DLA Piper has announced its involvement in the first international solar licence deal, which will cut electricity bills for up to 4,500 homes in Greater Manchester by around £40m.

The DLA Piper team which was led by partner Natasha Luther-Jones alongside senior associate James Wood-Robertson, advised the world’s biggest solar cell producer Taiwanese-owned GES, on the deal valued at £18m.

The installation deal between GES and housing association New Charter Housing Trust Group in Tameside, Manchester, is the UK's largest solar panel installation for a housing association. The deal will see, New Charter Housing Trust retain control over the roofs unlike lease deals where control is assumed by the panel owner, helping to save nearly 133,500 tonnes of carbon over the next 25 years.

Following the license deal to install panels to 1,000 homes, GES are donating and fitting panels on the charity, 2nd Generation Furnishings based in Stalybridge. 2nd Generation Furnishings, which recycles furniture to sell at a low cost to people unable to furnish their homes, is supported by New Charter Housing Trust which owns the green charity’s Stalybridge building.

Natasha Luther-Jones stated: "We are thrilled to have been able to advise GES on this project. The firm's global reach combined with our significant experience advising solar energy clients, meant we were well placed to advise this international business on its new venture in the UK market. We look forward to assisting GES in its further investment activity across the UK."

The panels are being fitted on the homes by GES’s UK fitter, Sustain Energy Solutions. GES works in partnership with Phanes Group.