logistics centres and warehouses,
- retail chains and service facilities,
- airports and large infrastructure assets.
For manufacturing companies, the key advantage is high self-consumption during daytime hours. For infrastructure assets, the absence of capital expenditure requirements, combined with the ability to meet climate commitments, is often the deciding factor.
Example: Łódź Airport. A 400 kWp installation powering the terminal and a 12 MWp installation on leased land, generating lease revenue while reducing the carbon footprint. Further details are available in the press release.
Finances and savings
4. What are the main financial benefits of the SaaS model?
The SaaS model generates savings on several levels simultaneously:
- Lower effective energy price from day one. In the SaaS model, the client does not pay for energy but for access to the installation. Volta Polska structures the monthly fee so that the effective energy price per MWh is lower than a typical market contract, where energy alone costs 400–500 PLN/MWh, with full distribution charges on top.
- No distribution charges on energy from the installation. Energy consumed directly from the PV installation (self-consumption) does not pass through the grid, so no transmission or distribution charges apply.
- Reduction in the volume subject to the capacity charge. The PV installation generates energy between 07:00 and 22:00 on working days, the same hours during which the capacity charge is levied. Energy from the installation replaces grid energy during these hours, reducing the volume subject to the charge. This is particularly significant in current market conditions. The base capacity charge rate in 2026 is PLN 219/MWh. Book a free consultation to discuss the capacity charge in detail.
- Cost stability for 15–20 years. A long-term contract protects against energy price increases and simplifies budget planning.
- Zero capital expenditure. Volta Polska finances the entire construction of the installation. The client commits no own capital and does not burden its balance sheet. CAPEX remains available for production and development projects.
5. By how much can the capacity charge realistically be reduced through SaaS?
A manufacturing company with a PV installation matched to its consumption profile can reduce its annual capacity charge by up to 20%. The actual impact depends on the size of the installation and the consumption profile. Example for a typical manufacturing company with annual consumption of 3 GWh, 70% of which falls within peak hours, at the base capacity charge rate of PLN 219/MWh applicable in 2026:
| Without PV installation | With PV installation | |
|---|---|---|
| Volume subject to capacity charge | 3 GWh | ~2,58 GWh |
| Annual capacity charge | ~PLN 460 000 | ~PLN 370 000 |
| Saving | — | ~PLN 90 000/year |
This is a conservative estimate. With higher self-consumption or a larger installation, the financial impact is proportionally greater. For a detailed breakdown of how the capacity charge is calculated and its impact on your energy costs, book a free consultation.
6. How much does SaaS cost — what does the billing model look like?
In the SaaS model, the client does not pay for the installation but a monthly fee for access to green energy generated on its premises. Volta Polska covers the cost of design, construction and servicing throughout the duration of the agreement. The cooperation is based on two contracts: a SaaS agreement covering financing, construction and provision of the installation, and an O&M (operation&maintenance) agreement covering servicing, monitoring and performance guarantees.
The fee level depends on the energy consumption profile, the size of the installation and the contract duration. Detailed terms are discussed during a free consultation.
7. Does the installation appear on the client's balance sheet, and what happens in the event of early termination?
The SaaS is structured as a service agreement (OPEX) with no impact on balance sheet or debt ratios. In the event of early termination, the conditions depend on the reason for termination and are governed by the contract terms. The installation is insured by Volta Polska throughout the entire contract period.
Implementation and servicing
8. Who bears the technical risk and who is responsible for servicing the installation?
All technical risk lies with Volta Polska. The client does not need to build internal technical competencies or establish dedicated service teams. Under the O&M agreement, Volta Polska provides:
- full operational and maintenance support throughout the contract period,
- real-time monitoring (SCADA system, remote meter readings),
- repairs and inspections,
- performance guarantees with contractual penalties for non-delivery,
- monthly production and self-consumption reports.
Volta Polska applies internal O&M Excellence standards developed on the basis of its own operational experience.
9. What is the minimum energy consumption required to use SaaS?
There is no single fixed threshold. Certain project costs, such as documentation, permits and grid connection, are practically identical regardless of the size of the installation, which means smaller projects are proportionally more expensive to deliver.
As a general guideline, the SaaS model works well from an annual consumption of approximately 2.5 GWh. In individual cases, where the daytime consumption profile is favourable, projects below this threshold are possible. What matters is not only how much energy a company consumes, but when. High consumption during daytime hours enables greater self-consumption, which increases savings and justifies a larger installation. Volta Polska assesses each project individually based on the consumption profile, not the volume alone.
