Energy Market Innovation – Zero Energy Bill Homes

Octopus Energy have entered into a world-first strategic partnership with Ilke Homes to introduce the UK’s first homes to guarantee residents zero energy bills. The two firms are launching their partnership at a site in Essex where Ilke Homes are delivering the largest zero-carbon housing development in the UK.

Two factory-built homes will be installed at Stanford-le-Hope as part of the initial stage of the launch. These homes will come equipped with an air source heat pump, solar panels, and battery storage technology. It is hoped that these modern low-carbon technologies will provide free, clean energy 24/7. As part of this, Octopus Energy are providing a bespoke tariff.

The homes have launched underneath the banner of Ilke ZERO – the first mainstream zero-carbon housing product in the UK. The firm has recently grown its pipeline to around 3,500 homes – a positive sign for modular housing becoming a mainstream solution to the UK housing problem.

Two-bedroom semi-detached family homes being delivered in partnership with Gresham House and SO Resi will form part of a wider scheme, encompassing 153-homes. The wider scheme is branded as Hope Green, with 101 of their homes being zero-carbon in operation. At the moment, this is the most delivered at a single site in the UK which is an amazing feat in itself. The homes will generate their own energy, drastically reducing emissions and providing a clean conscience.

The first two ZERO homes will be made available available for shared ownership soon. As part of the production process, they are precision engineered along production lines at Ilke Homes’ factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. The modular housing company is able to create fantastically well insulated homes through harnessing AI, robotics, and digital design. In conjunction with this, high-performing building fabric is seen as essential to squeezing out the best performance of their low-carbon technologies.

In order to reach the goal of ZERO bills, low-carbon technologies have been implemented throughout – providing cheap, clean energy. Solar panels on the roof generate electricity while the heat pump provides all heating and hot water. Homes will come with battery technology to store any excess in green electricity – keeping the energy for later use.

Originally launched in July 2021, the ultimate aim of Ilke ZERO is to deliver thousands of operational zero-carbon hones per year for major investors, housing associations, and councils across the UK. Trials have already gone well in London, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, and Newark, and are now deemed ready to be rolled out at a much wider scale.

The CEO of Ilke Homes, Giles Carter, had this to say –

“Our strategic partnership with Octopus Energy Group is the next milestone on our ilke ZERO journey. The premise of this partnership is to both empower consumers, who are faced with one of the worst cost-of-living crises in decades, and demonstrate that net-zero and construction can work hand in hand… Thanks to years of intensive research and development, we have successfully created a ready-to-go, highly energy-efficient solution to housing delivery – one which will help investors future-proof investments against government policy, help meet strict ESG criteria, and allow for revenue streams to be accessed as quick as possible due to a significant reduction in construction programmes.”

His counterpart at Octopus Energy Group, Greg Jackson (Founder), had similarly positive things to say –

“This breakthrough partnership debunks a long-standing myth – that cleaner energy will mean higher bills for consumers. Instead, people living in these homes won’t be paying for energy at all… This is yet another demonstration that clean energy is cheap energy, and the best answer to the fossil fuel crisis is accelerating the transition to renewables.”

Customer Billing – Will I Be Affected?          

As already mentioned, energy costs are spiralling – and the price rises are affecting all of us. For UK energy customers it is difficult to say how your bills will be affected due to the serious volatility in the energy markets. It is important to remember that energy prices as a whole are rising, and this will be passed onto consumers through energy bills, making it something to keep a close eye on.            

Different suppliers will feel the pinch in different ways so it is crucial to be aware of the current situation your energy supplier finds themselves in. It is possible to view up to date supplier profiles with any recent changes for all of the energy suppliers in the UK, here.           

At a time where bills look set to rise due to market volatility, it is also a good idea to ensure that you are not being overcharged for any of your utilities. It can be a tricky task to navigate but there are free online tools to remove the hassle available.         

You can find a free online Gas Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.        

You can find a free online Electricity Bill Calculator to see if you are being overcharged, here.          

Energy Solutions by Us, for You         

At a time of great uncertainty in global energy markets, it is easy to feel lost in it all.            

Keeping up to date with developing situations and the associated ramifications is a tricky and time-consuming job. It is also one that is not likely a priority for you and your business.          

So, what do you do?           

You partner with energy procurement experts to take the load off of your desk.           

Energy Solutions have been trusted brokers for countless businesses for over twenty years, which means we know how to navigate the energy markets during a time of uncertainty.           

Website: https://www.energybrokers.co.uk/     

Email: nick@energybrokers.co.uk     

Call Us: 0131 610 1688     

WhatsApp: 07757 400 788  

Ofgem Issues Provisional Order to UK Energy Incubator, Hub Ltd.

Earlier this week, UK Energy Incubator Hub Ltd was issued with a provisional order by Ofgem for failing to ensure that customer service arrangements and processes are “complete, thorough, and fit for purpose”.

The order essentially compels the supplier to make it so that customers can contact them easily and that any complaints are dealt with in a timely manner. Further to this, all complaint remedies as determined by the Ombudsman Services are implemented without delay.

The business, previously called ‘Euston Energy’, is banned from taking on any new customers until it meets these points. Currently, the company services around 3,000 domestic customers and operates under two brands: Neo Energy and Northumbria Energy.

Neo Energy’s website has already been updated to reflect this, as it shows the statement –

“We are currently not onboarding. Please join our waiting list and we will let you know once we are ready to offer you one of the cheapest tariffs on the market again.”

Ofgem has already stated that it expects UK Energy Incubator Hub to comply with the provisional order in full and hopes they will engage fully in a constructive manner. Any failure to do so would result in further action being taken by the regulator, potentially stripping the supplier of a license to operate in the UK market and/or a financial penalty.

Ofgem Director of Enforcement and Emerging Issues, Cathryn Scott, had this to say –

“Our top priority at Ofgem is to protect consumers and make sure we are holding suppliers of essential services like energy to the highest of standards. Where this is not happening, we will not hesitate to act.”

Interestingly, Euston Energy has previously been issued a final order by Ofgem for failing to become a Data Communications Company user. This was alongside four other suppliers; Daligas, Enstroga, Entice Energy Supply, and Symbio Energy – all of which have since closed.