What’s the cheapest way to get Solar PV?

For many, solar PV is available free of charge. Yes, you’ve heard us right – it won’t cost you a penny! Free solar is available to a number of industries via a number of different financing schemes – the most popular of which we’ll discover today.

Free solar for schools

Making the move to solar is easy for schools with Free Solar for Schools. The Feed in Tariff, which invests in low carbon projects in the UK, allows more schools to benefit from solar with a free installation scheme.

As an industry leading installation partners, Low Carbon Energy can offer Free Solar for Schools to schools, nurseries, colleges and universities. This helps educational establishments to reduce energy bills while also setting a good example to pupils.

There is absolutely no cost to join the programme and a whole host of benefits. These include cheaper electricity bills; lower carbon emissions, as well as additional educational resources for the Key Stage 2 science curriculum.

Your school will incur not costs for the installation of the panels and at the end of the agreement period; the panel’s ownership will revert to the school.

Free solar for landlords

Solar PV is a great choice for landlords, helping reduce energy bills and enhancing the benefits of an office space or home. In turn, this attracts tenants. Furthermore, free solar may be available to corporate landlords too, through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). By entering into a PPA, you’ll benefit from a fully funded solution, enabling your business to benefit from cheaper electricity and energy independence. This funded system will see the lease of your roof space – as described in the business section below.

Free solar for businesses

Some businesses can benefit from free solar too, again via a PPA. All businesses taking this route will benefit from a free solar PV system that’s installed and maintained for 20-40 years. The benefits are endless and include zero initial costs. You’ll also have reduced electricity costs from then on, as you purchase generated electricity at an affordable pre-agreed rate.

We’ve partnered up with Renewable Energy Investments (REI) to make this free solar possible. REI fund, develop, monitor and manage your commercial or residential solar PV system on your behalf, helping you save thousands. In fact, a typical installation will save you £2,400 in year one and £132,000 over 20 years.

When taking advantage of this offer, you agree to lease the airspace above your roof to us for 20 years. This allows us to install a solar PV system onto your roof, free of charge, and monitor, maintain and insure the system for you for 20 years. There will be no cost to you at all. What’s more, you’ll be able to benefit from cheaper solar too, as we sell back the generated electricity to you at a heavily discounted rate. After 20 years, ownership of the system transfers to you.

Small businesses can reap the benefits of free solar too, thanks to The Carbon Trust’s new initiative. Earlier this year, The Carbon Trust opened up the Green Business Fund for SMEs in England, Wales and Scotland. The fund, which has limited availability, offers up to £10,000 per SME to spend on energy efficient equipment like solar PV.

Get in touch to find out more about any of the initiatives mentioned today. You can also browse our latest Case Studies to see how real-world customers are benefitting from solar.

Have you benefited from free solar? If so, how did you find out about the initiative and how was your experience? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @LowCarbonEnCo