by Will Cottrell | Mar 5, 2018 | Blog |
BEC Launches THREE New Community Solar Projects – Get Involved! Well – here it is. Today sees the kick off for the first of our new solar projects for this year: THREE new community-owned solar installations in our area. You can help us get these exciting...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 3, 2018 | Blog |
Hi folks, I’m pleased to say that a staggering £290,000 has now been pledged to Brighton Energy Coop’s latest community solar PV schemes. This excellent achievement has been done by BEC members both old and new; nearly 100 people have said they’ll...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 24, 2018 | Blog |
New community energy and school solar projects fell by 99.4% after our incompetent government imposed cuts to the Feed in Tariff, an answer to a parliamentary question has revealed. Using OFGEM figures, Energy Minister Richard Harrington (nope, not heard of him...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 12, 2018 | Blog |
Great news – we’ve now had £150,000 pledged towards our forthcoming solar projects, to be announced towards the end of the month. This is a fantastic response from both our 400-strong membership and the wider community. 45 people have said they would like...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 5, 2018 | Blog |
The UK Treasury quietly released a document late last year which signalled the end of the UK’s popular renewable energy scheme, the Feed in Tariff (FIT). Late in November the Treasury announced: “there will be no new low-carbon electricity levies until...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 28, 2017 | Blog |
The UK’s community energy movement has mushroomed to a staggering £190 million, according to a new report. Community Energy England launched their State of the Sector report in Manchester last weekend, which showed: At least 30,000 people have invested in...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 16, 2017 | Blog |
Solar PV framing system being installed on the roof of the University of Brighton’s Robert Dodd Annex building in Eastbourne last week Hi folks, I’m pleased to say that Brighton Energy Coop recently kicked off our latest solar installation – 150kWp...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 19, 2017 | Blog |
As part of our ongoing fundraising we have several big new solar projects in the pipeline, and are looking at new ways to fund them. As such we have identified that we need more expertise in project finance. Until now we have raised more than £1.6 million through...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 7, 2017 | Blog |
Could the angry debacle surrounding the changes of tax rules for solar PV installations be a taste of future renewable energy taxes to come? The changes by an obscure quango, the Valuation Office Agency (VAO) will push up business rates on solar PV installs . Argument...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 7, 2017 | Blog |
In the four months of operation, our solar PV system at Infinity Foods Wholesale warehouse has been outperforming expectations. Generation is of course lowest through December and January, but we are now starting to see clean energy output increase as the days slowly...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 4, 2017 | Blog |
How things have changed. In June 2010 only 12 homes in Brighton were kitted out with solar PV. Our recent analysis shows Brighton now has 8.4 MW of solar PV now within the city authority area, more than 30,000 solar panels. Solar capacity in Brighton and the...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 4, 2017 | Blog |
Hi folks, I’m very pleased to tell you that we have just announced our latest community energy scheme – this time partnering with the University of Brighton at their Eastbourne campus. See here for more details. This a great opportunity to support more community...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 23, 2017 | Blog |
What is the point of building all this renewable energy that the UK has undeniably achieved (see my blog from last week) if it’s going to be surrounded by fracking fields? Check out the map here (feel free to share): the south of England has five fracking sites...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 17, 2017 | Blog |
Recent stats by the government’s new department for tepid yellow show that UK solar managed to increase by 7% in 2016 (see this BEIS link ) While this won’t make much of a dent in the giant climate compromise that’s heading our way (and it’s a...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 9, 2016 | Blog |
Leading pioneers in positive investing will be speaking about the motivations of positive investors and savers at an event being held at The Platform’s Wagner Hall in Brighton on Friday 18th November. The free event is being organised by Ethex, the UK’s leading online...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 21, 2016 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop recently completed four new projects in the south, making BEC the biggest solar developer in the city. We recently installed more than 2000 solar panels at the University of Brighton, Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Infinity Foods Wholesale...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 26, 2016 | Blog |
Fuel poverty has for a long time been the unwanted sibling of the green family. Outrageously, at least two people died of fuel poverty last year in Brighton and Hove; many more suffer from a lack of affordable power – often unknown and uncomplaining. While here...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 7, 2016 | Blog |
Hiya Folks, I’m very pleased to say that we’re working with a veritable Brighton institution – the Big Lemon Bus Company – on our latest project – solar-powered electric buses in Brighton. You can help – we’ve applied to the...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 7, 2016 | Blog |
Hiya folks, I’m excited to tell you that we’ve just launched a new project with Brighton’s sustainable bus Company – the Big Lemon – solar-powered electric buses. You can support us in making this exciting pilot project happen (we think...
