Switch Together Lincolnshire
Switch Together Lincolnshire is a group buying scheme run by iChoosr and supported by all the councils across Greater Lincolnshire. The scheme enables residents, small businesses, and parishes to benefit from generating renewable solar energy on their rooftop without needing to become technical experts. Using the electricity as it is being generated from your own solar panels will save you money on your electricity bills.
How does it work?
All residents living in Lincolnshire and who own their own house (or have permission from the landlord to install a solar PV system) can register for the Switch Together Lincolnshire group-buying scheme.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (non-domestic) and Commonhold Associations meeting this requirement can participate as well, this includes parish/village halls. The scheme provides pricing for up to 25 panels. Anything larger needs to be discussed with the installer.
Some households will receive a letter and leaflet through the post inviting them to register. These addresses have been chosen because there is more likelihood people in those houses will complete an installation. The letters are sent at ‘address level’ and are addressed to ‘resident’. We do not know the names of the people in the houses and all letters are GDPR compliant.
Why are we involved?
Solar photovoltaic panels are a proven way of generating electricity from daylight. The efficiency of the technology is improving, and installation costs are reducing. Increasing the amount of renewable electricity generated within the UK reduces the amount needing to be produced by gas and nuclear power plants. Renewable electricity as part of the national energy mix is a practical way to ensure security of future energy generation. Utilising rooftops for solar panel installations protects the natural environment and agricultural land from over-development and makes the most of the energy infrastructure already available in residential areas.
Supporting our communities to make informed decisions about whether solar panels are right for their home is one way that we can safeguard against poor quality installations. The group-buying model helps to secure competitive pricing for residents. We also hope that it will stimulate local business and training opportunities in the renewable sector.
Additionally, you do not need to become an expert in the technical specifications and full range of options. You will receive a personal offer, based on the information in your registration. It is good practice, however, to invite another provider to quote as a comparison.
What can I do?
If you are interested in installing solar panels on the roof of your home, you can register your interest in Switch Together Lincolnshire at switchtogether.co.uk/lincolnshire/join
Registering your interest is obligation free – you can wait until you receive your personal offer before deciding whether you would like to commit to an installation.
You can choose whether you would like to receive an offer for solar panels and battery storage, solar panels only, or even just battery storage if you have previously invested in solar panels.
As part of your registration, you will need to have an idea about how many solar panels will fit on your roof, and what your annual electricity consumption is, so have a recent energy bill available. The registration form is straightforward and includes guidance to help you decide on the size of your roof and the orientation. At this stage, it is just to provide the installer with approximate details – a full survey will be completed before anything is fitted to your roof!
Further details about the scheme and how the installers are selected can be found on the Switch Together Lincolnshire website, along with a link to the registration form, switchtogether.co.uk/lincolnshire/join
Lincolnshire Climate Summit
In October 2021, the county council hosted the first-ever Lincolnshire Climate Summit, welcoming over 200 people and 30 exhibitors to the Epic Centre.
The Summit featured a critical look at the county council’s Green Masterplan and 2050 net-zero target and the future challenges the county will face.
Attendees heard a series of talks and panel discussions from local environmental leaders covering various climate-centric topics, such as EV charging, renewables, and nature-based solutions.
The county council will look to hold another Climate Conference in the future to discuss the progress being made on our journey to net zero.