Tenant Power: Scaling Social Housing Decarbonisation

Tenant Power brings together Octopus Energy and Together Housing to create a new model for clean, affordable energy. In this episode, Nigel Banks and Patrick Berry explain how solar, batteries and smart tariffs can work together to cut bills, reduce carbon and reshape long term asset strategy. 

They discuss: 

• Why the economics of solar and battery systems have shifted, making it possible for tenants and landlords to share the benefits 
• Lessons from Together Housing’s early pilots and how the evidence base underpins the current large scale roll out 
• How Tenant Power gives every resident the same percentage bill reduction whether they have four panels or fourteen 
• Practical challenges around DNO permissions, valuation of battery services and the need for simple, transparent billing 
• Why landlords should rethink solar and storage as permanent revenue generating assets rather than cost lines 

Practical steps for housing providers 
• Start with your energy strategy and define where solar, batteries and electrification fit in your long term plan 
• Map stock for re-roofing or new build opportunities where marginal costs are lowest 
• Engage DNOs early to understand local constraints and permissions 
• Use pilots to gather real consumption and generation data before scaling 
• Consider how future battery revenues and clean heat will work alongside solar to support residents and the wider grid