“Banning gas boilers in new homes is a positive step forward for the clean energy transition, however this will increase electricity demand significantly and if we don’t also mandate onsite energy generation via solar PV (already proven as one of the cheapest forms of energy) it will end up costing homes more in their monthly bills.
“Greater investment will be required in energy generation and reinforcing the national grid to meet the surge in electricity demand, and these costs will inevitably be passed onto homeowners via increased energy bills.
“Mandatory solar PV on new-builds is a no-brainer. Off-grid solar is already one of the cheapest forms of energy, particularly when paired with battery storage.
“There are simple ways to ensure that FHS is progressive enough to exclude solar on heavily shaded areas and other unsuitable roof spaces, without watering down the regulation that it should be mandatory on almost all new homes; which will have the greatest net benefits to homeowner’s bills, reducing network upgrades and positive impact on the environment.”
“If housebuilders had been encouraged to build low-carbon homes with solar panels to generate and store their own energy years ago, how many people would’ve been better insulated from the energy crisis – and how many would be protected against a future crisis?
“Starmer must put robust regulatory measures in place to ensure the UK’s new homes are built for a net zero future – and won’t have to be retrofitted with the right technology in a matter of years. If we don’t build homes today that are futureproofed with low carbon systems, we’ll be retrofitting them in 5-10 years down the line at a much higher cost. Let’s do it once and do it right.
“We believe behind-the-meter systems, which allow consumers to generate energy on their own premises and benefit from zero-cost transmission, can dramatically accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition and improve access to affordable energy for millions of Brits – and they don’t have to dent the margins of the developers building our next generation of homes. At GRYD Energy, we’ve developed a new model for the residential solar market by funding and managing the solar hardware – removing the burden of high upfront hardware costs that developers typically face when installing solar panels.“
About GRYD Energy
GRYD Energy is the British solar energy company setting a new standard for solar in the residential market. The business is on a mission to tackle the energy transition at scale with their launch of the UK’s first true solar subscription, offering millions more homeowners access to affordable, clean energy.
GRYD’s Smart Solar Subscription™ flips the traditional ownership model by funding and managing the solar hardware, removing the burden of high upfront costs and maintenance. The innovative solution means property developers incur zero solar hardware costs and homeowners start saving on their energy bills from day one.
Underpinned by intelligent software, GRYD’s smart system exceeds new-build EPC standards and supports property developers to meet the regulatory building requirements of Part L and the upcoming Future Homes Standard.
The business is partnering with progressive developers and local authorities across the UK and is set to scale its service to 30,000 new-build homes over the next three years.
GRYD launched in 2023 and is backed by well-known investors, including Oasthouse Ventures, SFC and Antler. It has a three-home commercial pilot live in South West England, which serves as a testbed for its software.
Learn more about GRYD Energy at https://gryd.energy/.
