Cash-strapped households in the United States and Scotland will see their energy bills drop in the next few years thanks to two large undertakings for small solar.
In the U.S., an “unprecedented” US$7 billion in grant funding will help low-income and disadvantaged families secure solar resources for their homes, reports Canary Media.
The funding will be delivered through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All grant competition, with 60 winners recently announced: “49 state and territory awards totaling $5.5 billion, six tribal awards worth more than $500 million, and five multistate awards amounting to $1 billion.”
Solar for All is “unprecedented,” said Warren Leon, executive director of the Clean Energy States Alliance. “There’s never been an initiative anywhere near as big for expanding solar for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households across the country.”
Ideally, he added, the funded projects will help remove systemic barriers to solar adoption that historically disadvantaged groups have faced.
In many U.S. states, the funding will create small-scale solar programs for the first time. Elsewhere, it will other states to build on progress, ultimately unlocking 4 gigawatts of rooftop and community solar, Canary writes. “The projects, which are required to reduce customer electric bills by at least 20%, will save 900,000 households $8 billion over the 25-year lifespan estimated for solar installations.”
Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota are among the 25 states and territories building low-income solar programs for the first time. Most of the 25 are “Republican-leaning,” says Canary Media.
Leon said it was “highly unlikely” that any of these states would have “any significant” low-income solar programs within the next five years without the boost from this initiative.
Administered by state agencies, municipalities, tribal governments, and non-profits, the winning projects will use “grants and low-cost financing to develop community solar, rooftop solar, and battery storage for individual homes and multi-family affordable buildings,” Canary Media writes.
Elsewhere, Scottish Gas has formed a partnership with one of Scotland’s largest solar+storage installers in a move that could save homeowners up to 90% on their electricity bills.
“The tie-up with Brechin-based Forster Group will enable Scottish Gas to install solar power and battery technology to any eligible customer in Scotland, England, and Wales for the first time,” reports The Scotsman.
The deal will help solar-powered households shave anywhere between 75% and 90% off their electricity bills, according to estimates.
Forster already provides solar and storage services to 20% of all new homes in Scotland, with perks including a free consultation tailored to home layout and energy usage.
Demand for solar is intensifying throughout the UK, writes The Scotsman. Over 183,000 solar installations were completed in the country last year, and “research in the British Gas homes index revealed that more than two-fifths of people said they were considering installing solar panels in the next two years to save on bills.”
“Forster’s impressive track record in Scotland will allow us to meet the growing demand for solar and provide customers with expert advice and installations,” Susan Wells, low carbon homes director at Scottish Gas, said in a release.
The partnership comes a year after Scottish Gas launched its solar+storage offering in England and Wales through Effective Home, a one-stop shop for solar, heat pumps, and insulation.
A Natural Resources Canada spokesperson said the department knew of no initiatives in Canada similar to the Scottish Gas partnership. He noted that decisions on electricity generation, transmission, and regulation within provinces and territories fall under their jurisdiction, but that division of power still leaves several pathways for utilities to acquire renewable power.
