The deadline for submitting an expression of interest in the Solar for Business scheme has now passed.
Solar for Business pilot scheme
Under the Solar for Business scheme, partially funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, solar panels will be installed on business premises for free, resulting in cheaper, cleaner electricity, saving businesses money and avoiding carbon emissions.
Benefits of joining the scheme
Taking part in the pilot scheme will allow you to benefit from cheap, clean electricity without having to invest in installing solar panels as a business.
Once North Herts Council installs solar panels on the roof of your business, you will enter into an agreement for use of the electricity generated at a rate which will be lower than the amount you currently pay for electricity from the grid – saving you money on your bills and providing you with certainty and resilience to future changes in energy costs.
Through using electricity generated by the solar panels, you will also reduce your greenhouse gas emissions contributing towards your own climate targets and the district’s 2040 net zero target.
How to sign up
If you’re interested in joining the scheme, please contact us at solarforbusiness@north-herts.gov.uk.
The deadline for submitting an expression of interest has now passed for the first round of the pilot, please keep a look out for future updates on the scheme. In the meantime, we will be happy to answer any other queries you may have and provide further information about how you could take part.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the scheme you need to:
- have a building located within the North Hertfordshire district
- use enough electricity to meet the peak solar panel output from a possible solar array on your roof during the summer months - this is why we request a copy of your latest annual electricity bill
How the scheme works
It's easy for your business to sign up to the scheme. We will plan and design, finance, install and maintain the solar installation.
Assessing your premises
Once you confirm your interest, we will assess the suitability of your business premises for solar panels and estimate the possible size of solar array that could be installed. We will also review your latest annual electricity bill to ensure you use sufficient electricity to meet the maximum output from the solar panels.
Next, we will contact your landlord and / or the building owners to enter negotiations for leasing roof space to install the solar panels. We will also liaise with you on a formal agreement for use of the electricity generated at a discounted rate.
We will arrange for checks of your roof suitability, electricity connection and planning requirements.
Installation of solar panels
Subject to those checks, we will arrange for the installation to take place and ensure your premises is connected for using the electricity generated.
The installation includes the panels along with an inverter, a smart generation meter and a smart export meter to allow for accurate billing and monitoring. The installation is relatively quick and easy to minimise the disruption to your business.
After the installation
After six months, you will receive your first bill for the electricity generated that you have used and this will continue going forwards for the duration of the agreement (known as a Power Purchase Agreement).
Managing your electricity supply
Your business will still need to purchase electricity from a grid supplier. Seasonal variation means you will receive more grid electricity in the winter than in the summer. In effect, you will have two electricity suppliers with the council selling you solar electricity and the grid supplier maintaining a constant supply of electricity throughout the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you're likely to have a lot of questions about the scheme so we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help.
Contact us
If you have further questions or would like a conversation about the scheme then please contact us at solarforbusiness@north-herts.gov.uk.
This Programme is partially funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. North Herts Council will receive £1.5m from this fund over the next 3 years.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6bn of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information visit the UK Shared Prosperity Fund prospectus.
