E.ON Next and Allume Deploy Shared Solar and Storage for UK Flats

Overcoming Solar Barriers in Multi-Occupancy Housing

E.ON Next has partnered with technology firm Allume Energy to roll out FlatSave, a UK-first shared solar, battery, and grid-flexibility system created specifically for flats and social housing. Historically, multi-tenant buildings have been excluded from rooftop solar installations due to the technical challenge of dividing power generation across multiple individual energy meters.

How the FlatSave System Works

The system utilizes specialized power-sharing hardware to distribute electricity generated from a single rooftop solar array and central battery store directly to individual tenant units. Over five million households across England and Wales reside in flats, representing almost half of all social housing stock, making this deployment a major step toward decarbonizing urban properties.

This initiative expands the reach of renewable technology beyond single-family detached homes, providing housing associations and private landlords with a functional blueprint to upgrade existing building stock without rewiring entire supply architectures.

What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit?

What does this mean for a UK tradesperson or DIYer actually buying this kit — does it change what they should pay, buy, or watch out for? For electrical contractors and solar installers, this setup shifts the procurement model from basic residential solar setups to complex, multi-user infrastructure. Installers working on housing association retrofits will need to familiarize themselves with shared-power distribution equipment alongside standard PV inverters and battery banks. While these systems are procured directly through commercial supply chains rather than standard merchant counters like Toolstation or Wickes, domestic installers should watch for rising demand for certified sub-contractors capable of integrating centralized storage assets on social housing sites.

Key Takeaways for Contractors

• Target Market: Purpose-built for multi-occupancy buildings and social housing retrofits.
• Technology: Combines centralized PV and storage with shared-meter distribution.
• Workforce Demand: Opens new retrofit contract opportunities for qualified solar and battery installers.

Reported by Electrical Times — original article