“Generating our own renewable energy is one of the powerful ways that we can reduce our community’s carbon emissions, and our ongoing contribution to the Climate Emergency. Bruton Town Council is proud to support the ‘Solar Streets’ project!”
Ewan Jones, Mayor of Bruton
Bruton and Castle Cary Town Councils and One Planet Bruton are working with West Country solar installer IDDEA and The Green Group to offer significantly discounted solar panels for households in Bruton, Castle Cary and the surrounding area (up to five miles from either town).
A 12 panel 4kWp system costs from £4,000. Smaller and larger systems are available with add-ons such as batteries for storage of electricity and iBoost to heat water. The standard offering features black 340Wp panels.
The scheme has been running successfully in Frome since early 2019. Frome Town Council approached several companies who were asked if they could provide a 4kWp solar PV system for £4,000 or less. IDDEA was the only company able to do this and had a good reputation locally. The scheme did not cost the Town Council any money and they used their Ethical Decision Matrix to ensure the company upheld the values that Frome Town Council support. Bruton Town Council decided to rely on Frome Town Council’s procurement rather than go through a similar exercise. Over 100 systems have been installed under Solar Streets projects so far.
The discounted scheme is possible because IDDEA can install solar PV in bulk, saving time, transport and associated emissions. Households benefit from reduced energy bills and if electricity prices increase, the savings will increase over time. As well as saving money, each installation will save around 1.5 tonnes of carbon every year (per the Energy Saving Trust). The project supports Bruton Town Council’s ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2030. In addition, £50 will be given to a community fund for every domestic solar installation, and a minimum of £100 for a commercial installation, to be used towards green projects in our community.
To find out more, including information about upcoming Q&A sessions, see https://solarstreets.co.uk/brutoncaryplus or email info@solarstreets.co.uk.
To book a survey, contact IDDEA directly by email info@IDDEA.co.uk.
Low interest loans and impartial information about financing options is available from Lendology CIC, a not for profit lender: https://www.lendology.org.uk/, 01823 461099 or complete their enquiry form https://www.lendology.org.uk/contact/. Note they can only assist homeowners, shared owners, landlords, park home owners and empty property owners. In some circumstances, they can assist first time buyers.
