MORE than 3,900 households in Cheshire and Warrington have shown interest in a community-led solar panel initiative.

The scheme offers average savings of 38 per cent on solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installations, helping to reduce carbon emissions, cut household energy bills, and increase local renewable energy production.

The initiative, known as Solar Together, uses the collective buying power of the community to ensure homeowners receive high-quality installations from approved installers at the best price.

Registered residents of Cheshire and Warrington can benefit from these savings, with an average saving of £2,832 per installation.

The scheme also offers battery storage and electric vehicle chargers, providing a complete renewable energy solution for homeowners.

Households that have already installed solar panels can use the scheme to retrofit battery storage, allowing them to store more renewable energy and become less reliant on the national grid.

Registration is free and does not oblige residents to proceed with an installation.

Councils in Cheshire and Warrington are collaborating with iChoosr, experts in accelerating the sustainable energy transition, to ensure the switch to clean energy is as 'cost-effective' and 'hassle-free' as possible.

The process for residents who wish to take part is straightforward.

They can register online by November 15 to join the group.

Once registered, approved UK solar PV suppliers participate in a reverse auction, offering competitive pricing due to the volume and geographic concentration, which allows them to realise greater efficiencies.

After the auction, registered households receive a personalised recommendation based on the information they submitted during registration.

If they choose to accept this recommendation, a technical survey will confirm the specifics of their installation, and a date will be set for the installation of their solar PV system.

Support is available throughout the process via telephone and email help desks, as well as information sessions, ensuring households can make an informed decision in a hassle-free environment.

Marie-Louise Abretti, Solar Together UK business manager, said: "With energy prices continuing to fluctuate, Cheshire and Warrington residents are seeking ways to lower their carbon footprint, cut energy costs, and become more independent from the grid.

"The Solar Together group-buying scheme provides a simple method to make an informed choice and secure a competitive deal from a reliable, vetted provider.

"Homeowners can save an average of £2,832 compared to the typical market price on solar PV systems with 4-25 panels.

"The scheme allows more households to make the renewable switch than would typically be the case."

Councillor Hitesh Patel, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for climate change, sustainability, and the environment, said: "If you’re considering solar panels or battery storage for your home, there’s still time to register for this year’s Solar Together scheme.

"There was a great deal of interest in the scheme last year, and it was fantastic to see so many local residents secure greener, cleaner and cheaper energy for their homes from trusted suppliers as part of the group-buying scheme.

"If you are interested, make sure to register for your free, no-obligation quote by November 15 to explore whether the scheme could be a good option for you."

Since 2015, iChoosr has been working with UK councils on its Solar Together scheme to accelerate the nationwide energy transition.

The initiative encourages residents to participate in the collective purchase of solar PV and battery storage systems.

To date, Solar Together has installed 7,050 solar panels in Cheshire and Warrington, reducing carbon emissions by more than 12,600 tonnes over 25 years.

iChoosr’s schemes have been delivered in five countries, with more than 170 schemes having led to 175,000 residents installing solar PV systems.