Solar Together: How do we get a competitive price for you?

Solar Together is a unique group-buying initiative designed to help homeowners across the UK access solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery storage at more affordable prices.

This program makes renewable energy more accessible for those who are interested in going green but may find the cost of solar panels and batteries prohibitive on their own.

By joining our group-buying scheme, you can benefit from competitive pricing that’s often lower than what you’d get if you were shopping on your own. It's an easy and smart way to invest in clean energy.

How does Solar Together get the best prices?

The power of a group is key to our success. By bringing together multiple households, we increase our collective bargaining power, allowing us to negotiate better deals with installers than any individual homeowner could achieve alone.

Throughout the process, we use the strength of our community to secure the best possible offers on solar PV systems and battery storage. This means you get high-quality products at fair and competitive prices.

We bring together residents from all over the UK, which helps boost our negotiation power and ensures you get the most favorable terms from pre-vetted installers.

This approach usually leads to better pricing than getting multiple quotes from local installers individually.

Local Authority Involvement

We also work closely with local authorities, many of whom are listed on our website. Their support helps us reach important environmental goals like reducing carbon emissions.

If you'd like to learn more about how group-buying works for solar, check out our blog post titled “Group-buying for solar: What is it and how does it work?”

Who runs this initiative?

The Solar Together program is run by local authorities who partner with iChoosr, a group-buying specialist, to promote the initiative across the UK.

Who is iChoosr?

iChoosr is an independent group-buying expert that has been running successful initiatives since 2008 across Europe.

Since 2012, they've worked with councils and community leaders in the UK to organize renewable energy projects, including solar panel installations.

iChoosr is well-known for organizing large-scale energy and solar projects across the UK and has helped thousands of households save money on their energy bills.

To date, iChoosr has partnered with over 160 local authorities to run energy switching schemes, and they're currently active in five countries worldwide.

Through their initiatives, they’ve helped over 1.7 million households save more than £150 million on energy costs.

How does the auction work?

The auction is a reverse bidding process, where the installer offering the lowest price wins.

The winning bid sets the price for all participants in the scheme, ensuring everyone gets the same great deal.

All installers have been carefully vetted to ensure quality service and reliable performance.

On auction day, qualified installers submit bids for solar systems ranging from 4 to 50 panels, along with different battery storage options.

This process helps us secure the best overall price for a complete solar and storage system with guaranteed quality and support.

Only certified and trusted installers are involved

All solar installations through the group-buying scheme are carried out by experienced MCS-certified installers with a proven track record of delivering top-notch work.

To ensure quality, installers are thoroughly checked for experience, financial stability, customer service, and management skills before being invited to the auction.

iChoosr collaborates with industry experts to define detailed product requirements for all materials used in Solar Together installations.

Installers can choose the brands they want to use, but they must disclose them upfront and follow strict guidelines set by iChoosr to maintain quality standards.

You’ll know exactly what brands are included in the package before making a decision, and you can access full product specifications for review.

The group-buying offer includes everything you need — from installation and monitoring systems to insurance-backed guarantees — so you can feel confident in your investment.

If you have any questions, visit our frequently asked questions section or contact the Solar Together Helpdesk for assistance.

A personal recommendation without any pressure

After the auction, you'll receive a personal recommendation that includes details about the winning installer and a breakdown of the competitive package offered.

The standard package includes:

• Solar panels
• Installation
• Scaffolding up to two storeys
• All cabling and mounting materials
• Inverter
• In-home monitoring
• Guarantees and warranties
• Roof survey

You will be informed of any additional costs based on the information you provided during registration. After the roof survey, the installer will confirm the exact amount of extra charges.

You’ll have time to review the package and ask questions. If you need more information, you can always reach out to the Solar Together Helpdesk or join one of our online sessions, which you'll be invited to.

Our recommendations are tailored to your specific needs, based on the information you shared about your home and energy usage.

If you’re not satisfied after reviewing everything, you can decline the recommendation without any obligation.

You remain anonymous to the installer until you accept the recommendation.

If you still have questions, our FAQ section covers the most common topics related to solar panels and the Solar Together scheme.