The aim of the project is to enable trialling of new technology, approaches, and improvements to a range of our tenants homes which will achieve better energy efficiency. By collaboratively working together, we are learning from each other and understanding the technology we can use. This innovative project will have a positive impact for our tenants and also enables us to invest in local business.
As a result of the pandemic restrictions, we had to rethink our original plans to survey each home first so instead we installed solar PV and battery storage to twelve homes that we knew would benefit from them based on our knowledge of the homes. We were aware of the Welsh manufactured Solar PV panels that locally based GB-Sol develop and they have worked with us to install Solar PV and battery storage to the twelve homes in Llanharry. Solar PV systems have been shown to reduce electricity bills by providing free electricity to the occupants. However, the difference with this project was the addition of a battery to enable any unused energy generated to be stored for use at a time when the Solar PV panels are not generating electricity. Moving forward we will be taking an optimised retrofit approach where we will develop an individual plan for each home with the aim of reaching EPC A on as many as homes possible by 2030, in line with the recommendations of ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World and Welsh Government targets.