In a scheme backed by Sustainable Swanage and the Purbeck Energy Group, residents are being encouraged to boost their eco credentials by signing up to the town’s new solar panel project.
The Solar Streets Swanage initiative was launched via Zoom on Wednesday 17th March 2021 – which will offer residents the chance to get solar panels for their properties at a competitive rate.
The project also helps to put money into local community action groups. For every installation through the scheme, there will be a donation of £50 to the Sustainable Swanage Community Fund.
The panels will be installed by IDDEA Renewable Energy Systems.
An example of the company’s more discreet black solar panels
About the scheme
Swanage is not the first town to be made greener by the IDDEA solar panels projects.
Under the scheme, the company has installed more than 1,000 solar panels across the south of England since 2008 – including locations such as Frome, Glastonbury, Wells, Bruton and Castle Cary.
During the launch event, Andy Tunstall of the Green Group who delivered the presentation, explained that for a three bedroom house, the cost would be £4,100 including VAT for a (3.6kWp) 10 black panel system. For a four bedroom house, this would be £4,300 including VAT for a (4.3 kWp) 12 black panel system.
Because it is anticipated that over 40 homes in the area will sign up, the costs can be kept low by making bulk purchases and installing the panels over a short time frame.
Praise from the mayor
Swanage Mayor Mike Bonfield praised the Solar Streets initiative as a “brilliant scheme,” saying:
“We are supporting it through Sustainable Swanage. Sustainable Swanage in a sense is like our environmental arm.
“This is something that everybody can do, and really in 10 years time, if we survive that long, it’s free.”
Further information
For more about the Swanage Solar Streets scheme and to view the launch event, visit its website, while details about IDDEA Renewable Energy Systems can also be found online.
