Two weeks left to register for the solar panel and battery storage Solar Together scheme

Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are working with iChoosr, independent experts in group-buying, to run a second Solar Together scheme, following the success of the first in 2022.

The scheme launched on 5 June, and people have until 11 August to register for free and with no obligation to go ahead, joining almost 5,000 people across Swindon and Wiltshire who have already registered.

The initiative offers solar panels with optional battery storage and electrical vehicle (EV) charge points, as well as offering battery storage for those who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate and increase their independence from the grid. People can also select whether they would like to discuss options to divert solar energy to power the immersion heater in their hot water tank if they have one.

Solar Together operates on a group-buying approach, with the core principle that coming together as a group provides enhanced buying power and allows the approved providers to offer a better price than individual homeowners might get from entering the market alone.

People who are interested 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 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.

The first round of the scheme, launched in May 2022, resulted in 1,047 installations across Wiltshire and Swindon consisting of almost 9,900 solar panels and over 800 storage batteries. The total installations are estimated to deliver over 18,500 tonnes of carbon reduction over 25 years. This equates to roughly 10,000 cars off roads for a year.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Wiltshire Council Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, said: "It's been great to see that, similarly to last year, we have had a high response from people interested in the scheme across Wiltshire. As part of our business plan we aim to promote the ways that people across the county can make changes to their everyday lives to help the environment, and the Solar Together scheme is one way that people can lower their carbon footprint.

"With only two weeks left to register, I would urge anyone who might be thinking about getting solar panels or storing their own renewable energy to take a few minutes to register for free. They'll receive the guidance of experts every step of the way and there's no obligation to go ahead with the competitive quote that they receive."

Councillor Jane Milner-Barry, Chair of Swindon Borough Council's Net Zero Policy and Scrutiny Committee, said "I'm delighted that over 1,500 Swindon residents have already registered their interest in the Solar Together scheme. Installing solar panels and storage is a fantastic way to generate renewable energy, help the environment and save money on powering your home. There are only two weeks left to register your interest in the scheme, so I would urge anybody interested in solar panels and battery storage to register for free and without obligation to continue - you can decide if it's right for you once you receive your personal recommendation."