Solar Sites

Solar panel electricity systems, also known as solar photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic cells. These cells don't need direct sunlight to work - they can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be sold back to the national grid

Baywind Energy Co-operative

For almost 20 years, Baywind owned six turbines. Five were decommissioned in 2016, to make way for two new high powered turbines belonging to successor High Winds Community Energy Co-operative. At the end of life of the remaining turbine the site will be taken over by High Winds.www.baywind.coop

Edinburgh Community Solar Co-Operative

Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative owns and operates 24 solar panel installations throughout Edinburgh. Installations have been done on community buildings such as Edinburgh Council schools, community centres and leisure facilities. www.edinburghsolar.coop

Energise South

Following a £400,000 share offer in 2019, Energise South Society have installed solar PV panels on five buildings in the Hasting’s area. This includes St Leonards Academy which is one of the largest community owned solar roofs in the United Kingdom. www.energisesouth.coop

M&S Energy Society

An exciting new initiative to generate renewable electricity from solar panels installed on M&S stores across the UK. Income from the electricity generated provides a return for investors and funds carbon-saving initiatives in the local community. This project is a first for any major UK retailer. www.mandsenergysociety.com

North Lincolnshire Community Energy

Solar installations on schools and community buildings around Scunthorpe will create up to 3MW of solar roof capacity. The project has received £1.4m from grants to the council from the UK Government’s “Towns Fund” and a share offer is due early next year. www.nlce.coop

Reading Community Energy

Reading Community Energy own and operate 20 solar PV systems on roofs in and around Reading, with a combined capacity of 434 kWp energy – enough to power the equivalent of 128 homes each year. www.readingenergy.coop

Repower Balcombe

In 2015 REPOWERBalcombe installed 45kWp of solar photovoltaics at a local farm and two local schools. In 2016, thanks to a £110,000 share offer, solar panels were installed a further two local schools and another followed in 2018. www.repowerbalcombe.com

Southern Staffordshire Community Energy

In 2011 and 2016, Southern Staffordshire Community Energy Limited raised the funds through two community share issues for two separate project to fund the installation of PV panels on a number of community and hospital buildings in Staffordshire. www.ssce.co.uk

The Schools’ Energy Co-operative

The Schools’ Energy Co-operative installs community funded solar panel systems on schools free of charge. They now have installations on over 90 schools and other sites across the UK. www.schools-energy-coop.co.uk

West Solent Solar Co-operative

Comprising 9372 solar panels, the solar farm is installed on a 12 acre (5 hectare) field near Lymington in Hampshire. Total installed capacity is 2.4MWp – enough to supply about 650 local homes. The site is also managed as a nature reserve. www.westsolentsolar.coop

Westmill Solar Co-operative

Westmill Solar Park is located near Watchfield, on the Wiltshire/Oxfordshire border, just off the A420. The site consists of 30 acres of over 20,000 polycrystalline PV panels generating 4.8GWhr/year. www.westmillsolar.coop

Wey Valley Solar Schools Energy Co-operative

Formed in 2011, Wey Valley Solar installed panels on the roofs of six state secondary schools in Surrey. Since then a further four schools have been added to their portfolio. www.weyvalleysolar.co.uk