Community &
Transition Groups
OVESCo: Priory School, Lewes (Community-Owned)
Lewes, East Sussex - June 2012
OVESCo: Harveys Brewery (Community-Owned)
Lewes, East Sussex - July 2011
Southern Solar were able to install the system, consisting of 544 solar panels, on the roof of Harvey's Brewery in Lewes thanks to the huge wave of enthusiasm generated by the share offer and the readiness of locals to subscribe to the scheme.
The panels will generate an estimated 92,000 kWh's of electricity a year that will be used by the brewery, with any surplus feeding back into the local grid.
Brixton Energy
Brixton, London - March 2012
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.
Leominster Community Solar
Leominster, Herefordshire - October 2011
Leominster Community Solar aims to generate solar energy on a community scale to provide the opportunity for local people to invest in clean, green energy, even if their roof is unsuitable or they don't own their home - meaning they too can benefit from the Feed-in Tariff.
The electricity will be used by the sports centre or, when not needed, fed into the national grid. The 49kWp array will generate enough green electricity to save approximately 22 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.