Affordable solar panels
Published
Monday 28 April, 2025
Updated
Monday 28 April, 2025
Swale homeowners can save money installing renewable energy systems by signing up to Solar Together.
The group-buying scheme helps reduce the cost of investing in renewable energy, while providing hassle-free, high-quality installations, helping people save on their energy bills.
Solar Together offers solar panels, battery storage, EV charge points installations and battery retrofits, and uses the collective buying power of residents to negotiate better rates from trusted solar panel providers.
So far 130 solar panel systems have been installed across Swale using the scheme, reducing the emissions by 220 tonnes of CO2 – equating to getting over 150 vehicles off the road for a year.
This means people are not only saving money - up to £489* a year on energy bills - by reducing their reliance on the national grid, they are also helping to protect the environment and tackle climate change.
How does it work?
- Householders can register online by June 6, 2025 to become part of the group for free and without obligation.
- Approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction. They are able to offer competitive pricing as the volume, and geographic concentration makes it possible for them to realise greater efficiencies, which they pass on with lower prices for installations.
- After the auction, registered households will be emailed a personal recommendation which is specific to the details they submitted in their registration.
- If they choose to accept their recommendation, 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.
- Telephone and email help desks 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.
It’s free to register here, and there is no obligation to go ahead with an installation.
Swale Borough Council are working in partnership with iChoosr, experts in sustainable energy transition, to make changing to clean energy as cost-effective and hassle-free as possible.
Marie-Louise Abretti, Solar Together UK Business Manager, said:
“With energy prices continuing to fluctuate, residents of Kent are looking for opportunities to reduce their carbon emissions, save on energy bills, and increase their independence from the grid.
“The Solar Together group-buying scheme offers a straightforward way to make an informed decision and to access a competitive offer from a trusted, vetted provider.”
iChoosr has been collaborating with UK councils since 2015 on its Solar Together scheme, aiming to accelerate the energy transition nationwide. The initiative aims to encourage residents to partake in the collective purchase of solar PV and battery storage systems. To date, Solar Together has installed over 38,700 solar panels in Kent and Medway, helping households avoid up to 3,440 tonnes CO2e emissions each year, with systems expected to last for around 25 years. This is equivalent to taking around 2,450 cars off the road every year. iChoosr’s initiatives have been delivered in partnership with local authorities in five countries. More than 200 initiatives have led to 191,000 homeowners installing solar PV or battery storage systems.
*Based on an average household, a southeast/southwest facing, 12-panel, 4kW solar power system with a battery’.
