Social housing tenants in flats could cut bills and be paid for supporting the grid under new E.ON Next and Allume project
Housing associations and local authorities explore FlatSave, which lowers energy bills through shared solar, communal batteries and grid flexibility. Fewer than 1% of the 5 million households in flats across England and Wales are estimated to benefit from rooftop solar
Social housing tenants living in flats could lower bills by generating their own energy and be paid for helping to balance Britain's electricity grid, under a new scheme explored by housing associations and local authorities at an industry event.
FlatSave, a UK-first collaboration between E.ON Next and Allume, turns a block of flats into a shared energy asset, helping residents cut bills and earn money from the energy their building generates and stores. A single rooftop solar array and communal battery can serve every flat in the building, reducing bills for tenants.
The battery charges when electricity is cheapest and supports the grid when demand peaks, with residents receiving a guaranteed annual payment in return. By using energy when it is cheaper and making stored power available when the grid needs it most, FlatSave can deliver value both to individual households and the wider energy system.
The event comes as typical household energy bills are forecast to pass £2,000 a year, and amidst growing debate ahead of the Budget over government funding for social housing energy upgrades.
More than five million households in England and Wales live in flats, including almost half of the country’s social housing stock. Allume estimates that fewer than 1% of these households currently benefit from rooftop solar. FlatSave addresses this barrier directly, giving residents in flats the same opportunity to generate cheaper, cleaner energy as those living in houses.
FlatSave combines Allume's SolShare technology, which equitably distributes solar and battery power to every flat through its existing meter, with E.ON Next’s expertise in grid flexibility. No equipment is needed inside homes and all residents can see the benefit regardless of their chosen supplier.
The first FlatSave system was installed with Peabody Homes at Harper Court in Stevenage, with more FlatSave projects planned across the country this year.
Speaking at the event in London, Ramona Vlasiu, Chief Operating Officer at E.ON Next (pictured above), said: “People living in flats have missed out on the benefits of the energy transition for too long. FlatSave is changing that, combining Allume’s technology with E.ON Next’s scale and flexible energy solutions to help residents lower their bills without needing to switch supplier. That’s what making new energy work for everyone looks like.
“For residents like Lorraine, this isn’t about technology for technology’s sake, it means no longer having to choose between heating and cooking. We are looking to take solutions like this to scale, and my message to housing associations and councils is simple: come and talk to us.”
Jack Taylor, General Manager Europe at Allume Energy, said: "The housing providers we work closely with want practical ways to bring cleaner, cheaper power to their homes without disrupting their residents. Generating solar power, storing that energy in batteries and trading with the grid is one of the most practical and impactful ways we can drive down bills for good."
For more information on FlatSave, housing providers can contact: flatsave@eonenergy.com
Notes to editors
The benefits of FlatSave:
Standard solar and battery offerings have historically been designed exclusively for standalone homes, often locking residents into specific retail contracts. Allume and E.ON Next are changing that.
Combining SolShare technology with E.ON Next’s flexibility approach is a major UK first: a communal battery that tracks energy prices in real-time, enabling connected flats to offset their electricity usage and be paid for wholesale optimisation.
- Advanced battery control: By intelligently charging from the grid when electricity is cheapest, it unlocks an additional layer of savings that traditional solar simply cannot touch.
- Supplier-agnostic & free for residents: The system works 'behind the meter'. Tenants can choose any energy supplier they want, stay on their existing tariff, and still benefit. They do not have to switch to E.ON Next.
- Direct financial returns: On top of standard solar and battery savings, each flat can receive annual cash payments thanks to the battery’s smart grid flexibility.
- Essential grid support: FlatSave actively feeds power back into the local grid when demand spikes, reducing pressure on the network at peak times.
SolShare’s proven track record has already secured high-profile government and industry backing, further mitigating risk for social landlords. SolShare is prominently featured as a case study in Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan and detailed as a Type 1 (shared behind-the-meter) solution in the DESNZ Community Batteries Call for Evidence. Furthermore, Allume’s work has been highlighted in a small-scale solar report by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and featured as a RISE ‘Retrofit Success Story’, with Allume actively leading RISE Masterclasses on solar PV for flats.
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