The UK government has showcased our innovative Cardiff housing project in Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan, marking significant recognition of our innovative SolShare technology and community-led renewable energy solutions.
The Local Power Plan, providing up to £1 billion of funding, represents the first major funding pot released as part of the government's overarching £15 billion energy strategy.
Allume can support you in developing and submitting your Expression of Interest to help secure this funding. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.
In a major milestone for renewable energy innovation, Great British Energy’s recently released Local Power Plan has highlighted our pioneering shared solar project in Cardiff, which is transforming how multiple households access clean, affordable renewable energy.
This recognition comes as the government seeks scalable solutions to the UK’s energy challenges, particularly in high-density housing where traditional solar installations face significant constraints.
The Cardiff solar project, delivered by Wales and West Housing in 2022, demonstrates how our advanced solar technology can overcome the limitations of limited rooftop space whilst providing sustainable benefits to residents facing rising energy costs.
Traditional solar installations have long struggled with a fundamental problem in flats and apartment buildings: limited space for hardware within flats, and crucially, challenges in meeting fire safety regulations.
SolShare overcomes both challenges.
The Odet Court retrofit in Cardiff provided an innovative answer to a critical issue facing social housing residents across the UK of soaring electricity bills and poor energy efficiency, through our SolShare technology that enabled 24 separate flats to access renewable energy from communal solar panels and battery storage, despite limited space.
The performance data from the Cardiff solar project reveals the substantial impact that our SolShare, plus the installation of battery storage, can deliver:
Energy independence - Residents have achieved a 60-70% reduction in grid energy usage, significantly decreasing reliance on conventional electricity supplies and exposure to volatile energy prices.
Financial savings - Each flat saves between £560 and £690 annually on electricity bills, a substantial reduction that makes a real difference to household budgets, particularly for those in social housing facing cost-of-living pressures.
Scalable model - With 24 flats sharing the infrastructure, the project proves that community-scale renewable installations can deliver economies of scale whilst maximising limited rooftop space.
The Great British Energy recognition arrives at a critical moment for UK housing policy.
The country faces mounting pressure to:
The Cardiff project addresses all these challenges simultaneously, providing a proven template that housing associations, local authorities and property developers can replicate across the UK.
Multi-occupancy buildings, particularly blocks of flats, represent a significant portion of the UK housing stock.
Traditional solar installations have largely bypassed these properties due to space constraints and the complexity of serving multiple households. Our SolShare technology removes these barriers, opening renewable energy access to millions of residents previously excluded from the solar revolution.
The Cardiff project is not a single success story. We have an extensive history of delivering SolShare through major UK government grant schemes, including ECO4, SHDF (Waves 1 & 2.1), Warm Homes (Wave 3), the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund (Scotland) and the Optimised Retrofit Programme (Wales).
We have successfully navigated the complex funding landscape to unlock renewable energy for residents previously “locked out” of the solar resolution:
A standout example that demonstrates that even the most challenging buildings can be successfully retrofitted.
The Hermitage is a 1940s Art Deco block of 28 flats located in Lewisham, in a conservation area where planning restrictions typically limit modifications.
Through the Social Housing Fund, Lewisham council was able to install 100 solar PV panels and three SolShare systems. This project proves that even heritage buildings in sensitive areas can be successfully retrofitted for a net-zero future, opening possibilities for thousands of similar buildings across the UK.
The Hermitage, Lewisham council
The government’s decision to highlight the Odet Court retrofit in Cardiff in the Local Power Plan signals strong policy support for community-scale renewable installations.
As Great British Energy develops its strategy for locally-owned clean power, proven projects like the Cardiff installation provide valuable evidence of what works.
Key elements that make this project replicable include:
This project and its recognition by Great British Energy represent more than a single successful installation. They signal a shift in how the UK approaches renewable energy in multi-occupancy housing.
As our technology proves its effectiveness and government policy increasingly supports community energy initiatives, shared solar and battery storage systems are positioned to expand rapidly across the UK housing stock.
Housing associations, local authorities, and property developers now have a validated model that delivers environmental, social and financial benefits.
If you are a social housing provider with flats, Allume can support you in preparing and submitting a strong Expression of Interest for funding under Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan. Get in touch with our team today!