The Trafford-based regeneration consortium Procure Plus is helping North West social housing providers improve the energy efficiency of their homes via a series of photovoltaics (PV) projects totalling £10 million. 

They are working with a number of housing providers including South Liverpool Homes, Two Castles Housing Association and Northwards Housing to achieve their fuel poverty and carbon reduction objectives before a possible reduction in Government funding from February 2016.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change recently proposed changes to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) funding rates for solar PV installations, with them due to decrease by up to 64 per cent from 8th February 2016. The scheme is expected to close to new applicants from January 15th.

Steve Kirkham, Head of Green Energy at Northwards Housing, commented:

“The forthcoming changes to Government funding have put a lot of pressure on the market, so at first it seemed impossible that we could take advantage of the subsidies before they reduce.

Sourcing materials and contractors was a potential major risk to the project, however working closely with Procure Plus, we were able to carry out almost 1,000 installations that will have enormous benefits for our residents and local economy.”