Cardiff Council – First Choice Housing Association ORP 2.2

Background

This project involved the installation of Intelligent Energy Systems and Solar PV systems with battery storage to 60 properties across 16 local authority areas (including Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Neath; Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen, Wrexham).  The project began in May 2021 and aims to be finished at the end of 2025.

Project learning

Following the PAS2030/35 retrofit measure integration matrix, solar panels where chosen due to the interaction with other retrofit measures being independent. It also meant that tenants would hopefully benefit from having reduced energy bills, due to the electricity being generated and excess power stored on solar batteries within the property. The location of the solar batteries was part of the project learning, as storage cupboards where not always suitable and the location of the batteries had to be agreed, to ensure that they were not placed on a fire escape route.

Project innovation

The solar PV system included battery storage so that tenants could benefit from all the electricity generated via the solar PV panels.

Challenges

The project had several challenges:

1. The location of the installations to proposed properties across the 16 local authority areas using a South Wales based contractor was one of the main challenges.
2. The unique tenant type.  First Choice Housing Association generally provides housing for tenants with a learning or physical disabilities and the disruption of the proposed works could cause distress to some tenants.
3. Finding that some of the roof coverings, such as Rosemary or Cambrian tiles, did not have an approved MCS certified fixing system was another challenge, this means these properties have been placed on hold until an approved fixing is available.
4. Some support providers/ tenants did not understand why solar panels were being installed even after the initial consultation, which lead to some rejection to having solar batteries within the property, therefore these properties are also on hold until an external battery solution can be sourced or the property is re-let.