Solar power for Stoke

Families in solar-powered Stoke-on-Trent homes have already saved an average of more than £100 each on their energy bills since the start of a joint project between E.ON and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to develop renewable technology and promote energy efficiency across the city.

The savings have been made by the 57 families taking part in a pilot project in Chell Heath to install solar panels on council house roofs. Following on from that project E.ON, the city council and Kier Stoke are now starting work on bringing renewable energy to thousands of homes across the city.

The trial project began in September last year when E.ON and the city council announced plans to work in partnership to help meet the city’s ambitious environment targets.

Since then, the solar panels fitted to 57 homes have generated more than 55,000kWh of electricity, generating free electricity from the panels for residents – enough to make the equivalent of more than 2.1 million cups of tea2 – and avoiding an average of 581kg of carbon dioxide each.

Don Leiper, director of new business at E.ON, said: “I’m delighted that we’re starting to see results from our partnership with Stoke-on-Trent and that we’ve taken a very real first step in delivering a greener future.

“Working in this way we’ve been able to help people become more energy fit, either by insulating homes better, changing the way we all use energy or, like this scheme today, providing the technology so people can start to generate their own power at home or at work."

Under the scheme, E.ON funds the installation of the solar panels, with the costs covered through Government incentives to reward renewable energy. In return, the city council receives an income for effectively renting out the roof space and the homeowners benefit from savings on their bills from the free electricity generated.