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Surrey County Council, in partnership with Woking Borough Council, has launched Solar Together to offer local residents the chance to buy solar panels for their homes through a group-buying scheme.
Solar panels are a way to generate green energy for homes, whilst also saving money on energy bills. For residents who already have solar panels, the scheme also allows you to purchase batteries to store solar energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The scheme, Solar Together, enables residents to join a group-buying scheme to get the best deal for everyone. From 24 May, residents can register their interest with no obligation. The auction takes place on 29 June and residents who have signed up will then be able to choose whether or not to proceed.
The scheme includes solar panels with optional battery storage and electric vehicle charging points as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate, as well as increase their independence from the grid.
Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure for Surrey County Council, said, “Our target is to be carbon net zero as a county by 2050, and to achieve this we all need to make changes and play our part. Currently, emissions from our homes accounts for 31% of an average Surrey resident’s carbon footprint, so installing solar panels will make a huge difference to this.
“I’m delighted to be able to launch this scheme to support Surrey resident’s in buying solar panels and helping us all to reduce our emissions across the county.”
It is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation. Surrey County Council is working with districts and boroughs, and independent experts iChoosr, to make the transition to clean energy as cost effective and hassle-free as possible.
For most homes, solar panels are classed as permitted development, so planning permission is not required. Although you should always check.
Solar Together Surrey helps homeowners feel confident that they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from pre-approved installers.
This innovative scheme builds on three years of the highly successful Solar Together programme run across the UK which has delivered almost 4,000 installations to date and over 60,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions.
How does it work?
- From 24 May: Householders can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation.
- Pre-approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in an auction on 29 June. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.
- After the auction, registered households will receive a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.
- If they choose to accept their recommendation, the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system.
- Telephone and email helpdesks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.