How LightSource BP reduced costs by 42% and gained full counterparty cost visibility with Adda

Renewables

How LightSource BP reduced costs by 42% and gained full counterparty cost visibility with Adda

£1.2M

GBP annual saving

57%

Execution cost improvement

About

Lightsource bp is on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development. Lightsource bp work with utilities, businesses, local communities and governments to help meet the rising demand for affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. As a leading developer, financier and operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, Lightsource bp have been building and growing meaningful partnerships across the energy transition for over a decade.

Industry

Renewables

Company size

5,000 – 10,000 employees

Founded

2010

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The Company

A global leader in renewable energy

Lightsource BP has grown from a pioneering solar developer into a global leader in renewable energy, delivering sustainable power projects across more than 20 countries. The company combines innovation with scale, advancing solar, storage, and energy transition solutions to support the world’s shift toward net zero.

With a diverse portfolio and extensive banking relationships across multiple currencies and markets, Lightsource BP’s treasury operations must run seamlessly to support global growth. Every inefficiency or lack of transparency in FX execution risks increasing costs, reducing visibility, and impacting the company’s ability to manage exposure effectively across its international footprint.

The challenge

Manual processes created costly bottlenecks

Lightsource BP’s FX operations were distributed across six counterparties, executed through a combination of manual processes and disconnected banking systems. With no margin transparency or consistent benchmarking in place, trades across spot, forward, and swap instruments were priced inconsistently, often at hidden costs. The Treasury team relied on fragmented data and limited visibility into execution quality, making it difficult to assess whether pricing was competitive or aligned with market benchmarks.

These inefficiencies created costly bottlenecks and restricted strategic oversight. Manual reconciliation and the absence of structured analytics meant spread performance went largely unmonitored, resulting in higher transaction costs and reduced negotiating power. The lack of transparency not only increased operational risk but also limited Lightsource BP’s ability to leverage its trading volume - over £15 billion annually - for better FX terms.

The Solution

Modern infrastructure

Through Adda Analytics' independent 12-month audit and tender process, Lightsource BP gained full execution transparency and performance insight across all counterparties. The analysis identified a weighted average spread of approximately 4.7 bps, revealing significant opportunities for optimisation. Adda Analytics designed and managed a structured RFP process, ensuring competitive pricing and consistent reporting standards across all banking partners.

The Results

Clarity across the treasury operations

The outcome was a 57% spread improvement - equivalent to a 1–2 bps reduction and a forecasted annual saving of over £1.2 million. With ongoing monitoring through Adda’s platform, Lightsource BP now maintains complete visibility over FX execution quality, ensuring sustained efficiency, accountability, and value across its global treasury operations.

Key outcomes include: