Deadline extended to 13 September to register interest in Solar Together for solar panel installation at lower prices from trusted installers
Due to a higher than projected uptake of the Solar Together scheme, the deadline has been extended to Friday 13 September 2024.
Published: Monday, 12th August 2024
![Roof with solar panels on](http://www.swindon.gov.uk/images/Close_up_roof_1.jpg)
This will allow more time for people to register their interest and take advantage of considerable savings on solar panel, battery and EV charger installations from qualified installers.
Following the success of the 2022 and 2023 schemes, Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working in partnership with iChoosr, independent experts in group buying, on the third Solar Together scheme which has already seen over 3,700 residents sign up.
Solar Together gives residents and businesses the opportunity to invest in renewable energy from a trusted provider to reduce their energy bills and improve their carbon footprint. The scheme utilises group buying to leverage cheaper solar panel and installation costs from vetted providers. The core principle is that coming together as a group provides enhanced buying power and allows the approved providers to offer a better price than individual home or commercial business owners might get from entering the market alone.
The initiative offers rooftop 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 lower cost of the product and installation is made possible by iChoosr holding a reverse auction with vetted installers who compete to offer the group of residents who have signed up the best price. Across the country, iChoosr have helped facilitate over 33,000 installations with 10-25% average savings against the market average. The auction for qualified installers to compete to offer the best prices for carrying out all installations across Wiltshire and Swindon has now taken place and EE Renewables and Infinity Renewables have been selected. The price achieved for the average 14-panel system is 39% lower than the typical market price for an equivalent system in the last six months.
EE Renewables has been selected to carry out the installations in Wiltshire. The company is based in Hampshire and has delivered installations through Solar Together in Hampshire, Surrey and Wiltshire.
Infinity Renewables has been selected to carry out the installations in Swindon, The company is based in West Sussex and has delivered installations through Solar Together in Devon, Essex, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, West of England and Wiltshire.
The scheme has been popular and well received by residents with many leaving their feedback on how it was for them. One resident said “Our experience of Solar Together was great from start to finish. We signed up to just see what the cost might be and were pleasantly surprised that we could afford the quoted price. This very quickly moved to a survey and before we knew it, installation. A seamless service with excellent customer care throughout.”
Another resident commented “The process was straightforward to follow with good communications and explanation of what was going to happen and when.” And in regard to quality and price, another resident said, “it gives the reassurance of quality control and a very competitive price for the whole installation.”
Cllr Dominic Muns, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "It’s fantastic to see how many residents and businesses have registered their interest in Solar Together. We’re still receiving lots of registrations so we’ve extended the deadline to allow more time for people to register.
“There’s no obligation to accept the offer made following the registration period so I would encourage anyone considering solar panels to sign up before the new deadline of 13 September, to see if this deal is right for them and benefit from the considerable savings that can be made.
“The installer who will deliver this year’s scheme in Wiltshire has been chosen as EE Renewables. This provider also undertook the installations for previous Solar Together schemes which received lots of positive feedback from residents and businesses who had solar panels installed.
“Solar Together is a real gamechanger for solar panel technology in Wiltshire, offering residents and owners of commercial buildings the opportunity to get solar panels installed hassle-free at more affordable prices from trusted providers with all the support they need to make the most of their green investment.
“This is the third Solar Together scheme we’ve ran with iChoosr and the previous schemes have delivered 1,110 installations, totalling more than 10,660 solar panels and resulting in over £11 million invested by residents into the green economy. All of the schemes combined are also estimated to lead to a reduction of 22,000 tonnes of CO2 over the 25-year guaranteed lifetime of the solar panels installed.
“Solar Together is a great way for households and businesses to make long-term savings by generating their own renewable energy, whilst also helping our ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions across the county.”
Councillor Emma Bushell, Swindon Borough Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Organisational Oversight said: “There’s already been healthy interest in Solar Together with over 1,000 Swindon residents so far registering to understand more about how they could benefit from having a quality solar panel installation at a competitive price. Extending the registration window gives more residents the chance to find out and potentially benefit from the opportunity to generate their own renewable energy. Visit the Solar Together website to find out more and consider if this is right for you.”
The prospect of choosing an installer and making the change to renewable energy can be 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.
There is no obligation to go ahead with purchasing solar panels if people register their interest. They will receive a detailed and easy to understand personal recommendation which they can choose whether to accept or not.
The scheme is open for registrations in Wiltshire and Swindon and the new deadline is 13 September 2024. People who are interested can register for free.
To register for the scheme, residents must either 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.
To register their interest or for more information including likely costs and the amount of energy people can expect to generate, people can visit the Solar Together site for the local authority area in which they reside:
- Solar Together Wiltshire at solartogether.co.uk/wiltshire
- Solar Together Swindon at solartogether.co.uk/swindon/home
Residents from across Swindon and Wiltshire who wish to contact iChoosr for more information can email wiltshire@solartogether.co.uk or call 0800 048 8113.