Help improve air quality with solar panel scheme

Residents in Sutton can take advantage of a pioneering group buying scheme offering the chance to buy solar panels and help improve London’s air quality.

Following a successful first phase earlier this year, 11 councils, including Sutton, have signed up to the Mayor of London’s Solar Together scheme, run in conjunction with group buying experts, iChoosr.

Solar Together London aims to increase the number of homes and businesses in Sutton using solar power by making it easier for residents to find a reputable installer.

Sutton residents can now register for phase two of Solar Together London. Nearly 4,000 households registered their interest in the first phase, with more than 1,100 accepting their personalised offer for more affordable solar panels, and installations have now started.

Solar Together London is part of the Mayor of London’s Energy for Londoners programme which aims to help cut air pollution and CO2 emissions by supplying more of London’s homes and businesses with cleaner, locally produced renewable energy.

Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of Sutton Council’s environment and neighbourhood committee, said: “Solar Together London is an ideal way for Sutton’s residents and businesses to improve the sustainability of their home or premises. Residents are offered an attractive and easy opportunity to invest in renewable technology from a trusted provider.”

To sign up to Solar Together, visit  www.sutton.gov.uk/solartogether

After Londoners have registered to be part of the scheme, a group of pre-vetted solar panel suppliers bid in a reverse auction - where prices are driven down by competition between suppliers - to provide panels to interested residents and businesses.

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Notes to editors

For media enquiries please contact:

George Frost, UK Country Manager, iChoosr: media@ichoosr.com

Tim Jones, Media Manager, London Borough of Sutton: pressoffice@sutton.gov.uk

About iChoosr - www.ichoosr.co.uk:

iChoosr was founded in 2008 and is privately owned by two co-founders. Before it was invited to enter the UK energy market in 2012 it had focused on collective switching schemes in the Netherlands and Belgium where it works with community leaders helping households to select energy and solar power suppliers. As in the UK, its operations in the Netherlands and Belgium continue to grow. It is currently preparing to launch in to other European countries and plans to extend its services beyond energy and solar panel collective switching.


How does Solar Together work?

-        Households in London can register online to become part of the scheme for free and without obligation.

-        Pre-vetted UK solar PV suppliers participate in an auction on 22 August. They are able to offer compelling offers as the volume and geographic concentration will make it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies which they pass on with lower prices for installations.

-        After the auction, from 10 September, registered households will receive a personalised offer from the winning supplier, which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.

-        If they choose to accept their offer before it expires (on 19 October), the specifics of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey after which a date can be set for the installation of their solar PV system. All installations will be complete prior to the end of the Feed in Tariff availability to new applicants.

-        Those registered for the scheme can access support via telephone and online, while information sessions will allow households to gain more information.