Fuel For Thought

from fuel poverty to climate justice

Fuel For Thought is a series of monthly collective learning sessions run by Fuel Poverty Action. A space to share research and lived experience, tackle lies, clear up confusion and answer questions.

Solar Energy For All. 18 June, 6.30 PM.

Imagine if we all had access to our fair share of cheap solar energy to bring down our bills, regardless of where we live or whether we own our home…

Solar energy is abundant, solar panels are very cheap and, once installed, provide energy that’s free. But only a tiny number of homes have solar panels, and even fewer are getting the full benefit, especially tenants. At the same time, energy prices continue to rise, and the trend is nowhere near reversing.

The government has been getting solar wrong. Mediocre schemes were exploited by companies and landlords to boost profits and hit incentivised EPC rating targets with no benefit to tenants living in cold, mouldy homes. More recent government schemes have offered free panels to some, but again the numbers are tiny. And still today, the government is sidestepping the issues of training and quality control, needed to deliver housing improvements at scale.

Free electricity from solar would benefit millions of people. It’s common sense: electricity is still four times more expensive than gas. Widespread solar would slash bills, reduce fuel poverty, weaken the impact of fossil fuel and right-wing lobbying, and put that power into the hands of households who need it most.

At this session of Fuel For Thought, we’ll be joined by campaigners, industry representatives, and policy experts to delve into rooftop solar and how to get the benefits to all our roofs. This educational will coincide with Fuel Poverty Action’s mini-campaign, Solar Energy For All.

We’ll talk about how to prevent cowboy operators, increase installation efforts, and lay out our huge plan for universal access to free excess summer solar energy. We’re bringing the ambition to grasp the sun's boundless energy. Solar Energy For All!

Guest speakers include:

Carole Brook | A social housing resident living in a property with rooftop solar. The solar installation effectively raised the energy efficiency of Carole's home, without addressing damp, mould, nor lowering bills.

Power Station's Daniel Edelstyn | Power Station began in the depths of lockdown with the question ‘'what could we do from where we live, with the people around us, to build power — of energy and imagination?’ Working to turn a street and local schools solar, Power Station is a scalable in-your-face prototype of community led power.

Jonathan Bean | Fuel Poverty Action’s Policy and Parliament lead.