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.
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.
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Latest
Browse our latest news, updates, events and resources
Green Open Homes event attracts over 700 visits to local eco-homes
Green Open Homes B&NES 2023 is a wrap! 22 Open Homes in Bath and the Chew…
All Change at BWCE!
BWCE’s work is expanding and consequently we have grown our team and developed…
BWCE Fund open for applications
The BWCE Fund is open for applications until 12 noon on 3rd November.
BWCE Fund grant helps Keynsham Community Energy support families struggling with energy bills
Thanks to a BWCE fund grant, 50 local families on benefits and struggling with…
What We Do
Generate Renewable Energy
We have a growing portfolio of rooftop solar and ground mounted solar arrays, have installed one small hydro scheme and plan to develop other renewables. Read more
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. Read more
Home Energy Service
Our vision is to provide a home energy service that supports people at every stage of their journey. We’re starting off by offering home energy assessments. Read more
Renewable Energy Generation
Since our inception in 2010 we have installed five ground mounted solar arrays (solar farms), 30 rooftop solar systems on schools and other buildings and one modern water wheel. We have a growing pipeline of new installations.
All pre 2019 solar systems continue to be supported by the Feed in Tariff (FIT). Since the removal of FIT in 2019 we have developed new business models to enable new projects to be financially viable without it.
We install rooftop solar systems for free, manage the system and sell the electricity generated to the building owner at a discount. This means no upfront cost, less hassle, lower energy bills and a reduction in carbon emissions for the building owner.
Ground mounted solar projects are developed in liaison with local communities, Parish Councils and landowners, building in significant biodiversity improvements at the sites. Whilst we would like to sell the energy generated to local households this is not currently possible due to UK regulations and high set up costs for energy supply. Instead, we sell the electricity to an energy supplier through the wholesale electricity market. We are also in discussion with large local energy consumers about long term power purchase agreements that provide price security for both parties.
Renewable Energy
Since our inception in 2010 we have installed five ground mounted solar arrays (solar farms), 21 rooftop solar systems on schools and other buildings and one modern water wheel. We have a growing pipeline of new installations.
All pre 2019 solar systems continue to be supported by the Feed in Tariff (FIT). Since the removal of FIT in 2019 we have developed new business models to enable new projects to be financially viable without it.
We install rooftop solar systems for free, manage the system and sell the electricity generated to the building owner at a discount. This means no upfront cost, less hassle, lower energy bills and a reduction in carbon emissions for the building owner.
Ground mounted solar projects are developed in liaison with local communities, Parish Councils and landowners, building in significant biodiversity improvements at the sites. Whilst we would like to sell the energy generated to local households this is not currently possible due to UK regulations and high set up costs for energy supply. Instead, we sell the electricity to an energy supplier through the wholesale electricity market. We are also in discussion with large local energy consumers about long term power purchase agreements that provide price security for both parties.
Managing Energy Demand
The climate crisis requires more than just replacing fossil fuel generation with renewable energy. We also need to reduce energy usage and be more flexible in how we use electricity to make the most of when renewables are generating. Through a series of innovative demand management pilots we are exploring how this can happen.
- Our ongoing Flex Community™ was initially supported by Power to Change (Next Generation) and is currently funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme as part of the ReDREAM Project, in collaboration with partner organisations in Europe and Avalon Community Energy in the UK. Flex Community integrates digital technology with energy technologies (e.g. electric vehicle charge points) to enable householders to offer flexibility to the electricity grid. In addition it is simulating householder purchase of renewable energy from our Stowey Ground solar array and peer-to-peer trading between households with and without solar panels.
- From 2018 to 2020 Solar Streets, funded by Power to Change and Friends Provident Foundation, installed solar PV and batteries in two streets in Bath, promoted householder demand management and monitored electricity usage at two local sub-stations. This was part of Western Power Distribution’s Open LV project.
- From 2014 to 2015 Empower, funded by Innovate UK, tested household participation in shifting electricity demand from peak times.
Home Energy Service
We believe that every home should be warm, affordable and healthy to live in – for us and for the planet. That’s why we’re setting up an independent, not-for-profit home energy efficiency service, to offer impartial, expert advice on how to make your home more comfortable and sustainable.
Community Benefit
£380,000 Donated
£380,000 donated to the BWCE Fund and other organisations to support environmental and fuel poverty projects.
57 Organisations
57 local community organisations supported to run 91 projects
£615,000 Revenue
£615,000 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.
