Solar Together Relaunches – Offering Local Businesses A Move To Renewable Energy

Businesses, residents and community groups across the Ashford borough and wider Kent can once again come together to invest in renewable energy through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.

Solar Together helps participants feel confident they are paying the right price for a high-quality installation from trusted installers. Since the launch of the initiative in 2020, more than 280 solar PV and battery installations have been completed across Ashford.

Solar Together isn’t just for residents – local businesses and community groups can also take part. The group-buying scheme offers solar panels with optional battery storage and EV charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for those who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate.

Applications are limited to 50 solar panels per property. The scheme allows businesses, homeowners and community groups to reduce their bills and help cut carbon emissions.

It is free to register and there’s no obligation to go ahead with an installation. Ashford Borough Council is working with Kent County Council, in partnership with iChoosr. As experts in sustainable energy, iChoosr are helping to make the transition to clean energy as cost-effective and hassle-free as possible.

Sophie Stiles, Climate Change Manager at Ashford Borough Council, said: “This scheme is a great way to help local business owners and residents navigate a move to renewable energy. Change to a new technology can be daunting and we hope the scheme gives confidence and support. It’s great to see so many people already embracing the benefits.”

How does it work?

• Businesses, householders and community groups can register online to become part of the group for free and without obligation.
• Approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction. 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 businesses, households and community groups will be emailed 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 help desks are on-hand throughout the whole process which, together with information sessions, will allow businesses, households and community groups to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.

iChoosr has been collaborating with UK councils since 2015 on its Solar Together scheme, aiming to accelerate the energy transition nationwide. The initiative aims to encourage people to partake in the collective purchase of solar PV and battery storage systems. To date, Solar Together has installed over      39,150 solar panels in Kent and Medway, helping businesses and households avoid up to 3,470 tonnes CO2e emissions each year, with systems expected to last for around 25 years. This is equivalent to taking around 2,478 cars off the road every year!

iChoosr’s initiatives have been delivered in partnership with local authorities in five countries. More than 200 initiatives have led to 191,000 people installing solar PV or battery storage systems.