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.
Managing Energy Demand
We run projects to explore how energy demand can better match renewable generation in order to aid the transition to a low carbon electricity grid.
Partnerships
We partner with a range of organisations to develop community owned renewables, run energy demand projects and deliver on our mission of providing community benefit.
Renewable Energy Generation
Since our inception in 2010 we have installed five ground mounted solar arrays (solar farms), over 20 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.