Styles & Wood scoops solar panel deal for thousands of homes

Styles & Wood has won a major contract to install solar panels on up to 1,500 homes a month for UK solar supplier, Freetricity.

The solar panels will be offered to homeowners free, with money recouped after installation, under a financing deal struck between Freetricity and Macquarie Bank.

Styles & Wood’s energy division will handle site-surveying, specification and installation for the nationwide programme, which expects to generate over 30MW of solar power.

The deal is a major coup for Styles & Wood’s fledgling energy division.

Styles & Wood is better known as a fit-out contractor for clients such as banks and retailers but has begun diversifying in recent years into areas including energy and IT.

The solar panels deal is being financed by Macquarie Bank.

Tony Lenehan, Styles & Wood chief executive, said: “This is a significant project for the UK residential solar market and reflects Styles&Wood Energy’s growing reputation in the field of renewables installation.

“This is the largest free solar roll-out of its kind in the UK and we are excited to be part of this leading UK initiative.

“The development of the Group’s Renewables division was core to our diversification strategy, and this major project demonstrates that the Group now has the capability to deliver large scale installation programmes on a national basis.

“We are confident that Styles&Wood Energy is well placed to deliver sustainable profitable work streams and we remain focussed on the continued growth of the division as the demand for alternative energy sources continues to increase across the UK.”