Changeworks and Scottish Borders Council recently ran a Solar PV and battery project in Newtown St Boswells.
81 households received solar panels and battery storage systems, enabling them to lower their energy bills by generating their own renewable electricity.
The Scottish Borders Solar PV project used Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme (EES: ABS) funding from the Scottish Government. This funding supports programmes which tackle both domestic carbon emissions and fuel poverty.
The project was delivered by Scottish Borders Council, in partnership with Changeworks, who acted as the Managing Agent. Union Technical, a Scotland-based accredited provider of renewable, insulation, and heating solutions, carried out the solar panel and battery installations.
A green way to cut electricity costs
Whilst a full evaluation of the project is still ongoing, residents in Newtown St Boswells are already feeling the benefits.
One property, which also received cavity wall insulation, saw a 19-point improvement on its EPC (D63 to B82).
In another property, Alistair reported that his monthly electricity payment had reduced “dramatically”, from £93 to £42. And in yet another home, William said the difference in his energy bills was “quite amazing, really.”
The battery system supports householders to make further savings by storing excess electricity until it is needed in the home, rather than simply discharging it to the grid.
A smooth installation process
Both Alistair and Wiliam were pleased with the way the project was carried out. Alistair commented that the installers were “very professional and polite when you were speaking to them.” Alistair didn’t have to do any preparation before or tidy up afterwards, and the process itself went “really smoothly”. William said he is particularly pleased with the positioning of his battery, as it means the wires run along a side wall, which “all looks very neat”.
A user-friendly system
Householders received post-install support to help them make the most of their new solar panels and battery. Both Alistair and William found their system’s app a little confusing at first but soon got used to it. The installer showed Alistair how to use the app, and he reports “everything’s working now; everything is spot on”.
Changeworks also sent a short series of advice emails covering everything from switching to a more favourable tariff, to solar panel maintenance.
Endorsement for the project
With their positive experience of the project, both Alistair and William would recommend the Council’s EES: ABS programme to anyone who gets the opportunity. “Go ahead with it,” says Alistair, “because it is a great set up”. William perfectly captures how green energy can tackle both the climate crisis and the fuel poverty crisis: “It’s great that I’m helping the environment,” he says, “but at the end of the day I’m saving money. Why wouldn’t you do it!”
