A project launched by solar tech company GRYD Energy, in partnership with BK Developments, will test smart solar and battery storage systems for new-build homes at no upfront cost for the developer or homeowner.
Tested at three homes in St. Ives, Cornwall, an installation with a capacity of 11.5kWp will meet 70% of residents’ energy demand. GRYD will fund and maintain the solar hardware, offering a guaranteed fixed monthly power price that will not increase during the system’s 25-year lifespan.
Additional energy generated from the solar arrays will be sold through export agreements that GRYD says it is establishing with national energy suppliers. This revenue stream will fund the company’s delivery of the monthly subscription. The smart solar and battery storage system will also provide flexibility and reduce strain at peak times.
Tom Jordan, CCO and co-founder of GRYD Energy, said the company wants the launch to prove “how innovative solar solutions can make clean energy accessible and affordable to all”.
He added: “Despite solar being the cheapest form of energy, over nine million UK homeowners can’t access the bill-saving benefits of solar due to the high upfront costs. Developers across the country – who already face increased build costs – have struggled to invest in the renewable technologies they need to decarbonise and future-proof their properties.”
According to GRYD, the system has already reduced residents’ energy bills by 15%, demonstrating the value of off-grid models in securing low-cost clean energy.
The launch comes as the government’s Future Homes Standard (FHS) remains vague on solar installations for new build properties. Although the FHS will not be weakened in its current form, it does not mandate that solar systems be installed on all new build properties as standard.
Not including the mandate has been widely criticised by the industry. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said it wants “solar panels on as many new homes as possible”.
However, it also states that although solar panels are a “vital technology” in achieving net zero, they “may not be the best option for all new homes, like those surrounded by trees or with lots of shade overhead”.
“It’s also crucial we set standards for new homes in a way that allows for future innovation and flexibility in technology and design, which is why the building regulations do not mandate one particular option.”
David Cowdrey, acting chief executive of the MCS Foundation, a charity that certifies solar installations, said: “The government’s apparent failure to require solar panels on all new builds is extremely disappointing, and represents an enormous missed opportunity.
“Allowing loopholes with vague ‘encouragements’ to developers simply is not enough to meet the demands of net zero and make the most of the opportunity to get solar on roofs.”
