Brixton Energy

Brixton, London, March 2012

 

Overview

 

Brixton Energy Solar 1 is the first community-owned solar energy system to be installed on social housing; giving tenants on lower incomes a share in the energy generated. The community group, Repowering South London, worked to set up a share offer to encourage local investment and return a share of the profits, whilst keeping some of the funds from the Feed-in Tariff in a community energy efficiency fund to help reduce Brixton's carbon footprint in the future. 

 

Our Solution

 

We designed a 37kW PV system to be installed on the roof of Elmore House in Brixton's Loughborough Estate. As well as generating renewable energy for Brixton, the system will allow for 14 tonnes of CO2 to be saved every year and address fuel poverty in the area. It has allowed the Loughborough Estate Management Board to benefit from cost savings on their energy bill - passed onto residents through a reduction in their service charge - and will allow investors to make a 3% return. It also allows for a community energy efficiency fund to be set up to support energy-saving improvements and education and re-skilling in the local area, on specifics such as draught proofing, insulation and energy efficiency. It is by offering additional education around energy conservation that real change in understanding and behaviour patterns around energy usage begins to happen.

 

Our Client Said

 

“It’s great to see the ‘Solar 1’ project go live, following so much local support, we’re hoping it will be a template and pioneering community project to inspire other urban initiatives across the capital. We want ‘Solar 1’ to help people recognise how beneficial owning their own energy can be."

 

Agamemnon Otero, Founder and Director or Brixton Energy