200,000 people living in council and public housing accommodation in the UK will receive free rooftop solar installations under a £1.2 billion deal between project financial specialist AD-ECO and Yorkshire-based solar energy system provider Solar Europa.
Solar Europa says that over the next four years, as installations commence, 3000 jobs will be created in the UK’s largest ever social agreement to offer free solar energy to low-income households. Installations are scheduled to begin in September.
According to Europa, the deal could see every tenant’s electricity bills reduced by as much as 50 percent, alleviating the growing problem of “fuel poverty” in the public housing sector, allow cash-strapped councils to take advantage of renewable energy investment schemes and increasing property values.
“Financial constraints have, until now, meant many housing associations and local authorities have been unable to invest in much-needed renewable technologies,” says Solar Europa spokesman David Hawkins. “Installing solar photovoltaic panels as part of a wider energy efficiency programme can help alleviate the problems of high energy costs for tenants.”
Solar panels on 200,000 rooftops would also make a significant contribution to the British Government’s greenhouse emissions reduction target of 50 percent by 2025.
“This deal will go a long way towards helping housing providers meet the requirements of the Government’s White Paper on reducing fuel poverty while at the same time, help them meet carbon reduction targets – and all at no cost to the tenant or landlord,” Hawkins says.
Solar Europa says all properties included in the massive solar installation will receive the latest in micro-inverter technology, which increases the efficiency of the system by 25 percent above that of conventional rooftop solar power installations.
