In an effort to create interest in solar energy, one British green energy company, HomeSun, is offering free solar panels to its customers over the next three years. HomeSun estimates that this endeavor will cost them up to 1 billion pounds (about 1.6 billion US dollars), and they will be able to distribute solar panels to as many as 100,000 households in the United Kingdom. In addition to free solar panel installation, HomeSun will also maintain the panels for 25 years, and each household with them is estimated to save one metric ton of carbon per year.

Part of the reason HomeSun has decided to raise awareness of solar power in the UK is because this is a source of green energy that has been largely overlooked in that country. While continental European countries like Germany have plans to ensure that large portions of their electrical power come from renewable sources within several years, England does not have these types of programs in place. However, England is seeking to meet European Union carbon reduction standards by the deadline, and HomeSun claims that its measure will help to accomplish this goal.

Since the UK does have feed-in tariffs for solar power, which allow the owner of a solar panel to sell unused power back to the main power grid, or collect government subsidies for excess power, HomeSun believes that the solar panel installation will eventually pay for itself. Electricity from the panels that is diverted to the main electrical grid is predicted to reach about 2.5 million homes in the UK. Homeowners who choose to have the panels installed can also, at any point, purchase the panels for themselves, and collect the feed-in tariff for their own use.

In order to qualify for this offer, households must have a certain range of power consumption, and have roofs that are the proper size and positioned in the correct manner to gain optimal benefits. Households that do not meet the requirements can still enjoy a discount on solar panel installation, however.