Bath West Home
Welcome to BWCE
Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) is a not for profit community business, committed to putting people at the heart of the energy transition to zero carbon. We are a member led organisation, the majority of our members are local people. Through our renewable energy projects, we place ownership and control of energy in the hands of local people and actively benefit local communities. We are part of a UK community energy movement of over 400 organisations.
Now is a crucial time for the planet, join our movement and support us to make a difference by becoming a member of BWCE.
Download our Annual Report to find out more BWCE’s impact or subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date.
Clean Local Energy
We build renewable energy generating projects such as rooftop solar schemes and ground mounted solar farms (arrays).
Community Owned
We raise funds though local people investing money in us and becoming members.
For Community Benefit
Surplus income is distributed via our BWCE Fund to community projects that reduce carbon emissions and alleviate fuel poverty.
New Share Offer coming soon
We were delighted with the unprecedented response to our Bond Offer earlier in the year.
We reached our target within 2 months.
Latest
Browse our latest news, updates, events and resources
Local Power, Lasting Impact: BWCE and BEC Bring Solar to Schools and Communities
Alison Turnbull, Head of Asset Management at BWCE, discusses the impact of…
BWCE investing in schools to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions
Alison Turnbull, Head of Asset Management at BWCE, discusses the impact of…
Investing in transforming our energy system
Our Managing Director Pete Capener talks about the future landscape of…
Your BWCE Business Plan questions answered
Our Managing Director Pete Capener responds to questions about our developing…
Community Renewables
Installing Renewable Energy Generating Projects
We have a growing portfolio of rooftop solar and ground mounted solar arrays and have installed one small hydro scheme.
Matching Demand to Renewable Supply
We run research projects to explore how energy demand can better match renewable generation in order to aid the transition to a low carbon electricity grid.
How are our projects performing?
Find out how are projects are performing in terms of energy generation, carbon reduction and retaining income in the local economy.
Rooftop Solar
Free solar panel installation for schools, businesses and other building owners who want to take practical climate action and reduce fuel bills.
- We raise the money and install the system for free – so no upfront capital costs.
- We own and maintains the system – so less hassle.
- We sell the solar generated electricity at a rate at least 10% to 30% cheaper than the grid – so lower energy bills.
Eligibility criteria
- Located in Bath & North East Somerset or in the parts of Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire that border B&NES (e.g. Bradford on Avon, Corsham, Trowbridge, Marshfield).
- A southerly facing pitched roof in good condition (ideally 300 square metres – around the size of a tennis court) OR a shallow pitched roof which faces due East and West.
- Using a significant amount of power onsite all year round with a minimum of 6000 kWh each month during the summer.
Surplus income from all our rooftop solar projects is donated to the BWCE Fund so, in addition to cutting carbon emissions and energy bills, this means that the building owner is also doing their bit to fund local environmental and fuel poverty projects.
Ground Mount Solar
We develop community scale solar projects in liaison with local communities, Parish Councils and landowners. Ground-mount solar achieves economies of scale, delivering power more cheaply than rooftop solar, and is essential to achieve national and local climate change and energy security targets. In contrast to purely commercial projects our community ownership model prioritises the following:
- Local people taking control over energy, improving local energy security and community resilience.
- The recycling of surplus back into community benefit projects that reduce carbon emissions (one form of decarbonisation pays for another) and alleviate fuel poverty.
- Significant biodiversity improvements and the creation of new community amenities (e.g. community orchards).
Ground mount solar projects need to have available grid capacity and close proximity to a grid connection point.
We sell the electricity generated to an energy supplier through the wholesale electricity market or to large local energy consumers through long term power purchase agreements that provide price security for both parties.
Our Projects Map
The map shows where our renewable generating projects are located. Click on each to find out more details.
