Fuel For Thought 24 Recap
by Amal Pouzoulet
Imagine if we all had access to our fair share of cheap solar energy to bring down our bills, regardless of where we live or whether we own our home…
Free electricity from solar would benefit millions of people. It’s common sense: electricity is four times more expensive than gas, solar energy is abundant, solar panels are now very cheap and, once installed, provide energy that’s free.
But only a tiny number of homes have solar panels, and even fewer are getting the full benefit, especially tenants. At the same time, energy prices continue to rise, and the trend is nowhere near reversing.
The government has been getting solar wrong. Ill-considered schemes were exploited by companies and landlords to boost profits and hit incentivised EPC rating targets with no improvements to tenants living in already cold, mouldy homes.
Widespread solar would slash energy bills, reduce fuel poverty, weaken the impact of fossil fuel and right-wing lobbying, and put that power into the hands of households who need it most.
In this panel and discussion, we spoke at length about solar energy, and how to all get the full benefits, renters included.
We first heard from Carole Brook, a social housing resident living in a property with rooftop solar. Carole shared her experience living in a home where the solar installation effectively raised the energy efficiency, without addressing damp, mould, heating issues due to poor insulation, nor lowering bills — illustrating issues with past government solar schemes, whereby landlords benefitted at the expense of tenants.
The EPC jumped to a band B, which I couldn’t believe because the house had been very cold, there was condensation and subsequently black mould.
Carole Brook — Cambridgeshire Social Housing Resident
We next heard from Ashley Grealish, Co-founder and CEO of Windfall Energy, a company bringing affordable, installation-free, bill-reducing solar batteries to all homes — not just people who can afford it.
Ashley presented Windfall Energy’s solution to support renters and tenants not benefitting from their solar installations with respect to bills. It involves a small, plug-in battery, the Windfall, that can store energy when it’s cheap use it during peak times to reduce energy bills.
While the current pre-order price may be prohibitive for a lot of people, Ashley explained they are working on partnerships with government and energy suppliers to make the solution accessible with zero upfront cost.
By breaking the link between when energy is paid for and when it’s used, a Windfall battery can save money every day.
Ashley Grealish — Windfall Energy
Following on, we heard from Jonathan Bean, Fuel Poverty Action’s Policy and Parliament lead. Jonathan spoke about the challenges and inequalities in solar and battery access across the UK, highlighting the need for fairer distribution of benefits and simplified systems for all homeowners, including those in flats and rentals.
He emphasized the importance of standardizing benefits, setting minimum standards, and ensuring guaranteed savings for residents, particularly with the upcoming £15 billion government investment in solar access.
Jonathan discussed issues with energy subsidies and proposed forcing landlords to pass savings directly to residents, while advocating for bill savings guarantees in government schemes. He emphasized the importance of proper installation and access to solar and battery systems for all households, rather than just wealthy or engaged individuals.
Help us lobby government to get bill saving guarantees in any grant scheme, for local authorities to have solar targets, to support initiatives that expand the reach of solar, and stop bad actors including cowboy installers and EPC exploiters.
Jonathan Bean — FPA Policy and Parliament Lead
Last but not least, we heard from Daniel Edelstyn, co-director of Power Station, a short film in which the creators powered through with art, events, celebrations, and sheer grit to convert a street to solar. A powerful illustration of the relationship between art, community, and London that examines and overcomes the challenges to a community putting solar energy in place.
The democratisation of getting this technology is really what it’s all about.
Daniel Edelstyn — Power Station film
