Solar Together Kent
Solar Together Kent is a solar panel, battery storage and EV charging point group-purchase scheme.
Any homeowner, small business, charity or parish council can register to the group-buying scheme, which offers solar panels with optional battery storage and electric vehicle charge points at a group 'discount' price. Residents who already have solar can also apply for retrofit battery storage to get more from their renewables and increase their independence from the grid. Applications are limited to 50 solar panels per property.
What are the benefits of the program?
We understand that choosing an installer can be quite daunting, but by vetting and qualifying trusted installers and using a competitive bidding process (auction), the scheme ensures consumer protection and saves the average consumer 15-20% on a standard-sized solar installation (against the typical market price, with the exact savings varying per scheme).
Other benefits of the scheme include:
- The scheme does the ‘hard work’ for the resident (hassle-free)
- High-quality is assured
- A competitive/fair price is secured via the group
- There are extra reassurances via the insurance-backed guarantees
- There is no obligation to buy
How do you register for the scheme?
You can register for free and without obligation at the Solar Together website. To register, you simply provide details about your roof, such as its type and orientation and your energy usage. This is to assess whether your rooftop is appropriate for solar panels and batteries.
What happens after signing up?
1. Auction: a reverse auction will be held where our pre-vetted solar installers will submit bids for the work. The more people that register, the better the deal should be for each household. The installer with the most competitive package will win the auction.
2. Personal recommendation: after the auction you will be emailed your personal recommendation based on your registration details. This includes your costs and specifications of your system.
3. You decide: the decision is then yours whether you want to accept your recommendation. There is no obligation to continue. You will be informed how long you have to accept your recommendation and will be updated before the scheme closes.
4. Savings on electricity: if you accept, the winning installer will contact you to survey your roof and set an installation date. After installation you will start saving money by generating your own renewable electricity.
Helpdesk support
Telephone and email support are on-hand throughout the whole process, which, together with information sessions, will allow households to make an informed decision in a safe and hassle-free environment.
Ashford Borough Council is working in partnership with KCC and all 11 other district and borough councils and Medway Council. They do not deliver the scheme but work with a company called iChoors who are experts in group-buying. Over 1900 homes across Kent have been installed through Solar Together and this renewable energy will lead to reductions in carbon emissions across Kent and reduce electricity bills.
About iChoosr
iChoosr was founded in 2008 and is privately owned by two co-founders, Before it entered the UK energy market in 2012, it focused on group-buying schemes in the Netherlands and Belgium. It now works with community leaders helping households select energy and solar power suppliers. As in the UK, its operations continue to grow across Europe, North America and Japan.
