Invite to Thanet households to join Solar Together scheme

Solar panels

Thanet residents can now join a group-buying scheme to invest in renewable energy.

The scheme from Solar Together Kent  is back for the second time and offers solar panels with optional battery storage and electric vehicle charging points.

Residents who have already invested in solar panels can purchase retrofit battery storage which will help them to get more from the renewable energy they generate and increase their independence from the grid.

To date, Solar Together has delivered over 7,000 installations across the UK (including more than 250 in Kent) and over 130,000 tonnes of avoided lifetime carbon emissions.

The scheme is free to register and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation.

Cllr Bob Bayford, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Special Projects at Thanet District Council said: “The council has declared a climate emergency and welcomes positive action from households. Switching to renewable energy is a great example of the kind of change that can make a real difference. Installing solar panels can help to reduce carbon emissions and put residents back in control of their spend on energy, which is becoming increasingly important.”

How does the scheme work?

Householders can register online to become part of the group and without a fee or any obligation.

Pre-approved UK solar photovoltaic (PV) suppliers will take part in an auction on Tuesday 15 March. Suppliers are able to offer competitive prices as the volume and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to buy at cheaper rates, which they then pass on to customers with lower prices for installations.

After the auction, registered households will receive a personal recommendation by email. This recommendation will be specific to the details submitted in their registration.

If households choose to accept their recommendation, a technical survey will be carried out to confirm the specifics of their installation and then a date can be set for installation.

Participants in the scheme can access telephone and email help desks throughout the process which, together with information sessions, will allow them to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.

To find out more and to express your interest in registering for the scheme, visit the Solar Together website.

11 Comments

  1. Households will receive a recommendation, yet another sales gimmick.

    Have solar panels installed, it will take many years until you even break even of the cost.

    When you need roof repairs, it all has to be stripped off again, then reinstalled.

    Look at all the wind farms, and fields and fields of solar panels that now exist, does your electricity reduce with all this renewable energy? No, it doesn’t, the companies just make even more profit. When will the government wake up to this scam?

  2. The obsession with nothing but electricity will end in tears. This morning on the BBC there was someone who had been without electricity for 5 days because of the storm – but, she had a gas cooker, so she could make tea, cook meals and keep warm. So many these days don’t have this choice to fall back on.

    • Yep far too reliant. Fortunately she had an older cooker that didn’t rely on electricity to make it work. Modern appliances have flame detection devices that are electrically operated, no electric no gas.

      • Link takes you to a difficult to navigate web site which seems to be very vague on your needs and the 0800 number takes you to a call centre in Europe. The operator’s accent sounded Dutch.

        I assume KCC and TDC will insist on all suppliers and contractors being British.

        • The link does work, but you have to tick all the relevant boxes, so the sales team know what to offer you, and have some estimated figures worked out.

          “Wakey wakey”

  3. Just spend the same money on improving your homes insulation /windows and doors. Works instantly, needs next to no maintenance, works at night, will reduce your energy consumption and the best energy is the energy you don’t use.
    Not sure what the statement from Mr. Bayford is meant to indicate, almost seems an endorsement of the scheme/company in the context of the article. But coming from a council that funds a homeless/ drug hostel in an uninsulated listed building the statement is somewhat hypocritical and hardly makes it look as though the council practices what it preaches.

    • That’s always the sensible first step. Improve the fabric of your property. You can then look at generating your own power afterwards.

      Personally, as long as the investment stacks up, I would prefer to rely on the grid and using gas as little as possible by generating as much power as I can.

  4. A few years ago i fully insulated my roof/attic, it was quite a big job as i also put power points up there, not too sure how much of an impact it has had but glad i did it

  5. Posted too soon, now looking at solar panels, the cost will be north of 6k but this includes batteries, not sure if i have to take a leap of faith and change all over at once or i can do it in incremental steps e.g, two panels a year etc and see how it goes but the payback will be circa 10 years

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