(Solar) Power to the People: New Group Buying Option in UK

August 8th, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

I just received an email about a new group buying option in the UK that can reduce the cost of solar power by up to 50%! This looks like a great program similar to the US’ 1BOG and, more generally, to the widely and wildly popular Groupon.

The solar buying program is launching this week after successful trials in the South of England.

Sunny Britain is the company creating this option and is reportedly “the first company to apply the group-buying model made popular by Groupon to the solar energy market in the UK.” Sunny Britain offers significant discounts on the upfront cost and installation of solar panels for its solar group members, with savings for some reaching 50% of the total cost.

With the potential for cheap electricity and even to make money on the solar power systems for decades to come, solar seems like a no-brainer for many more in the UK now.

The first solar group is now closed, I’m told, and installation is underway. With Sunny Britain, it is projected to take at least one member of this group, Dr. Nene, just 6.5 years to recoup the initial cost.

“Our vision is to help people benefit quickly and easily from all the advantages that solar power offers. We’re aiming to bring homeowners across the UK solar power without the huge upfront costs and hassle that solar has formerly brought,” Barak Goldstein, Sunny Britain CEO, says. “We will allow everyone to benefit from saving money on energy bills, earning money from the government and helping to make Britain greener. It is always satisfying to see a project run through from start to finish and now the first installations have been completed we’re looking to replicate this success nationwide.”

This is exciting, and I don’t even live in the UK.

Here’s a little more info on how the program works from the Sunny Britain rep who contacted me:

How Sunny Britain Works

To join a buying group online at www.sunnybritain.co.uk or by calling at 0808 178 2454. If a scheme is open in the area, once registered, one of Sunny Britain’s experts will contact the household, and schedule a home assessment to check whether their roof is suitable for solar (to reap the full benefits of solar panels, the roof space needs be at 24m2 and mainly south-facing). Once enough homes have signed up to the scheme, Sunny Britain will start installing the panels, and residents start making money, and saving the environment. If a scheme isn’t yet open in the area, Sunny Britain will let enquirers know and will then get in touch once a scheme is available.

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