Companies with higher consumption (8–10 GWh and above) can combine SaaS with a cPPA, covering all locations or increasing the volume of green energy beyond what an on-site installation can provide.
10. Is SaaS available for companies with multiple locations?
Companies with several locations, such as manufacturing plants, warehouses or retail facilities, can include them all in a single contracting process. Volta Polska delivers multi-site projects in which individual installations may be smaller than in a single-site project. The overall scale of the cooperation justifies delivery even in locations that would not meet the entry threshold on their own. The terms of each multi-site project are agreed individually.
11. How long does a SaaS project take, from signing the agreement to commissioning?
The timeline depends on administrative, location-specific and technical factors. A key element at the early stage is the site visit, which allows confirmation of the condition of the rooftop, ground or car park, structural feasibility and local technical conditions.
Construction of the installation itself typically takes 2–3 months. The longest stages are contract negotiations, preparation of the construction design, obtaining permits and grid connection approval from the network operator. In a zero-export model, where all energy is consumed on site, the grid connection process is simplified, though even in such cases it may take several months.
Under favourable conditions, the entire project, from initial discussions to commissioning, can be completed within a year.
12. How does the SaaS implementation process work, step by step?
The implementation follows three phases:
| Phase | What Volta does | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Consultation | Consumption analysis, installation concept tailored to self-consumption | Initial offer |
| 2. Contracting | Site visit, installation design, negotiation and signing of SaaS and O&M agreements | Start of implementation process |
| 3. Delivery | Grid connection conditions, construction design, build, commissioning and testing | First energy from own installation |
A detailed timeline is discussed individually during the consultation.
13. Does Volta Polska handle the administrative formalities and permits?
Yes. Once the relevant powers of attorney (PoA) have been granted, Volta Polska takes over the entire administrative process: building permits, grid connection approval and all other consents required for project delivery.
The client does not need to engage its own legal or technical resources for administrative matters. Volta Polska runs this process in parallel with the contracting phase, which helps shorten the overall project timeline.
14. Does the installation require the consent of the building owner?
Yes, if the client is a tenant. In our experience, however, building owners rarely present an obstacle. They are increasingly interested in PV installations themselves, as tenants in the manufacturing and logistics sectors include such requirements in their lease negotiations. An installation adds to the value of the property and its attractiveness on the market.
15. Does SaaS eliminate grid charges?
The installation is located on the client’s premises and energy is consumed directly on site. No distribution charges apply to energy generated by the installation, including the capacity charge, quality charge or renewable energy levy.
SaaS is not an island model. Energy not covered by the installation continues to come from the grid. The company remains connected to the power system and retains full freedom in choosing its energy supplier.
16. What happens to the installation at the end of the contract?
At the end of the contract period (typically 15–20 years), the client has three options:
- Extension of the agreement for a further period, on individually negotiated terms.
- Transfer of the installation to the client’s ownership for a symbolic amount, for continued use.
- Dismantling of the installation, carried out in full by Volta Polska.
ESG and reporting
17. How does SaaS support ESG goals and CSRD reporting?
The SaaS model provides concrete support for ESG strategy and the reporting obligations arising from the CSRD directive, going well beyond cost savings alone.
Energy generated by the PV installation on the company’s premises has a direct impact on two emissions categories:
- Scope 2 (location-based) — every kilowatt-hour of self-consumption replaces energy from the national grid mix, which in Poland is among the most carbon-intensive in Europe.
- Scope 3 — self-consumption eliminates transmission losses, which in Poland are among the highest in Europe. These losses are included in Scope 3 emissions and are frequently overlooked in reporting.
Volta Polska provides monthly production and self-consumption reports, which can be used directly in ESG reporting in line with the GHG Protocol methodology and CSRD requirements. This matters most for location-based Scope 2 reporting. Unlike market-based reporting, where Scope 2 emissions can be zeroed out through the purchase of guarantees of origin, location-based methodology requires an actual reduction in grid energy consumption. An on-site PV installation is one of the few ways to achieve this.
The installation is visible on the company’s premises to employees, business partners and visitors. It is not a declaration in a report, but physical evidence of the company’s environmental commitments.
For companies operating in international supply chains, having an own on-site renewable energy source is increasingly becoming a requirement set by partners and customers, not merely a reputational consideration.
If ESG matters are relevant to your supplier selection process, Volta Polska holds documented policies in this area: an ESG Strategy, a CSR Policy in line with ISO 26000, an Environmental Policy based on ISO 14001, and a Code of Ethics. All documents are available on the Volta Polska ESG page.