On Wednesday (14 June), energy supplier OVO Energy launched OVO Solar – a new solar package with the potential to save customers up to 90% on energy bills.
The solar package, which could help save up to £1,400 per year, will grant customers access to OVO’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rate meaning customers can earn 20p per kWh at all times of the day for selling excess solar energy back to the grid.
OVO’s solar package offers solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, batteries, inverters in addition to the SEG rate. Even without this tariff, OVO claims that people are still able to save more than 90% on electricity bills.
The energy supplier confirmed that the initial launch of the OVO Solar package will be available in Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Gloucester, Swindon, Bristol, Bath and Taunton. It is hoped the package will launch nationwide by the end of 2023.
“Rooftop solar installations doubled last year but still, only about 5% of households have solar technology installed. People are getting excited about solar again and it holds the power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut bills and get more green energy into homes and on the grid,” said Mat Moakes, chief commercial officer at OVO.
“We’ve helped thousands of people switch to greener tech and with OVO Solar, we hope to help millions more.”
Charlotte Pettinger, lead brand manager at OVO added: “We’ve been saving for home improvements since we moved into our house two years ago. Solar panels felt like the obvious choice for us because we wanted to make an investment in our home, which would also help us save money on bills immediately.
“We had them installed in February and have already saved about 30% on our electricity. The savings have been even higher this month, with the sun shining non-stop. It makes you feel so good, knowing you’re powering your home with sunlight.”
OVO is the latest energy supplier to venture deeper into the solar industry. In March 2023, Solar Power Portal reported that Good Energy was to launch a new smart export tariff for households with solar panels. This tariff is expected to see 10p paid per kWh.
The “Power for Good” tariff pays households with solar panels installed 10p per kWh for renewable energy exported. Doing so could lead to the typical solar-powered home getting around £150 per year for the energy shared.
Alongside Good Energy, Octopus Energy launched a combined solar, battery and electric vehicle (EV) tariff in February. Dubbed Octopus Flux, the tariff is able to save customers more than £326 a year compared to the suppliers' next more appropriate tariff, it noted.
