A recent £4 million investment by E.ON UK aims to accelerate the adoption of shared rooftop solar technology, making clean, affordable energy accessible to residents of flats. This funding will bolster the expansion of an innovative system developed by Australian company Allume Energy, known as SolShare. Founded in 2015, Allume’s technology enables multiple households within a single building to share the output from one rooftop solar installation, an approach that could revolutionise energy access in multi-unit residences.

Traditionally, rooftop solar systems in apartment buildings are limited to powering communal areas, leaving individual flat occupants unable to benefit directly. SolShare overcomes this by distributing solar energy directly to each flat based on a predetermined allocation and individual usage patterns. This behind-the-meter technology allows residents to keep their existing energy suppliers without requiring infrastructure modifications, while significantly increasing onsite solar consumption and reducing the need to export surplus power back to the grid. By giving residents control over their share of clean energy, the system offers potential reductions in energy bills ranging from 30% to 60%, alongside lowering carbon emissions.

The benefits of SolShare go beyond individual cost savings. In the UK, the uptake of the technology has been strong among social housing providers, offering a cost-effective means of retrofitting older buildings to improve energy efficiency. More than half of Allume’s UK installations have been in partnership with social housing, where fuel poverty is a prominent issue. The system’s integration with the government-backed ECO4 scheme enables 100% funding eligibility for eligible social housing providers, facilitating broader deployment in multi-unit residential buildings. Globally, SolShare has already been installed in over 6,000 homes, generating more than 14 gigawatt-hours of renewable electricity, a testament to its scalability and impact.

Beyond social housing, SolShare is proving a valuable solution for new build developments and build-to-rent projects. It can increase Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) points by up to 15 and improve Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), enhancing overall building sustainability. By reducing dwelling emission rates and running costs, the technology supports compliance with regulations such as Part L and aligns with net-zero ambitions, especially when combined with complementary systems like batteries and smart energy devices.

The practical application of SolShare has been demonstrated in projects like the Odet Court development in Cardiff, where 24 flats share a single rooftop solar system, meeting between 55% and 75% of their electricity demand. Funded by the Welsh Government in partnership with local housing associations, this project highlights the system’s capability to deliver affordable, clean energy solutions to multi-unit dwellings.

SolShare’s acceptance by UK regulatory bodies underpins its growing prominence. It holds the UKCA mark, confirming compliance with electrical and safety standards, and has been reviewed and approved by all UK Distribution Network Operators as well as the Energy Networks Association for installation across UK networks. Ofgem has recognised the technology as an 'innovation measure of substantial uplift' under the ECO4 funding initiative, unlocking a 45% funding uplift for energy efficiency projects containing SolShare, thereby enhancing its financial viability for housing providers.

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, emphasised the inclusive potential of this investment, pointing out that over five million British homes are flats with rooftop space unused for individual solar access. He noted the opportunity to help residents, especially the one in six living in social housing, reduce energy bills and carbon emissions through this technology. Cameron Knox, CEO of Allume Energy, also highlighted the pressing issue of fuel poverty among flat residents and the transformational impact SolShare could have by delivering free, clean solar energy to millions living in low and medium-rise apartment buildings across Europe.

E.ON’s backing signals a significant step towards a more inclusive energy transition, providing a scalable and practical solution that addresses historical barriers faced by flat-dwellers in accessing renewable energy. With rising energy costs and climate urgency, innovations like SolShare offer a promising path for improving home energy resilience and sustainability for communities often left out of traditional solar adoption.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services