Octopus Energy to generate 10,000 'Zero Bills' homes by 2030

Octopus Energy has newly announced its plans to offer domestic solar installation as part of overarching plans to help consumers save up to 90 per cent on their energy bills.

In a bid to generate 10,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes by 2030, the providers have added solar to their roster of renewable energy installations already available at their service alongside air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers and smart meters.

In a pertinent conversation about the growth of the green energy sector, Mandip Bhamra, the Head of Renewables at the nation’s leading sustainability and energy-saving platform, SaveMoneyCutCarbon, has outlined the viability of installing heat pumps and solar panels in the home to lower carbon emissions.

The level of inquiries for solar panels and heat pumps has shot through the roof, with business clients now seeing the value of their homes too. People are panicking, and we’ve got to the point where it’s more expensive to not have renewables. The cost-of-living crisis has been a huge driver for this rush.

Heat pumps are great for new builds, but not so much for older properties. This is because new builds are geared towards having a lower flow temperature and lower amounts of heat loss. Most importantly, however, you need to look at where you’re spending and make other reductions from there.

An air source heat pump takes exterior heat and releases it inside as hot air, hot water-filled radiators, underfloor heating and/or domestic hot water supply. Ground source heat pumps work by capturing underground heat through a network of water pipes. The heat pump then uses electricity to increase the temperature but the energy used is less than that harvested.

These options work best as a sustainable solution when combined with low-temperature heat emitters such as underfloor heating and powered by green/clean electricity.

There are several financial incentives available for consumers, such as zero VAT on solar panel systems and zero VAT on heat pumps. The Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) means that you can also replace old boilers with heat pumps. Under this scheme, you’ll be legible for £5k installation if you go for an air source system, and £6k for ground source.

As climate change becomes a more prevalent issue facing society, incentives to create a greener society are a welcome sight. If the UK’s ambitious goals of creating a Net Zero society by 2050 are to be met, we all need to embrace greener tools,strategies and ways of life.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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