Sharenergy has been involved with well over 100 community energy groups and projects. Below you can see details of a selection of projects – next to each project you can see tags showing the type of support we have offered in each case:
- admin ongoing operational support
- bond offer administrative or development support for a bond offer
- development support in developing the project (business modelling, financials, legal support etc)
- setup support in setting up the society
- share offer administrative or development support for a share offer
- funding projects where we contributed development funds or worked at-risk
You can also see these projects on a clickable map
Aberdeen Community Energy (ACE) Hydro
hydro
100 kW
admin bond offer development setup share offer
Aberdeen Community Energy was Aberdeen’s first community energy scheme, set up in 2015, and they have built, own and operate Donside Hydro, a 100 kW micro hydro scheme. Electricity produced by Donside Hydro is sold to the national grid, and income raised is used to support a range of community and environmental projects in the local area.
Big Solar Co-op
solar PV
development funding
The Big Solar Co-op is a new approach to community solar, supported by Sharenergy. The project is working across the UK to:
- Make solar viable on a huge range of sites – without subsidy
- Empower and support volunteers to work together to get it built
- Fight the climate crisis through large-scale, grassroots community action
Bishop’s Castle Heat and Wind project
heat
development
Bishop’s Castle in south Shropshire is not on the gas grid, so most of the heating comes from oil and LPG. Carbon emissions can be reduced in two ways; by saving energy and by generating renewable energy.
Part-funded by a grant received from Power to Change (PtC) obtained through Shropshire and Telford Community Energy (STCE), and after extensive research, Sharenergy are proposing a community-owned heat network. The details of the heat network are still to be developed, but it could supply houses, schools, and other community buildings in the town. Ideally, the heat network would be powered by a community owned 1MW wind turbine. This way, every unit of electricity from the turbine could be turned into 3 or 4 units of heat by the heat pumps, and any profit made would go back into funding community projects. A pre-planning application was sent to Shropshire Council in early 2023, and in August 2023 the Town Council voted unanimously to include the heat and wind project in the Place Plan. This has unlocked further funding from PtC so that ecology and other surveys can begin. Discussions about the Heads of Terms agreement with the landowners are also taking place.
Braemar Community Hydro Ltd
hydro
100 kW
accountancy admin
This hydro scheme now generates clean, low carbon electricity from the Corriemulzie Burn on the outskirts of Braemar, with the surplus going to a well-established local community group.
Brassington Heat Network RCEF Feasibility Study
wind
development
Sharenergy undertook a Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) funded feasibility study for low carbon district heating in the village. An event was held at the village hall, which 50 people attended. The event even featured on BBC Midlands Today East! Click here to watch the YouTube video.
The study is available on the Midlands Net Zero Hub website.
Brent Pure Energy Ltd
solar PV
52 kW
accountancy
Brent Pure Energy Community Benefit Society have successfully raised funding to install solar panels at 2 schools in the London Borough of Brent.
Brighton Energy Coop
solar PV
2700 kW
admin share offer
Brighton Energy Ltd is one of the largest community energy organisations in the country, having built scores of solar PV systems on community buildings, educational facilities and business premises across East Sussex and beyond. BEC have supported scores of local community initiatives in and around Brighton and Hove, are a vocal supporter of improved energy policies, and remain one of the driving forces for the community energy sector.
Buttermere Hydro
hydro
45 kW
development
Melbreak Renewable Energy CIC (MRECIC) is developing a 45kW hydro electric scheme on Mill Beck in Buttermere. A Stage 1 Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) funded report was compiled by Derwent Hydro. Sharenergy are taking the project through the planning and development stages, funded by RCEF Stage 2, and as at November 2022, the plans have been submitted to the local Planning Department. The cost of building the scheme is estimated to be roughly £300k, and revenue will be earned from electricity sales to a local hotel and power exported into the Grid. Capital will be raised by a public share issue.
Chase Community Solar
solar PV
1000 kW
admin development share offer
CCS raised over £1 million in 2015, through a community share offer and loan, so that, with the support of Cannock Chase Council, they could fit 314 of their council bungalows with solar panels.
Community First village hall electric vehicle (EV) charging
research
development
The image is an example of a village hall EV charger at Thwaites Village Hall, Millom, Cumbria (courtesy of Charge My Street). Community First commissioned Sharenergy to assess feasibility of a pilot installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, solar arrays and batteries at 10 village halls in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. This study was funded by the Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) and will be available on request on the Midlands Net Zero Hub website.
