Making funded retrofit accessible at scale in Oxfordshire

The Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme is demonstrating how funded retrofit can help local authorities accelerate decarbonisation while reducing household energy costs.

In partnership with SMS and Oxfordshire County Council, and utilising Metis, the programme combines funded solar PV and battery storage, resident engagement through the award-winning Energy Saver App, and ongoing optimisation to maximise long-term performance. In under a year, it achieved more than 10,000 app downloads, 262 completed installations, over 599,000 kWh of solar generation and average gross household savings of £1,105 per year.

Oxfordshire County Council wanted to accelerate household decarbonisation without relying on residents to fund solar PV and battery storage upfront. The council launched the Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme, combining funded installation, resident engagement, tariff optimisation and long-term support within a single delivery model.

The programme was designed to remove the barriers that typically limit retrofit uptake, helping residents understand their energy use, access funding, and move from interest to installation through one joined-up journey. The award-winning Energy Saver App provided personalised energy insights and technology recommendations, while SMS gave residents access to solar PV and battery storage through a fixed monthly subscription model with no upfront installation cost.

By bringing together trusted local authority engagement, personalised energy data and accessible funding, the programme created a practical route for delivering low-carbon retrofit at scale.

The programme delivered measurable results across engagement, installation, energy generation, and household savings:

• 10,000+ Energy Saver App downloads in under twelve months
• 262 completed solar PV and battery installations
• 599,104 kWh of solar energy generated
• 400+ tonnes of CO₂e avoided
• £1,105 average gross system savings per household per year
• 96% resident uptake of recommended energy tariffs

Together, these results show how a funded, data-led retrofit model can turn resident interest into installation, while helping households keep getting value from their systems over time.

• Oxfordshire County Council: Oxfordshire County Council is leading the county’s transition to a low-carbon future through a range of programmes focused on energy, transport, housing and climate action. Through the Oxfordshire Area-Wide Retrofit Programme, the council worked with SMS, utilising Metis, to help residents access solar PV and battery storage without upfront installation costs, creating a scalable model for household decarbonisation.

SMS has proven a fully funded, end-to-end model for solar PV and battery retrofit, combining resident engagement, accessible funding, installation, optimisation and long-term support.

For local authorities and housing providers ready to move from ambition to delivery, the route is clear. The outcomes are proven. The supply chain is ready. The next step is action.

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