Bathampton Old Mill Hotel
Energy Generation
13.5 kWp
Installation Date
December 2016
Bathford Church School
Energy Generation
37.26 kWp
Installation Date
October 2024
Beechen Cliff School
Energy Generation
262 kWp
Installation Date
July 2022
Castle Mead School
Energy Generation
50 kWp
Installation Date
November 2014
Colerne Primary
Energy Generation
36.7 kWp
Installation Date
February 2024
Corsham School
Energy Generation
50 kWp + 33 kWp
Installation Dates
May 2012 & December 2022
Crewkerne
Energy Generation
5 MWp
Installation Date
June 2016
Dragonfly Leisure Centre (MSN)
Energy Generation
188 kWp
Installation Date
August 2023
Dragonfly Leisure Centre (Writhlington)
Energy Generation
120.15 kWp
Installation Date
March 2025
Hartham Park
Energy Generation
250 kWp
Installation Date
July 2012
Hayesfield School
Energy Generation
91 kWp
Installation Date
August 2022
IKB Academy
Energy Generation
29.27 kWp
Installation Date
October 2024
Lansdown Golf Club
Energy Generation
41 kWp
Installation Date
January 2022
Lewis House (B&NES Council)
Energy Generation
38 kWp
Installation Date
October 2014
Linleys Barn
Energy Generation
47 kWp
Installation Date
Early 2012
Newbridge Primary School
Energy Generation
37 kWp
Installation Date
December 2011
Norton Hill School
Energy Generation
160 kWp
Installation Date
August 2022
Notton House Academy
Energy Generation
78.4 kWp
Installation Date
May 2024
Oldfield Infants School
Energy Generation
8 kWp
Installation Date
Early 2012
Oldfield School
Energy Generation
46 kWp
Installation Date
January 2012
Peasedown St. John Primary School
Energy Generation
38 kWp
Installation Date
December 2011
Portworthy
Energy Generation
4 MWp
Installation Date
December 2015
Ralph Allen School
Energy Generation
45 kWp + 25kWp
Installation Dates
December 2011 & August 2021
Sheldon School
Energy Generation
214 kWp
Installation Date
August 2023
Sir Bernard Lovell Academy
Energy Generation
277.6 kWp
Installation Date
October 2023
Somervale School
Energy Generation
114 kWp
Installation Date
September 2022
St. Augustine's Catholic College
Energy Generation
72 kWp
Installation Date
April 2023
St. John's C of E Primary School
Energy Generation
37.2 kWp
Installation Date
April 2023
St. Mark's School
Energy Generation
70.4 kWp
Installation Date
April 2023
St. Martins Gardens Primary School
Energy Generation
10 kWp
Installation Date
January 2012
St. Mary's School
Energy Generation
24.8 kWp
Installation Date
June 2023
Stowey Barn
Energy Generation
22.3 kWp
Installation Date
February 2015
Stowey Farm Ground Mounted
Energy Generation
250 kWp
Installation Date
September 2016
The Mead Primary School
Energy Generation
49 kWp
Installation Date
February 2012
Three Ways School
Energy Generation
129 kWp
Installation Date
October 2022
Walcot Rugby Club
Energy Generation
30 kWp
Installation Date
December 2011
Wellsway Lansdown
Energy Generation
73.6 kWp
Installation Date
October 2024
Wellsway Sports Centre
Energy Generation
36.8 kWp
Installation Date
October 2024
Wilmington Farm
Energy Generation
2.34 MWp
Installation Date
March 2015
Writhlington School
Energy Generation
170 kWp
Installation Date
January 2022
How are our projects performing?
Find out how are projects are performing in terms of energy generation, carbon reduction and retaining income in the local economy.
Matching Demand to Renewable Supply
We’d like to be able to sell the renewable electricity to nearby homes and businesses, leading to cost savings for householders and a more efficient system. Electrons meet the demand closest to where they are generated, so technically we already supply the homes and businesses closest to our generation projects, via the local grid. However they currently pay the tariff set by their supplier, which includes standard UK distribution and network changes, even if the electrons have only travelled a few miles.
Current regulations and high set up costs for energy supply prevent community energy enterprises from selling electricity direct to consumers but we anticipate this will change, Through our Flex Community we are currently trialling how local people could in future buy low-cost, clean energy direct from our generating projects.
Community Benefit
£430,000 Donated
£430,000 donated to the BWCE Fund and other organisations to support environmental and fuel poverty projects.
66 Organisations
66 local community organisations supported to run 111 projects
£887,719 Revenue
£887,719 of revenue per year retained in the West of England area.
£250,000 Donated
£250,000 donated to environmental and fuel poverty projects.
55 Organisations
55 local community organisations supported to run 82 projects
£615,000 Revenue
£615,000 of revenue per year retained in the West of England area.
Bringing Benefit to our Local Communities
We set up the BWCE Fund as an independent charity with its own trustees to distribute surplus from our renewable generating projects in the form of grants to community projects making environmental improvements, reducing carbon emissions and fighting fuel poverty. We are very proud of the benefits these grants have brought within our local communities.
As a successful local community owned business we try to ensure that as much of our revenue as possible is retained in the local economy so that it recirculates and further benefits local businesses and communities.
Through our community engagement work we seek to use our resources to support community groups and other organisations to develop activities that address the climate crisis and promote energy efficiency. We do this through building partnerships, collaborating on projects, running events and sharing useful information through our website and newsletter.
We are continually looking for new ways to use our finances, skills, experience and our network of members and supporters for the benefit of both local communities and planet. Ultimately, we are aiming to build a resilient and sustainable community energy infrastructure, based on local ownership and control, which can better withstand shocks in the wider energy system and economy.
Find out about the BWCE Fund
Find out who can apply to the BWCE Fund and what for.
Check out the local projects that have received grants from the fund.