Congleton Hydro
hydro
65 kW
share offer
Congleton Hydro is a 65kW hydro scheme at Havannah Weir on the River Dane just north of Congleton, Cheshire. The project has been developed by Dane Valley Community Energy over five years of hard work, and was one of the last projects to lock in a Feed-in tariff in the UK. Much of the energy from the hydro is sold direct to a nearby factory. Sharenergy are currently working with Locogen on development work for another community low carbon energy project encompassing hydro and solar.
Corwen Bonwm
hydro
155 kW
accountancy admin development funding setup share offer
Corwen Bonwm’s first 55kW hydropower project has been generating electricity from the Nant y Pigyn stream successfully since 2016. In 2018 they decided to build on this success with a second generator, this time a 100kW turbine on Nant Llechog at Bonwm.
Sharenergy are very proud to have helped the Corwen Electricity Co-operative set up with their first 55 kW hydropower scheme, and in early 2023 we were once again happy to be able to help with the quick and successful share issue for the additional 100 kW scheme.
Dingwall Wind Co-operative
wind
250 kW
accountancy admin development setup share offer
Dingwall Wind Co-op own and run a 250kW wind turbine in Ross-shire which was commissioned in 2014. Energy produced by the turbine is sold to the grid, and the co-operative regularly contribute to a community fund that is used to support local community projects.
Dorset Community Energy
solar PV
665 kW
admin development share offer
The members of Dorset Community Energy (DCE) have invested in the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on twelve schools and four community buildings in Dorset.
Egni Co-op
solar PV
4000 kW
development
Egni Coop have an incredibly ambitious programme of solar installs having pre-registered for the Feed in Tariff on 250 sites across Wales. They are aiming to install 5MW – the biggest rollout of solar power in Welsh history.
Fetlar Wind
wind
50 kW
admin development share offer
Fetlar is one of the islands that make up Shetland, one of the windiest inhabited places on the planet. Fetlar Wind run 2 25kW turbines which feed into their own island grid.
Sharenergy helped Fetlar wind to carry out their share offer and have continued to offer administrative and board support.
Grannell Community Energy
wind
accountancy admin development shares
Grannell Community Energy raised £368,406 in 2018 to fund the construction of a wind turbine at Ffrwd Farm, Llanwnnen in Ceredigion, which is now up and running and generating clean power.
Greater Manchester Community Renewables
solar PV
300 kW
accountancy admin share offer
GMCR have built solar PV systems on schools and community buildings across the Greater Manchester area, with around 300kWp of solar arrays installed across 8 sites. Electricity generated is sold to the national grid and money raised is used to support a range of carbon reduction, energy efficiency and environmental education projects.
Green Fox Community Energy Co-operative
other
development
Green Fox is Leicester and Leicestershire’s very own community energy co-operative. Established by local people, the co-operative aims to facilitate the increase of community owned renewable and low carbon technology.
Hanley Castle RCEF Feasibility Study
research
Hanleys Energy Action Team (HEAT) contracted most of the work for this feasibility study to Sharenergy with funding obtained from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) to look into ways of helping the parish decarbonise.
A baseline analysis of current energy usage, an assessment of local building stock, and a study of renewable energy options were carried out. Advice and encouragement was given to homeowners and businesses on how to reduce their carbon footprint, and some interesting sites for rooftop solar were found, which may be progressed in partnership with the Big Solar Co-op.
Heartland Community Wind
wind
500 kW
admin development setup share offer
Heartland Community Wind operate a pair of wind turbines near Aberfeldy, producing 500 kW of power. The Society’s community fund supports scholarships for local young people at nearby Perth College.
Keswick solar PV
solar PV
development
Sharenergy are assisting Sustainable Keswick (SusKes) to identify buildings suitable for hosting rooftop PV across Keswick, Cockermouth and nearby areas. The local groups want to build a critical mass of generation capacity to enable delivery of a solar project which would include EV chargepoints and a car club. The project is being led by Cumbria Action for Sustainability and supported by ChargeMyStreet and the Derwent Valley Car Club.
