Andy Munns
Households and businesses across Wiltshire have the opportunity to save on energy bills and generate their own electricity by purchasing high-quality solar panels and battery storage at a competitive price.
Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working with iChoosr, independent experts in group buying, to launch a second Solar Together scheme following the success of the first in 2022.
Since the first round of the scheme launched in May 2022, over 1,500 homeowners across Wiltshire and Swindon have installed over 8,500 solar panels and 720 storage batteries to benefit from generating their own renewable energy.
This is also estimated to shrink the carbon footprint of these households by more than 650,000 kilograms of Carbon Dioxide in total.
The prospect of choosing an installer and making the change to renewable energy can be quite daunting, but Solar Together makes the switch to clean energy as hassle-free as possible. The scheme supports people every step of the way, providing clear and objective information that people can trust, so that they can make a well-informed decision and receive expert guidance throughout the process.
The initiative offers solar panels (also known as solar PV) with optional battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charge points. It also offers battery storage installation for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to maximise how much of their self-generated energy they can use at home and become less dependent on electricity from the grid.
The scheme is now open for registrations in Wiltshire and Swindon and the deadline is 11 August 2023.
Interested people can register for free and, following a competitive bidding process managed by Solar Together, will then be sent their recommended provider and costs, with no obligation to proceed with the installation.
To register for the scheme, residents must own their own house or have permission from the landlord to install solar panels. Small and medium-sized enterprises (non-domestic) and Commonhold Associations meeting this requirement can also participate.
Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “We are really pleased to be offering this scheme for a second year running. The first scheme is on track to deliver almost 700 installations in Wiltshire, totalling more than 5,000 solar panels and resulting in a £6 million investment by residents into the green economy.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and local businesses to join together to access more affordable prices for installation of solar technology.
“The cost-of-living crisis is particularly challenging at the moment, and this scheme is one of the ways in which households can make long-term savings by generating their own renewable energy, whilst also helping our ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions across the county.”
For more information including likely costs and the amount of energy people can expect to generate, people in Wiltshire can visit www.solartogether.co.uk/wiltshire
Residents from across Swindon and Wiltshire who wish to contact iChoosr can email wiltshire@solartogether.co.uk or call 0800 048 8113.
Wiltshire residents looking for ideas on lowering their carbon footprint and information on accessing support or grants for energy efficiency in homes can visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/climate-change-individual.
