The ArkFlow blog

Solar finance, explained for the whole deal chain.

Practical guides on solar and water finance origination in South Africa: finance structures, tax, what banks look for, and how EPCs turn quotes into funded deals.

GuidesFinance StructuresTax & IncentivesFor InstallersProductEngineeringDeliveryFinanceSales
Featured · Finance Structures

Solar Asset Finance Explained: Own Your System From Day One

Solar asset finance is a bank loan or instalment sale that lets you buy a solar system and own it from day one, repaying a fixed monthly instalment over 3 to 7 years. A deposit of around 10% is possible, maintenance and insurance are yours to arrange (insurance is quoted separately), and commercial buyers can claim the Section 12B tax deduction. Of all the solar finance structures, it typically has the lowest total cost of ownership.

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Finance Structures

Adding Solar to Your Bond: Usually the Cheapest Way to Finance a Home System

Adding solar to your bond funds a home system at home-loan rates inside your existing bond repayment. One debit order, ownership from day one, residential only.

6 min read

Finance Structures

Rent-to-Own Solar Explained: Zero Upfront, Yours at the End

Rent-to-own solar, also called lease-to-own or rent2own, gets a system installed with zero upfront and makes it yours at the end of a 5 to 15 year term.

6 min read

Finance Structures

Solar Rental and Operating Leases: Flexibility Without Ownership

A solar rental or operating lease gives you solar with zero upfront, insurance and maintenance included. The provider owns the system; you return, renew or upgrade at term end.

6 min read

Finance Structures

Solar Subscriptions Explained: One All-In Fee, Renew or Buy Out

A solar subscription gives your home solar for one all-in monthly fee with zero upfront over a 5-year term. Insurance and maintenance included; renew or buy out at the end.

6 min read

Finance Structures

Solar PPAs in South Africa: Pay for the Power, Not the Plant

A solar PPA lets a South African business pay per kilowatt-hour produced with zero upfront. The provider owns and maintains the plant; it is yours at term end.

7 min read

Guides

What Is a Solar Finance Originator?

A solar finance originator turns a solar quote into a fundable deal and matches it to a lender. Here is what originators do and how EPCs become one.

6 min read

Product

Automatic Solar Proposal Generator: From Quote to Finance Options in Minutes

An automatic solar proposal generator turns a quote, BOQ or bill into an indicative finance proposal in minutes. Here is how ArkFlow prices every structure.

6 min read

For Installers

Solar Lead Generation for EPC Companies: How ArkFlow Routes Leads to Installers

Solar lead generation for EPC companies works differently on ArkFlow: warm, prequalified leads routed by area, bundled with the software that closes them.

6 min read

Product

Solar Quote Generator vs Proposal Software: What C&I and Agri Installers Actually Need

A solar quote generator prices hardware; proposal software frames the finance decision. Here is what C&I and agri installers actually need from each.

6 min read

For Installers

How EPCs Get Underwriting, Software and Leads in One Subscription

One ArkFlow subscription gives a solar EPC the underwriting tool, the full EPC software and lead generation together. Here is how the bundle works.

6 min read

Guides

What Is a Solar EPC Operating System?

A solar EPC operating system runs the whole project in one place: leads, proposals, site inspection, engineering design, finance and handover. Here is what that means.

6 min read

Engineering

How a Site Inspection Can Build Your Single Line Diagram

A properly structured site inspection captures the distribution board layout as data, which means the as-found single line diagram can be generated rather than redrawn.

5 min read

Delivery

Which Handover Documents Are Actually Required?

Not every document in a solar handover pack carries the same weight. Here is how to separate required from advised from conditional, and why the difference matters at drawdown.

6 min read

Finance

The Zero-Fill Finance Application: Why Clients Should Not Type Anything

Solar finance applications stall because clients are handed empty forms. Reading the documents they already have turns a twenty-field form into a confirmation step.

5 min read

Sales

Per-Rep Capture Links: Knowing Which Salesperson Generated a Lead

One company-wide enquiry form tells you nothing about who generated the lead. Per-rep capture links and an embeddable form fix attribution at the source.

4 min read

Delivery

One Document Register From Lead to As-Built

When documents live in three separate places, the same file appears twice with two upload buttons. One register with stage tags removes the duplication for good.

5 min read

Guides

How Solar Finance Origination Works in South Africa

Solar finance origination connects South African installers and EPCs to lenders through one application. Here is how the process works, step by step.

6 min read

Finance Structures

Asset Finance vs Rent-to-Own vs PPA: Solar Finance Structures Compared

Compare solar finance structures in South Africa: Asset Finance, Rent-to-Own and PPA. See terms, ownership and tax so you can pick the right one.

7 min read

Tax & Incentives

Section 12B: The Solar Tax Deduction for South African Businesses

Section 12B solar tax lets South African businesses claim an accelerated deduction on qualifying renewable assets. Here is how it works with solar finance.

6 min read

Guides

Commercial Solar Finance in South Africa: A Practical Guide

A practical guide to commercial solar finance in South Africa: structures, tax, what banks want and how to fund a deal without large upfront capex.

7 min read

For Installers

How Solar EPCs Win More Deals by Offering Finance

Solar finance for installers turns price objections into monthly payments. Learn how EPCs close more deals by offering funding alongside every solar quote.

6 min read

Finance Structures

PPA vs Rent-to-Own for Solar: Which Structure Fits Your Client?

Solar PPA vs rent to own explained for South African deals. Compare ownership, monthly cost, tax and term so you can match the right structure to each client.

7 min read

Guides

What South African Banks Look For When Funding a Solar Deal

Solar finance banks south africa: learn what FNB, Absa, Nedbank and others assess before funding a solar deal, and how to package an application that gets approved.

7 min read

Product

What Is Inside an Indicative Solar Finance Proposal

An indicative solar finance quote shows the likely shape of a deal before underwriting. See what is inside, what it is not, and how it moves a deal forward.

6 min read

For Installers

White-Label Solar Finance: Put Your Brand on Every Proposal

White label solar finance lets installers present funded proposals under their own brand. Learn how ArkFlow keeps your name front and centre at no extra cost.

6 min read

Guides

Water Finance in South Africa: Rent-to-Own and Water Purchase Agreements

Water finance in South Africa funds boreholes, pumps and treatment kit through Rent-to-Own or Water Purchase Agreements up to 10 years. Here is how it works.

6 min read

Guides

Financing Batteries and Backup Power for Energy Security

Battery finance in South Africa funds batteries, inverters and backup power through Asset Finance, Rent-to-Own or PPA. Here is how installers offer it.

6 min read

Product

ArkFlow Pricing: The 1% Funding Success Fee Explained

ArkFlow is a free solar finance platform that adds 1% of capex to the bill of quantities where a deal funds through its lender panel, billed as the bank releases funds. Here is exactly how the cost works.

6 min read

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