In this Research Note, we examine UrbanVolt, a clean energy partner for small to medium-sized commercial and industrial businesses that specialises in the provision of energy-efficient lighting and solar panels, without the burden of upfront costs. Founded in 2015 in Dublin, Irish Republic, UrbanVolt gained an early foothold in the LED Lighting-as-a-Service sector. Instead of charging upfront for the equipment, the company takes a share of the cash that its customers save on their electricity bills as payment over time. In its first year of operation, the startup completed 100 LED lighting upgrades, which it claimed would save clients over €20 million. In December 2017, the firm launched its Solar as a Service offering “to help take 1 in 5 clients off the grid”. UrbanVolt’s model involves financing, installing, and maintaining solar panels for customers, enabling the customer to buy solar-generated electricity at ~40% lower cost than an electricity provider’s rates. In March 2018, the […]