Gentoo installs 5,000 homes with solar panels in race to beat Government Feed-in Tarrif cut

Gentoo is helping its tenants make hay while the photovoltaic (PV) sun shines.
PV panels on Gentoo properties in Hendon.PV panels on Gentoo properties in Hendon.
PV panels on Gentoo properties in Hendon.

The property firm carried out more than 5,000 solar panel installations as it raced to beat a deadline for a cut in the amount residents make from selling electricity back to the grid.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is cutting the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for installations from 12p/kWh to 4.39p/kWh for domestic solar PV installations from February 8.

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Gentoo ramped up its installation programme from 25 installations per week to 75 and worked through adverse weather conditions to reach the 5,000 mark before the deadline.

Green operations director Graham Smith said: “We are working with the industry and with funders to work out a way forward that will allow us to continue installing solar PV in view of the benefits that are available to our customers.

“We expect that there will be a pause in installations as this solution is finalised, but we are confident that we will be in a position in the foreseeable future to continue in our quest to install PV to as many of our 28,5000 homes as is technically possible.”

Gentoo’s PV programme has proved popular, with 70% of customers signing up. The group has a dedicated Green Customer Team responsible for outlining the benefits to tenants of having solar panels fitted to their homes.

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On average households save £96 per year on their fuel bills and this bill saving will only increase with inflation and the rising cost of household energy.

Acting Chief Executive, John Craggs, said: “I’m really proud to say that we have retrofitted more than 5000 of our homes with solar PV technology.

“This is a great achievement and it would not have happened without the hard work and determination of the staff involved.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure we installed as many PV systems before the Feed-in Tariff deadline as possible, so that as many of our customers could benefit.

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“Gentoo prides itself on being a responsible business and providing free solar panels to our customers is not only helping them save significantly on their household energy bills, but it’s part of our wider Planet Smart commitment to reduce the Group’s impact on the planet.”

Sunderland is currently ranked fourth in the UK for domestic PV installations.