If you live in a block of flats, you might think rooftop solar panels are tech only those with houses can dream about. We’re here to change that! We've got some game changing news that could help your flat access solar energy.
We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Allume, a cleantech company on a mission to bring cleaner, more affordable energy to flats across the UK. The Australian startup’s innovative SolShare technology means that multiple flats within the same building could share solar PV (photovoltaic) energy behind the meter from a single rooftop system.
This exciting step forward could help to make new energy more accessible and affordable for everyone. Read on to learn more about our partnership and how you could benefit from having solar panels on flats.
Solar energy for the many, not just a few.
We’re here to help you take charge of your energy, making it cleaner and more affordable in the process. That’s why our partnership with Allume isn't just a business move; it’s a step further in our commitment.
The benefits of solar PV panels have been tricky for those who live in multi-tenant low and medium rise flats to access. Large urban areas, like Poplar, Limehouse, Bethnal Green, and Stepney in London have as few as 20 solar panel installations per 10,000 people, some of the lowest numbers in the UK.1 But these figures aren't surprising; these areas have a high percentage of people living in flats.
Our partnership with Allume is all about tearing down those barriers and making sustainable energy accessible to millions of people across the country. By working together, we’ll be able to grow their offering to reach social housing providers and new build housing developers.
SolShare explained: how solar sharing could power your flat.
SolShare is the smart solution that aims to make solar work for blocks of flats. Here’s how:
Innovative technology for flats and apartments.
The challenge with blocks of flats is simple: you have one roof but multiple electricity meters inside. Traditional solar panels usually connect to just one meter, meaning only one home can benefit.
Allume's new SolShare technology changes things with a smart, behind the meter hardware and software solution. It gives multiple homes in the same building the opportunity to share solar PV energy from a single rooftop system.
The tech makes seemingly impossible, possible. The solar panels on the roof generate electricity, then the SolShare device automatically allocates that energy in real-time to each flat. As a result, electricity is shared fairly between residents, based on their energy use in any given moment.
All of this ensures as much solar energy as possible is used within the building rather than being sent back to the grid. Learn more about how SolShare technology works.
Making clean energy more accessible and affordable.
SolShare skips the need for dozens of individual (and expensive) setups. It also cuts through much of the legal red tape that usually makes solar for flats so tricky.
By making new energy more accessible, we can help deliver the financial and environmental benefits of solar to those who often miss out. It turns one large, cost effective solar installation into a shared resource.
Looking ahead: social housing and new builds.
To ensure this innovative SolShare technology reaches the people who need it most, our partnership with Allume is focused on two key areas: social housing and new build housing.
Supporting social housing.
We know that councils and housing associations are often working with tight budgets and older buildings. However, thanks to available fundings schemes unlocked by SolShare, flats with an EPC rating of D and below can often be upgraded to EPC B at no cost to social housing providers. This could be a positive step in helping people stay warm for less.
Future-proofing new builds.
Our focus also extends to new builds. SolShare tech offers new blocks of flats an efficient way to bring solar energy into their homes. By building solar sharing into the design from day one, we can help ensure that the next generation of renters and homeowners move into energy efficient, low emission homes.
Learn more about Allume and solar panels for flats.
Whether you’re a social housing provider, new build developer, or just curious about how shared solar could work for you, learn more about Allume and SolShare technology.