Free solar panels for businesses as part of pilot scheme

Businesses in North Hertfordshire looking to save on their energy bills can have solar panels installed free of charge as part of a pilot scheme.

The programme is being run by North Herts Council, which is seeking businesses in the district that want to take part in the project as part of the authority’s commitment to being a net-zero area by 2040.

Businesses that sign up will have solar panels installed at no cost to them by the council, bringing down both their energy bills and their carbon emissions.

The council said that to take part, businesses must be based in North Hertfordshire, operating from buildings with large roof space, and using enough electricity to benefit from the clean power generated – commercial units on industrial estates, for example, rather than high street shops.

The Solar for Business programme follows a similar scheme run by West Suffolk Council, which has installed more than 80 solar panels for businesses in its area.

North Hertfordshire is also set to become home to an 84.7-hectare solar farm on Green Belt land between Hitchin and Stevenage after ministers gave the green light in March, going against an inspector’s recommendation to refuse permission. North Herts Council had previously granted permission in November 2022.

The North Herts Solar for Business pilot is funded by an allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as investment from the council, which will gain a small return from the panels.

North Herts Council’s net-zero efforts also include the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2, in which households with incomes under £36,000 and without mains gas boilers can receive financial help for installing solar panels, insulation upgrades and low-carbon heating systems such as air source heat pumps.

The Solar for Business scheme has only limited funding, so businesses that are interested should get in touch swiftly to avoid disappointment.

Email solarforbusiness@north-herts.gov.uk to find out more.