Finland’s largest solar power plant started operation in mid-April 2016 and the plant’s owner and operator, Helsinki energy company Helen, is helping to finance the investment and operation by leasing the plant’s almost 3,000 solar photovoltaic panels to the company’s electricity customers.

This has proved popular with consumers, as they can lease panels which have been installed on the roof of a ski hall without having to them on their own property.

Within two weeks of the offer being launched, more than half the solar panels had been leased. Customers pay a monthly fee of €4.40 each and receive a refund of the panel’s yield on their electricity bill.

Helen initiated the concept of leasing the panels to consumers at its other solar power plant in Helsinki, which was commissioned in March 2015. This plant’s solar panels were also leased out in a matter of days.

The total output of the two solar power plants exceeds one megawatt, representing around 13% of solar power production connected to the national grid.

Commenting on this innovative development, project manager Atte Kallio said: “People who have acquired a designated panel have had a concrete impact on how electricity is generated in our country. If the solar panels are sold out, we will build a third power plant in accordance with the same principle. Our customers will decide!”