A total of 350 homes at risk of fuel poverty have been given a helping hand by Knowes Housing Association after installing solar PV on houses in Clydebank, Scotland.
The solar installations are part of a £2 million programme of energy improvements for the housing association over the next two years. The improvements are expected to deliver annual energy bill savings of £70,000.
The recent solar rollout saw 350 homes fitted with solar arrays sized between 2kWp and 4kWp, totalling 980kWp of capacity. All of the installations were completed by local installer Edison Energy.
The installed solar arrays will help generate a revenue stream for the housing association through the associated feed-in tariff payments. As part of the deal, Edison Energy will work with Knowes Housing Association and its tenants for the lifetime of the feed-in tariff payments, providing aftercare, financing and maintenance support.
Trina Solar supplied 4,000 of its TSM-PC05 series modules for the project, commenting on the need for these kinds of projects, Richard Rushin UK sales manager at Trina Solar said: “In a climate of escalating uncertainty over traditional energy supplies and concern about potential price hikes, it is important to emphasise the vital role that solar PV is already playing – and will continue to play – as part of the renewable energy mix, helping to stave off the threat of fuel poverty in areas hardest hit by the challenging economic circumstances of recent years.”
The solar manufacturer’s partnership with Edison Energy is not the first time the two companies have worked together after it supplied modules for 60 PV arrays for a Clackmannanshire Council pilot programme with a view to installing solar at a further 1,200 homes.