READING Borough Council has launched a solar panel initiative to make renewable energy more affordable for residents and help the cut bills.
The Solar Together Scheme will mean residents can register for free for help in taking advantage of competitive rates on solar panels and battery storage through group buying.
The council is working with a number of regional authorities, including West Berkshire and Wokingham Borough Councils, and independent organisation iChoosr to help residents transition to clean energy solutions.
It follows the implementation of an initiative last year which saw almost 900 residents in Berkshire take advantage of similar offers, with more than 9,500 solar panels installed as a result.
Householders register with the scheme for free to become part of a group without any obligation.
Pre-approved solar suppliers then take part in a reverse auction, where they make competitive pricing bids based on the proximity and number of people in the group.
This passes on savings to residents, who then have the choice to accept a recommended supplier, followed by a technical survey.
There are also helplines and email help desks to provide information and advice to residents throughout the process.
Reading declared a climate emergency in 2019, and the Council has been working with organisations around the borough to aim for a net zero carbon Reading by 2030.
John Knight, Assistant Director for Housing at Reading Borough Council, said:
“The cost of living and energy crises continue to hit people hard around the country, and we want to do everything we can to ease that burden for Reading’s residents.
The Solar Together scheme offers us a way of giving our residents an option to make the switch to solar power by taking advantage of these group-buying rates. This provides a way forward for people to move towards cheaper and more environmentally-friendly energy consumption in their homes whilst at the same time helping us towards our goal for Reading to be carbon net zero by 2030.
“We need everyone to play their part to achieve this – the council, residents, businesses and organisations – and the solar scheme is a great way in for local residents.
“We appreciate that not everyone will be able to invest at this time, but for those households who are fortunate enough to be able to, I would urge them to start the no-obligation process of this initiative and see the longer term benefits it could bring in terms of future savings on energy bills”.
