Following the end of the first share offer on 10 December 2022, the Big Solar Co-op, a Shrewsbury-based not-for-profit organisation, has announced that over 250 people have collectively invested more than £840,000 to support the development of a portfolio of solar projects.
A 3.2MW community solar array will be brought into local community ownership in the village of Sheriffhales, Shropshire, with £3.5 million having been raised.
Big Solar Co-op has reached a key milestone by attaining its minimum investment target of £600,000 to proceed with its first solar installations.
Solar Power Portal takes a look at how current grid connection timeframes are lengthening for UK solar, while new dynamics emerge with landowners.
A new fund targeted at tackling the barriers community energy groups face when getting projects off the ground has been launched by distribution network operator (DNO) Northern Powergrid.
A £31 million inflation linked debt refinancing has been secured from institutional investment abrdn by Community Owned Renewable Energy Partners (CORE).
Community energy is being ignored and abandoned by government, despite claims of world-leading net zero policy, according to Community Energy England.
Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) is working with Plymouth City Council to develop a community-owned solar farm.
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The sales practices of the Community Energy Scheme UK are being called into question with the opening of an investigation by energy regulator Ofgem.
Solar Power Portal caught up with Chris Cullen, relationship manager at Triodos, to discuss community solar, crowdfunding and the post-subsidy market.
A cross-party group of MPs have called on the government to enact a ‘Right to Local Supply’ as they debated new rules to enable clean community energy.
Solar Power Portal caught up with Tom Hoines, MD of Younity, about the challenges for community energy organisations in finding projects in a "very competitive market" and the need to encourage more involvement in community energy.
Across England and Wales, six community solar farms have generated £60,000 of surplus profit that will be used to support their local communities.
A joint venture aimed at breaking down barriers preventing community energy projects from coming on-stream has been relaunched by Octopus Energy and the Midcounties Co-operative.
Solar Power Portal caught up with Egni Co-op's Rosie Gillam to discuss the benefits and challenges of co-ops, and the power of a 'DIY ethos'.
Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) is creating a dedicated renewables investment committee in a bid to expand its work in community renewables.
Riding Sunbeams’ executive director Ollie Pendered talked to Solar Power Portal about the importance of securing government funding and how community benefits and education are "core" to the organisation's business strategy.
Triodos Bank has launched an £850,000 renewable energy bond offer on its crowdfunding platform to finance the operational 5MW Ferry Farm solar site.
The 3.75MW Cuckmere Community Solar Farm is to directly power the Eastbourne-London mainline railway in a world-first project.
Low Carbon Ltd has agreed a deal with social enterprise Low Carbon Hub for the rights to a 19MW solar farm with battery storage potential.
Solar projects have been granted a further six months to complete and register under the feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme due to the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19.
A 10MW solar farm in Shropshire is to be managed by a new community energy group, it has been announced this week.
Solar Power Portal caught up with Emma Bridge, CEO of Community Energy England, to talk about how COVID-19 has impacted the sector, how groups have rallied to protect those in their communities and what we can expect as the UK looks towards lifting lockdown.
Six community-run solar farms have advanced £195,000 in community benefit funds, with the money to go towards supporting their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Community Energy Scheme has given its members a payment break for April, May and June, saving them over £200,000 in energy costs.
Solar Power Portal spoke to Andrew Moore, one of the directors of the Creacombe solar farm, to talk subsidy-free community solar, the possibility of battery storage and just how Creacombe came to be.
Ferry Farm Community Solar has completed a £5.5 million transaction to bring a solar array into full community ownership.
£100,000 has been raised by community-owned solar projects from surplus generation, which will now be given to Corona Crisis Funds.
Community energy projects have been given a six month extension to complete and register feed-in tariff (FiT) projects due to ongoing challenges caused by COVID-19.
Solar Power Portal caught up with Emma Bridge to talk about how the market has changed since the end of the FiT, the delays projects are facing due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and whether subsidy-free is a reality for community solar.