Lakeside YMCA RCEF Feasibility Study
solar PV
development
Sharenergy were asked to provide a feasibility study to YMCA Fylde Coast examining the potential application of renewable and sustainable energies at Lakeside YMCA, with funding provided by the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF).
Sharenergy’s feasibility study focussed on three aspects: Solar PV, anaerobic digestion and a replacement heating system. Sharenergy advised fitting 300 PV photovoltaic panels, which would generate over 90,000kWh of electricity for the YMCA, most of which could be used on site, reducing the YMCA’s fuel bills and carbon emissions. These PV arrays could also heat hot water, possibly in conjunction with air source heat pumps. The panels could be owned by the YMCA, or they could enter into a partnership with a Community Energy Society. YMCA are currently looking at partnering with the Big Solar Co-op.
Ledbury Community Solar
solar PV
90 kW
admin development setup share offer
Ledbury Community Solar operate a 90kW solar array on the Shaw healthcare building in Ledbury, which was commissioned in 2014.
Leominster Community Solar Co-operative
solar PV
50 kW
admin development funding setup share offer
Leominster Community Solar Coop installed a 49kW solar array on the Bridge Street Sports Centre in Leominster, generating clean, green electricity for the centre.
Leominster Sunrise Co-operative
solar PV
91 kW
admin development funding setup share offer
Leominster Sunrise Co-operative have installed a 91kW solar photovoltaic array on the new primary school in Leominster, Herefordshire, to generate as much solar electricity as possible for the school to use and reduce their energy bills.
Llangattock Green Valleys Micro Hydro Co-operative
hydro
111 kW
admin development setup share offer
Before the arrival of reliable mains electricity in the Brecon Beacons, many landowners relied on private micro hydro schemes to generate electricity. Now, this multi site hydro scheme provides a key part of the strategy to make Llangattock a carbon negative community.
Sharenergy provides administrative and operational support to LGV Hydro. We helped the Society carry out a successful merger with a similar local hydro co-operative, reducing overheads and increasing the effectiveness of volunteer time. Sharenergy worked with the Societies to plan the merger so that it was fair for members of both groups, and helped with the formal merge procedure.
Ludlow Hydro Co-operative
hydro
30 kW
admin development funding setup share offer
LHC was created in 2015 to fund-raise and install an Archimedean screw turbine at Ludford Mill in Shropshire. The turbine harnesses the River Teme to generate hydro-electricity from Ludlow’s Horseshoe Weir. At the centre or apex of the weir is a fish pass.
MaidEnergy
solar PV
384 kW
admin
MaidEnergy launched their first renewable electricity generating community Solar Photovoltaic (PV) share offer in 2015. Since then their investment has funded seven Solar PV installations.
Malvern Community Energy Cooperative
solar PV
30 kW
accountancy
Malvern Community Energy Cooperative have installed a 30kW solar array on the thriving community venue, the Malvern Cube.
Marches Heat RCEF Feasibility Study
research
Ludlow 21, a local action group in Shropshire, with funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), commissioned Sharenergy to investigate the possibility of community-owned shared loop ground source heat pumps with the remit to look at alternatives if this was not deemed viable.
The study looked at 17 properties: 6 bungalows in Burwarton belonging to Shropshire Rural Housing (SRH) and 11 owner-occupied houses in the Wintles estate, Bishop’s Castle.
When this feasibility study was initiated, shared loop ground source schemes over 45kW benefitted from the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (NDRHI). However, this was discontinued in March 2021.
Installation quotes for Burwarton showed only a 5% discount for shared loops and this, along with the small heat demand figure, ruled out a community energy shared loop scheme. By contrast, a shared loop scheme could have been viable for the Wintles with the support of the NDRHI, which would have required some payment from the homeowners.
It therefore appears that neither site is viable for a shared loop scheme at this time. We await the publication of the delayed Heat and Buildings Strategy.
Sharenergy also investigated the use of individual heat pumps for all the properties, and the use of High Heat Retention Storage heaters for the Burwarton bungalows.
This work has led on to investigations into a larger scale heat network for Bishop’s Castle.
