Energising homes in Blaenymaes, Portmead and Penplas.
What is the Penderi Energy Project?
An innovative project that will see up to 600 homes in the Blaen-y-Maes area of Swansea (named Penderi) retrofit with new technology to not only help households save on energy bills but also ensure that homes are fit for the future.
The Why…
Simply put, because we have to..
40% of the UK's carbon emissions come from households, how we build and live in our homes makes up a big proportion of this. As a nation, we will not succeed in fighting the Climate Emergency if we don't effectively eliminate carbon emissions from every one of our homes.
This change, really does start at home.
The Who…
Pobl, Sero and Everwarm are working together to deliver the Penderi Energy Project, the UK’s largest renewable energy retrofit project of its kind.
Pobl
As the landlord, Pobl have residents best interests at heart. The improvements made to homes will help ensure that they are fit for the future.
Everwarm
Working alongside Pobl, Everwarm and PhotonPM are responsible for the installation of all batteries along with the Solar Panels (PV). These batteries will harness power generated throughout the Penderi community for use by all the community, as part of community solar sharing.
Sero
The energy partner on this project, on hand to ensure homes are not only better for the environment but more comfortable and energy efficient to live in, supporting access to greener, cheaper energy. Sero will manage solar energy accounts by collecting monthly payments on behalf of the landlord, Pobl. They will continue to work toward energy optimisation and the Community Solar Sharing scheme, where solar energy generated in your community can be used by the whole community.
The How…
What is happening in my home?
1. Installation of technology.
2. Pay for the solar energy generated by solar panels at a lower unit rate.
3. Enjoy the discounted solar energy, seeing a reduced reliance on the more expensive grid energy.
4. The future of energy - Welcome to the Community Sharing Scheme (this will come once all installations are complete).
The technology in your home
Solar Panels or PV Photovoltaics
Installed on the roof of the property, solar panels convert the sun’s rays into energy to be used in the home and by the community.
Battery
The Battery allows the home to store any solar energy not instantly used for a later time, homes will always use direct solar energy first, then battery energy and then grid energy. Any excess solar energy not used will be exported back to the grid.
The BEE
The BEE is Sero through and through, designed and built by us for you. The Building Energy Engine – the brains of the operation it helps us to understand the home, how energy is used and allows us to double check the household are not using or paying for too much energy.
The BEE collects interval energy usage and environmental data from the home. It does not collect any personal identity or financial data. The BEE will also be used to calculate the solar energy that each home uses from their solar panels. This data is shared with Pobl so they can understand and assess the performance of retrofit measures e.g. installing batteries and solar. Environmental data can be used to diagnose mould and damp issues remotely in order to act accordingly to keep residents safe and well.
Your new green energy
The electricity that your solar panels create is ‘green’ so, the way in which they produce this energy is not bad for the environment, they can continue to generate electricity over and over without releasing any harmful gasses into the air. The energy created is 100% green – brings a whole new meaning to ‘green tea’ right?!
By using this green energy in your home you are reducing your impact on the environment, lowering both your energy bills (as you will pay a lower rate for the solar energy per kwh) and carbon emissions.
The money bit
Residents will be billed by Sero for solar energy used in the home, this will be calculated by using data from the BEE. Sero will estimate how much each home with generate based on the number of solar panels installed and an estimate of 'self consumption' (which means energy generated and used in the home). Each resident will be charged a fixed monthly payment and then receive a monthly statement outlining what has actually been used with a monthly account balance. If the initial estimates were too high/low, then the monthly payment will be adjusted accordingly.
The price residents pay for the solar energy is set by Pobl and will be at a lower rate than the price cap set by Ofgem.
What’s next?
The Community Solar Sharing Scheme in Penderi
Where the benefits of the solar energy generated by one home can be shared by many… community at its best.
Although the community sharing scheme does not distribute the actual energy generated by the solar panels across the community, it allows for a fair distribution of the benefits.
Homes with solar panels will be able to purchase the power generated by the panels from Pobl at a discounted rate (see above!). The rate is set by Pobl and will be discounted against Ofgem’s price cap rate, meaning residents’ bills will always be reduced.
To share the benefits of the solar generated, all homes will receive a community credit: the amount of credit is tied to the amount of energy used from the grid.
I have solar panels = less energy imported from grid, more discounted rate solar energy used – smaller credit.
I don’t have solar panels = all energy imported from the grid, no discounted rate solar energy used – larger credit.
The discounted rate of the solar energy and the rate at which the credit is applied are balanced so all homes in the community achieve a similar level of overall saving.
To take part in the Penderi Community Sharing Scheme residents will need to be joined up to the Sero Life service. They will need to have a smart credit meter and be an Octopus Energy customer – Sero can arrange all of this with partner Octopus Energy.
What does all this mean for you, the resident?
- Your home will be future ready, it will have been assessed for improvements to help you save money on your energy bills by ensuring your home needs less energy to keep warm.
- The energy you use that is generated from the solar panels and stored in your battery will be greener, better for the environment and cost you less per kwh.
- If you have solar panels you will rely less on the more expensive grid energy.
- If you only have a battery you will receive the benefits of the solar energy through a credit on your energy bill.
- As a community you get to all enjoy the benefits of the solar generated energy in your community, if you have the roof space or not!
Further reading?
For more information about the Penderi Energy Project and the wider Penderi regeneration scheme you can find more information here…
For more information about Sero please feel free to continue to browse our help centre, visit our website or contact a member of our team, we will be happy to help.
In case you have questions, here are a few of the commonly asked (just in case 😊 )
Installation FAQ’s
Billing FAQs
Community Sharing Scheme FAQs