SolShare will connect the 24 residential units a with a single rooftop PV system and could cut the electricity bills of each flat in half. Image: Allume Energy.
Allume Energy has announced the first installation of its ‘dynamic sharing’ solar technology in the UK housing sector at 24 residential flats in Cardiff.
SolShare will connect the 24 residential units in Odel Court with a single rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, allowing each flat to benefit from solar-generated electricity.
The project – funded by the Welsh government in conjunction with Wales & West Housing – forms part of the Optimised Retrofit Programme and is set to cover 55% to 75% of each flat’s electricity demand with solar-generated electricity.
Based on the 1,800kWh to 2,400kWh average usage of one flat, the solar technology manufacturer estimated that each flat could save roughly 50% on their electricity bill. In accordance with the current average of electricity costs in the UK (34p/kWh), this would equate to savings between £390 and £530 a year.
Alongside providing cleaner and more affordable energy to the 24 Odel Court flats, Allume stated that the technology’s ‘dynamic sharing’ capacity significantly reduced the amount of hardware usually required to supply solar, replacing 24 sets of panels, inverters and batteries with one PV system.
As well as reducing installation costs Allume said SolShare also improves solar utilisation by more than 25%.
By not requiring existing supply or metering structures to be altered, Assume assured that SolShare is suitable for retrofit projects as well as new builds.
“Wales is leading the way with the installation of this new technology,” said Jack Taylor, general manager Europe at Allume Energy.
“We hope it will serve as a template for governments and social housing providers in the UK to provide cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades to multi-unit residences. Simple and affordable solutions are available, so it’s great to see governments and housing associations embracing innovative technologies which help tackle fuel poverty and climate change.”
Echoing Taylor’s praise for the partnership, Joanna Davoile, executive director (Assets) at Wales & West Housing said: “At a time when many people are facing difficult choices of whether to heat their homes or feed themselves and their families, it is only right that we explore ways to make our homes more energy efficient for our residents where possible.
“In recent years we have been trialling different methods of retrofitting older homes with energy-saving technologies but one of the main challenges has been how to fit PV panels and battery systems to our apartment homes so that everyone living in the schemes could equally benefit. The SolShare system seems to be a much fairer solution as the energy generated by the building can be shared equally to help our residents to keep their electricity costs down rather than going back to the grid. We are excited to see how the technology used in the SolShare system will work for our residents.”
Wales continues to foster new renewable energy projects to widen the availability of clean and affordable energy. In March 2022, the UK’s first consumer-owned wind farm, delivered by Ripple Energy, began operation in Coedely, South Wales.
Solar Power Portals’ publisher will host the second UK Solar Summit in London in June this year. Once again, the event will bring together all the leading players in the UK solar sector for two days of networking, presentations, and discussions. Find out more and book your ticket here.