Matlock Community Energy Model
solar PV
development
Derbyshire Dales Community Energy (DDCE) is a registered Community Benefit Society based in Matlock, Derbyshire. Together with Matlock Town Council, DDCE carried out an RCEF-funded feasibility study for the implementation of a community energy project within the town. This study, delivered in January 2022, identified two sites within the town that would be suitable for the installation of roof-mounted solar PV panels. This led to a successful bid for RCEF Stage 2 funding, and Sharenergy are now expanding on the first study to build a comprehensive community energy model which DDCE can use to take this project forward to installation.
Neen Sollars Community Hydropower Co-operative
hydro
12.5 kW
admin development funding setup share offer
Neen Sollars Community Hydro owns and runs a 12.5kW hydroelectric installation at Tetstill Mill, Neen Sollars on the River Rea. The project is funded by a co-operative share issue and owned by local people. The turbine provides green electricity to the local electrical grid, potentially corresponding to around 10-20% of the domestic power use in Neen Sollars.
Northern Ireland Community Energy
solar PV
180 kW
development
Northern Ireland Community Energy (NICE) is Northern Ireland’s first solar co-op. NICE installed solar PV arrays between 4 kW & 15 kW on 18 Northern Ireland 3rd sector organisations.
Northern Roots
solar PV
Sharenergy is working with Northern Roots on a Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) funded ground-mounted solar development at the UK’s largest urban farm and eco park in Oldham, Manchester.
Oldham Community Power
solar PV
220 kW
admin development setup share offer
Oldham Community Power has been created to benefit the people of Oldham borough by installing community-owned renewable energy into community and council owned buildings.
Oswaldtwistle Solar Meadow RCEF Feasibility Study
solar PV
development
The Prospects Foundation, an environmental charity based in Accrington, commissioned Sharenergy to carry out a study using resources obtained from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF).
The study investigated the feasibility of installing a 2MW solar array on land owned by the Prospects Foundation in Oswaldtwistle, and showed that the scheme would be viable if set up under a private wire arrangement.
The 2MW solar meadow proposal has now been submitted for planning permission. We hope to be running a share offer over the winter so that Prospects Community Energy can start installing in Spring 2024.
Pomona Solar Coop
solar PV
250 kW
admin development setup share offer
Pomona Solar’s 300 kW array provides PV power direct to small businesses on a farm in Herefordshire, with some left over for the grid on sunny days. It’s an innovative project, showing that small-scale field arrays can be viable. Members and Directors of Pomona have supported numerous other social and community initiatives across the Marches region.
Sharenergy was deeply involved in this project from the very beginning, helping with landowner negotiations, systems design, business planning and the subsequent share offer. We continue to work closely with Pomona Solar and run their everyday admin.
Reading Hydro CBS
hydro
46 kW
admin share offer
Reading Hydro Community Benefit Society is a community hydro-electric scheme designed to harness the power of the River Thames.
Their aim is to build twin Archimedes screws beside Caversham lock and weir in Reading. They are currently in their build-phase, scheduled to be commissioned and generating by Spring 2021.
Renewable Power Pembrokeshire
wind
900 kW
admin share offer
This 900kW wind turbine at Prouts Park Farm in South Pembrokeshire has been generating since March 2020, having been commissioned shortly before their Feed in Tariff deadline.
Rooftop Housing RCEF Feasibility Study
solar PV
development
Rooftop Housing are proposing a small solar farm near Evesham, for which Sharenergy provided technical and financial appraisals, investigating how the proposal fits into local and national planning policies, and a Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) funded feasibility report on the viability of a grid connection or direct wire connections to the solar farm.
Sedgeberrow Renewable Energy RCEF Feasibility Study
research
development
Funded by the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), a renewables scoping report produced by Sharenergy for Sedgeberrow Sustainable and Manageable Energy (SeSaME) concluded that there was one main project worth pursuing further: a combined wind turbine and heat pump at a local plant nursery; New Leaf Plants. Stage 2 RCEF funding has now been approved to develop this project further, and a new Community Benefit Society is being set up – Evesham Vale Energy Renewables (EVER) to steer this and to look at other possible projects in the area.
Read more in this Evesham Observer article.
Shropshire and Telford Community Energy
solar PV
accountancy development setup
STCE’s Twemlows Solar farm share scheme offer is now live! The share offer will fund the transfer into community ownership of a fully operational 10MW solar farm near Whitchurch, Shropshire which has the capacity to power the equivalent of approximately 3400 homes. More information can be found on STCE’s website.
