Group-buying scheme for solar panels opens to Cheshire East residents and businesses

Cheshire East Council is supporting a group-buying scheme designed to make it easier for residents to install solar panels on their homes.

The ‘Solar Together’ scheme aims to make purchasing solar panels (and batteries to store unused energy for when the sun isn’t shining) more accessible and affordable than if residents were to buy solar panels on their own. There have already been 43 Solar Together schemes across 11 local authorities in the UK since 2015. As part of these schemes, more than 250,000 panels have been installed, which has avoided 460,000 tonnes of carbon overall.

Cheshire East residents can now register their interest for the scheme, which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and electric vehicle charge points, as well as retrofit battery storage for residents who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate. The launch of the scheme forms part of Cheshire East’s ambitions to make the are a Carbon Neutral borough by 2045.

All residents living in Cheshire East who own their own house or have permission from their landlord to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can register for the scheme via the Solar Together website.

Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said:

“This is a scheme which resonates very strongly with our determination to be a carbon neutral borough by 2045 and I would recommend that residents explore group-buying as a route to generating their own energy.

“I’m sure there are many residents in Cheshire East who have often thought about going solar previously but perhaps weren’t quite sure how to get the ball rolling as far as turning their interest into something more tangible. This scheme represents an excellent opportunity to do just that.

“By producing their own clean electricity, not only will residents be helping to meet Cheshire East’s borough-wide 2045 target, but they will also be helping reduce climate damaging pollution in line with international and national targets.“