To hit the city region’s target of becoming net zero carbon by 2040, we need to halve our energy consumption, and a key way of doing that is by making homes more energy efficient.

The Combined Authority has secured £105m from Government to fit energy efficient measures, such as solar panels, insulation, and heat pumps, to around 10,000 low-income households.

And we are now running the second round of Solar Together, a group-buying scheme that is helping home-owners who don’t qualify for such schemes to purchase solar panels, batteries and EV charging points at the best possible price, supplied and fitted by reputable companies.

In the first round, nearly 600 residents had solar panels fitted through the scheme, which reduced installation costs by up to 33% for a typical 14-panel layout.

Residents now have until the end of October to register for the second phase of the scheme.

Formby resident John Bambery had solar panels and batteries fitted through the first phase of Solar Together.  John said:

“Five or six years ago we went through the process of getting a company in to quote for solar panels and at that time the price seemed to be very expensive.  So when this initiative came through I decided we would go ahead and get a proper quotation.

“The engineer advised us to have batteries as well, as the 16 panels we would be having would be generating more than we would need at times and rather than sending electricity back to the grid it would be better to store it.

“When I got the total price it was slightly less (for panels and batteries) than the price I got several years ago for solar panels only.

“As far as energy sustainability is concerned I think all of us owe it to ourselves and the population at large to use less energy and solar panels are a way to do that.”

Visit www.solartogether.co.uk/lcr by the end of October to register for this round of Solar Together.