UK Solar Campaign Tipped For 2013
UK companies back intensive education programme to improve PV perception
A nationwide social media campaign highlighting the benefits of solar power is set to kick off early next year. "˜Please your plug' is shaping up to be the most ambitious renewable energy campaign witnessed by the UK, and is being funded by solar manufacturers, distributors, installers and other supporting organisations to drive a boost in consumer and business confidence in solar.
The industry has rallied together, with the help of Our Solar Future and CleanTech PR consultancy CCgroup, to develop the solution to the declining public interest in the technology. Targeting residential owners, commercial owners and investors, the new social media campaign will use high impact, entertaining and unique online video to drive consumers to a "˜one stop shop' for solar information. The new, editorially led, website will inform consumers and businesses alike on a range of options for investing in solar, whether it be free solar, or investing £5 in community projects, £5,000 at home, or £500,000 on a commercial property. Overcoming much of the confusion that has previously been associated with investing in the solar, the website will provide clarity on the finance and technology options available to consumers.
Charlotte Webster, Head of CleanTech, CCgroup and former PR Manager at Solarcentury, said, "It's been a hard year for solar, but now it's time to turn things around. There's a time to complain and there's a time to get down to growing the market we have by drawing on the positives of this fantastic industry. Good communications will make the difference. We're all quietly optimistic about this, but the success of the campaign is entirely dependent on support and funding from the industry. We aim to attract over 500,000 video views and more than 250,000 new visitors to the website by September 2013, driving 80,000 potential sales leads to supporter's websites. We're making real head way on the fundraising, but the more we raise, the more ambitious and effective the campaign will be. So, as companies look at their marketing budgets we're urging the industry to contribute what you can over the next few weeks. Essentially, one joined up, loud voice is going to have a more substantial impact than many quiet ones."
The campaign strategy has already generated much interest with a number of companies already contributing to help fund the campaign. Contributors so far include: Sun Gift Solar; Solarcentury; Opus Green; D&J Roofing and Solar; Eco-Exmoor Devon; Sunflex Solar and Southern Solar.
Howard Johns, Managing Director of Southern Solar and Chairman of Our Solar Future added, "The industry needs to get moving again, and we have bought together a group of companies who are keen to do something about it. We really need a fresh take on communications for the industry to wake people up to the opportunity that still exists. As with Ecotricity's video which attracted over 1 million views in a matter of weeks, we are hoping our campaign will have similar reach. All that's needed is for 300 organisations to each contribute £500 to make a real difference to the future of the solar industry."