A new tech launch allows landlords to generate and sell electricity from rooftop solar panels either to their tenants or back to the grid without going through the main meter.

The Landlord PV Box meter is tailored for owners of residential rental properties and allows them to directly profit from selling electricity while making solar panel investments more financially appealing. If a property already has double glazing, panels will usually elevate an EPC rating to a B or at the very least a C, according to manufacturer Manta Ray.

CEO Ophir Lahav (pictured) explains that by incentivizing solar installations in UK rental properties, its solution will help close the 51.5 GW gap in solar capacity needed to meet the UK’s 70 GW target for 2035. Manta Ray Energy estimates that there will be more than 250,000 rental properties installing solar panels in the next 10 years.

This would result in more than 10GW of installed capacity and be a substantial contributor toward the UK’s net-zero goals.

Lahav believes landlords face limited incentives to invest in renewable systems that predominantly benefit tenants rather than themselves.

EPC targets

“Our Landlord PV Box creates a vital new pathway for meeting the UK’s renewable energy and EPC targets,” he adds.

“By offering landlords a clear financial model, we are transforming renewable energy from an added expense into a profitable investment. This not only empowers landlords but also accelerates the country’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy, fully supporting Ed Miliband’s ‘rooftop revolution’.”

Installation fees are assessed on a property-by-property basis, and there is currently a waiting list for this product, says Lahav.