A residential solar pilot, said to be the first of its kind, has launched in St Ives, Cornwall with the aim to help developers across the country future-proof their new-build homes.
The project, deployed by solar tech company GRYD Energy in partnership with BK Developments, is claimed to be the first in the UK to test smart solar and battery storage systems for new-build homes that carry a zero upfront cost burden for the developer or homeowner.
The unique funding model means housing developers and homeowners never have to pay for the solar panels installed on their property, GRYD says, claiming it will save developers up to £10k in hardware costs per home and allow homeowners to reap the bill-saving benefits of solar from day one.
Tom Jordan, CCO and co-founder of GRYD Energy, said: “I’m proud to deploy our first project here in Cornwall. Our county has an excellent track record of leading the environmental charge and was one of the first to declare a climate emergency – it’s the perfect home for our pilot that has the potential to unlock clean energy for millions of homes.
“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 futureproof their properties.
“With the launch of GRYD’s pilot in St Ives, we want to prove how innovative solar solutions can make clean energy accessible and affordable to all.”
Three homes are included in the St Ives pilot. The installation has a peak capacity of 11.5 kilowatts and will generate around11,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, providing residents with over 70% of their energy demand.
The solar hardware is funded and maintained by GRYD for a fixed monthly price that is guaranteed and will not rise with inflation for the 25-year life of the system. The system is said to have already reduced residents’ energy bills by 15% and will eliminate 1.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions per home annually, compared to a home drawing its electricity from the traditional grid.
Additional energy generated from the residents’ solar panels will be sold through export agreements GRYD is establishing with national energy suppliers. The company says this will serve as an “important revenue stream” to support its delivery of low monthly subscription costs to its customers, which are fixed and inflation-proof for 25 years.
GRYD’s smart solar and battery storage system will also support the local grid by providing critical flexibility and reducing strain at peak times, alleviating capacity constraints in some areas.
Jordan added: “The government has set ambitious goals to build 1.5m new homes and become a clean energy superpower by 2030. We have the technology and public support to make it happen – all we need is to apply the right solutions at scale rapidly. We believe GRYD can be one of these vital solutions.
“By eliminating the cost of solar hardware, we can help developers around the country to build high quality homes that are equipped for a net zero future – without denting their margins or passing the cost on to the buyer at a time where mortgage rates and build costs are historically high.”
GRYD says it is establishing partnerships with national housing developers, registered providers and local authorities across the UK, and is set to deploy its smart solar systems to 300 homes in the next 12 months. The company has another 3,000 homes in the pipeline and a target of deployment to 30,000 homes over the next three years.
Image credit: GRYD Energy
Read next: Building Innovation Awards 2024: Rising high in Manchester
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