Kevin Oubridge is the Shropshire and Telford Big Solar Co-ordinator, who is delivering rooftop solar sites across the area.
Sharenergy has supported STCE to set up and is assisting with feasibility assessments of new projects, funded by a Next Generation grant from Power to Change.
Southern Staffordshire Community Energy
solar PV
260 kW
admin development share offer
SSCE work closely with community organisations to support their work to combat fuel poverty across the region, whilst also providing low-cost electricity to the hospital site, a hospice and two village halls.
Southill Community Energy
solar PV
4,500 kW
admin bond offer share offer
SCE developed and operates Southill Solar, Oxon, which has been generating green electricity since November 2016. See their website for details of their impressive wildlife measures on site including their innovative thermosolar beehives!
Southport RCEF Project
wind
development
Sharenergy have been working with Zero Carbon Liverpool City Region (ZCLCR), funded by the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) to consider the feasibility of a community renewable energy scheme.
Sharenergy’s work focussed on installing a 1MW turbine at Southport Eco Centre to replace the now defunct smaller one that is already there. A survey was circulated to the local community, which received a largely positive response to renewable energy. A planning application is being prepared for the 1MW wind turbine in Southport, although at least one year of bird studies is needed, possibly more.
Swansea Community Energy & Enterprise Scheme
accountancy
SCEES was set up in 2015 to develop community-owned solar projects in Swansea. In 2016, they installed solar PV panels on 9 schools and 1 care home in and around the wards of Townhill and Penderry in Swansea.
The Small Wind Co-op
wind
810 kW
admin development funding setup share offer
Small Wind Co-op members own 5 wind turbines on 3 sites across Wales, Scotland and England. It is SWC’s mission to build the portfolio of turbines in a sustainable way, fulfilling its objective of increasing the amount of community-owned renewable energy capacity at a time when government policy has focussed on offshore wind.
Unisolar Ltd
solar PV
accountancy
UniSolar is a community energy initiative that aims to bring solar panels to the roofs of UK universities.
Wedmore Community Power Cooperative
solar PV
1000 kW
admin bond offer setup share offer
Wedmore Community Power Co-operative owns a 1 MW groundmounted solar project, set up in 2013 by people living on the Isle of Wedmore in Somerset to enable their community to use solar energy.
Wester Derry Wind Co-operative
wind
250 kW
admin development funding setup
Wester Derry Wind Co-op is a not for profit co-op which owns a 250 kW wind turbine at Kilry near Alyth in Glen Isla on the border of Angus and Perthshire. The turbine is 100% co-operatively owned by its 180 members and generates a community benefit fund for local schools
Whalley Community Hydro
hydro
100 kW
admin
Whalley Community Hydro generates clean, green electricity from the power of the River Calder in Whalley in the Ribble Valley.
Woolhope Dome Community Woodfuel Co-operative
heat
200kWth kW
admin development funding setup share offer
Woolhope Woodheat is a Community Co-operative in South Herefordshire which owns and operates biomass boilers and provides sustainable, locally sourced wood fuel for those boilers, reducing carbon emissions and saving neglected woodland from decay.
Ynni Anafon Energy
hydro
270 kW
admin setup share offer
The largest community hydro project south of Scotland and a real beacon for community renewables in North Wales.
Sharenergy are very proud to have been involved in offering admin support to Ynni Anafon Energy
YnNi Newydd
solar PV
admin
The site is located at Bretton Hall Farm and crosses the boundary between Flintshire and Cheshire. The site covers 49 hectares of land currently used for sheep grazing, which will continue after construction. The solar farm will have a generation capacity of 30MW and provide enough electricity to supply 8,400 homes. It is estimated that this will lead to an overall saving of 6800 tonnes of CO2 every year during the 40-year lifetime of the project.
As the project will be owned by its membership, 100% of the profits generated will be distributed to other projects providing community benefits.
The site covers both Wales and England and we therefore need to submit 2 separate planning applications. These applications will be submitted early 2022 and if successful, the target date for construction would be during the Summer of 2024.
YnNi Teg
wind
900 kW
admin bond offer development share offer
YnNi Teg built a 900 kW wind turbine in Carmarthenshire in 2017 which generates over 1700MWh per year. This Community Benefit Society supports a number of community initiatives around the Meidrim area.