Phil and Jackie Coates’ home in Mumbles generates so much electricity that they make money from it – and it even charges their electric vehicle for free
When Phil and Jackie Coates examine their electricity bills, their response differs markedly from most households. Unlike the majority of people, the Coates’ residence actually generates income. It even powers their electric vehicle at no cost.
Modern Eco-Friendly Home with Solar Panels (Image: D. Goug/Pexels)
Their dual solar panel systems produced double the amount of electricity the pair used throughout 2024. They sell the surplus energy back to the grid and receive payment for it, reports Wales Online. They chose this path to cut their energy costs and for ecological reasons, as the solar panels and heat pump mean they no longer require gas – a fossil fuel – in their property.
When we spoke to him in March Mr Coates explained that, regarding domestic energy, he and his wife were maintaining a “zero carbon” lifestyle “but without living in a mud hut and eating beans”.
He added: “Looking back I would not have done anything differently.”
The number of households fitting heat pumps increased by just over 50% across the UK last year compared to 2023, according to a group called the Heat Pump Association, but this figure must rise sixfold to achieve a Government objective of 600,000 annually by 2028 as part of a legally-binding drive to reach net zero by 2050.
Read more: Wales Online
