Photovoltaic buying scheme
Sherston’s residents are able to benefit from the excellent work undertaken by Zero Chippenham who have developed a scheme which allows their residents to purchase cheaper solar panels for their homes. This scheme has been expanded to include SN16.
How does the Solar PV buying scheme work?
Volunteers at Zero Chippenham have identified recommended suppliers local to our area who can provide great value (discounted prices), good quality products and good quality installations. If you are interested, you can find more information about the scheme at Chippenham Community Solar PV Buying Scheme – Zero Chippenham
You will be asked to complete a form including contact details, information on your house and your requirement which will be forward to their recommended installer. The contractor will be in contact with you to discuss, advise and gather additional details to be able to send you a no obligation quote.
If you’re happy with a quotation, you can choose to accept it and go ahead with the installation.
The supplier/installation company will be the company you place an order with and who you pay to do the work. We hope this scheme makes it easier for you to obtain quotes from reputable suppliers and ultimately choose to have Solar PV installed on your house, but neither Zero Chippenham or Sustainable Sherston accept any responsibility or liability for the suppliers work. We always recommend you seek independent financial or legal advice as is your right before signing any contract or order.
Once your installation is complete we would love to hear from you about your experience of the scheme More than 20 households have successful had PV installed through Zero Chippenham’s scheme, including one in Strongs Close in Sherston.
What are the outcomes we are hoping for?
People buying Solar PV can buy it cheaper and get a better return on their investment, particularly due to the high price of electricity.
Many people will not have purchased Solar PV before and we hope the scheme will take some of the pain and risk out of selecting installers. Zero Chippenham have ensured the installers can provide evidence of insurances, safety and quality accreditation. Both installers are Microgeneration Scheme certified and are bound by the RECC consumer code.
Our area will achieve more uptake of Solar PV which will reduce our carbon emissions and help us hit our 2030 Zero Carbon Target.
Alternatives to this Scheme
Last year Wiltshire Council along with numerous other councils in the UK participated in the Solar Together group buying scheme. Hundreds of residents in Wiltshire obtained no obligation personal quotations for solar PV based on the information provided and a remote survey of their property. Applicants were given 1 month to decide whether to proceed to the next stage which involved paying a deposit of £150 which included an on-site roof survey of your property. This allowed the contractor to finalise a detailed binding quotation. According to the Solar Together website, 9900 people have so far procured Solar PV through this scheme, including one person we know of in Sandpits Lane in Sherston.
Wiltshire Council are not currently participating in the Solar Together scheme but this might change so check on Wiltshire Council’s web site or direct with Solar Together Solar Together | Wiltshire Council.
A further alternative is to find contractor yourself locally or to get a recommendation from a friend or neighbour who has had Solar PV installed. At the time of writing, due in part to the continuing high price of electricity, Solar PV installers seem very busy affecting their readiness to provide quotes. We hope the Zero Chippenham scheme provides an easy and efficient way of selecting a reliable contractor, so do let us know of your experience via our email on sustainablesherston@gmail.com.