Utilities consultancy Monarch Partnership has launched a nationwide scheme allowing property owners to slash energy bills, cut emissions and generate renewable power on-site by fitting solar panels – for free.
The initiative has been developed following the closure of the government’s feed-in-tariffs, which offered financial incentives to those generating their own renewable energy, and will provide participants with free installation of the panels under a power purchase agreement (PPA).
Under the agreement, all energy generated will be supplied to the grid, with the user then able to purchase it back at a fixed-tariff rate significantly cheaper than direct grid procurement. With no standing charges for on-site generation, the scheme offers annual energy-bill savings of up to 33 per cent.
Any power needed over and above that produced on-site will continue to be provided by each participant’s existing energy supplier.
Stephanie Strange, carbon consultant at Monarch Partnership, said: “This new scheme reinstates the financial incentives for renewable generation that disappeared along with the feed-in-tariff.
“Not only does it support energy cost management but will unlock emissions savings at a time when the carbon footprint of the UK’s building stock is coming under increased scrutiny as part of government climate-change targets.”
The scheme can be applied in both commercial and residential buildings and is suitable for those with estates capable of generating 50kw per hour.
