Driving sustainability solutions for housing associations

The impact of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) has better enabled local authorities and housing associations to access funding for sustainable housing improvements to enhance energy efficiency.

Across a wide range of proven renewable technology solutions, to technical specifications and training support, Marley is working with housing associations to help deliver energy efficient and sustainable social housing, which also reduces energy cost pressures for tenants. Here, Chris Marshall, Area Sales Manager at Marley outlines the benefits of a collaborative, single source strategy approach as the sector embarks on major retrofit and upgrade programmes.

The solar PV momentum
The growth of solar PV installation on UK rooftops is going from strength to strength. Government statistics from 2023 show that solar installations* stand at over 1.35 million, with the period between 2022 and 2023 the largest annual installation increase for seven years.

The latest integrated PV roof systems – such as Marley’s SolarTile® - offer a more visually appealing, cost effective and easier to install option. Replacing a section of roof tiles, integrated solutions provide a sleek aesthetic and function as a seamless part of the overall roof aesthetic.

A wider renewable package
Housing associations are urged to take a holistic view when it comes to selecting the range of renewable technology solutions that will bring homes to the EPC C standard.

The combination of solar PV on roofscapes, coupled with battery storage that can retain energy generated from a clean source, alongside installed EV charging that can use solar power generation to provide low-cost motoring, makes a compelling argument that can underpin sustainability objectives.

To further drive enhanced procurement efficiencies, opting for a single source strategy enables local authority and social housing providers to effectively use available budgets and funding from the Decarbonisation Fund allocation. 

Understanding the growing importance of renewable system solutions, Marley has built a wider renewable system, as well as technical support and training, which housing associations across the UK are already taking advantage of.

The full Marley renewable system offer already includes solar PV and EV charging and has been further strengthened with the introduction of easy to install battery storage and inverter solutions. They allow tenants to store the energy generated via solar PV on the roof, so they become less reliant on the grid.

As demand for renewable answers escalates, housing associations can now collaborate with partners such as Marley to devise a comprehensive renewables package to drive the improvements that will increase energy efficiency, while helping tenants reduce energy costs.

Specification and training support
Aside from product selection, Marley is also supporting the sector in additional ways.

An experienced technical team is on hand to guide and inform housing association specification decisions that can make a positive contribution to the all-important EPC ratings.

The service will identify the best roof location for the solar PV system, design the most effective solar array and create detailed calculations that will ensure the roof installation delivers the desired power generation.

And for housing associations keen to ensure that the installation of new renewable technologies is always right first time, every time, Marley’s extensive training support for inhouse installer teams can be another value-added component as part of a wide-ranging, results-orientated collaboration.

Marley provides weekly one-day solar installation training courses offering a comprehensive overview of how solar PV works, how to set out a system and tips to consider when dealing with a complex array system.

In addition, Marley’s Sustainability and Solar PV: pitched roofing specification CPD aims to drive a better understanding of the role played by solar. The CPD’s content provides local authority specifiers with a detailed overview of all aspects of solar PV; what to know and what to avoid.  This includes how solar PV interacts with the rest of the designed roofing system and the compliance and sustainability advantages it delivers.

For more details on Marley’s training support for solar PV installation, please visit: www.marley.co.uk/solar

*www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/government_figures_

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