by Will Cottrell | Aug 22, 2016 | Blog |
Hiya folks, Thanks to the great support we’ve received over the last few weeks, our solar build at Infinity Foods’ warehouse is now under way. 200 panels are now fitted to one of the warehouse roofs (50kWp); a second roof – a flat roof over...
by Will Cottrell | Aug 11, 2016 | Blog |
With the proposal for a new power station at Hinkley Point looking set for the junkyard, let’s show them what we – the people – really want: more solar PV! Here at Brighton Energy Coop we’re just about to close our investment window for new...
by Will Cottrell | Aug 5, 2016 | Blog |
Hiya folks, There’s one week to go to join BEC and help put solar PV on the roof of Infinity Foods’ warehouse in Portslade. This is a chance to support a collaboration between two great Brighton co-operatives: with your help BEC panels will save Infinity...
by Will Cottrell | Jul 26, 2016 | Blog |
Excitingly, we’ve two weeks to go to fund our community-owned solar project at Infinity Foods. This 50kWp array will proudly generate electricity for Infinity’s warehouse. Already Europe’s largest wholesaler of wholefoods, our PV at Infinity will...
by Will Cottrell | Jul 4, 2016 | Blog |
The rather beautiful mapping tool above recently revealed a rather scary fact. Last week – for the first time – the Jet Streams began to mix. It may not sound like much. But it shows that climate change in spreading, and behaving in unpredictable ways. A mixing of the...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 23, 2016 | Blog |
If you’re concerned about how to pass the value of what you own to your children, then investing in Brighton Energy Coop is a great way to shield them from Inheritance Tax (IT). We’ve been developing community-owned arrays for the past five years; by...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 15, 2016 | Blog |
By Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop Let’s be clear: neither the government’s ‘Remain’ advocates, nor Brexit campaigners really give a monkey’s about renewable energy. Both sides are, after all, part of an administration...
by Will Cottrell | May 27, 2016 | Blog |
by Will Cottrell | Nov 26, 2015 | Blog |
Wow. Thank you so much. Brighton Energy Coop and its members achieved the frankly amazing feat today of raising £100,000 in just 24 hours. This cash is scheduled for investment in new renewable energy systems in the south. Many thanks to all of you who have joined...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 25, 2015 | Blog |
Community Energy groups are poised to sue the government over changes to the EIS tax scheme. The body that represents England’s energy co-operatives – Community Energy England – yesterday served a letter on HM Treasury challenging the Government’s...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 23, 2015 | Blog |
Today, something remarkable happened. Over our 4-year existence Brighton Energy Coop – 100% community funded – has now raised just over £1,000,000 of local investment. BEC has – over the past few months – raised £321,400 to add to the £680,000...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 19, 2015 | Blog |
The countdown has begun. There is only ten days to go before the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax break is removed from community schemes. EIS means that 30% of your capital is paid back almost immediately, in the form of a tax break on your income tax bill....
by Will Cottrell | Nov 18, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop made a surprise gambit today with the signing of Maidstone United for new community-funded solar PV. The high-flying Kent club – nicknamed the Stones – have watched the growth of solar PV with interest and will push ahead with BEC...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 10, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop recently kicked off our latest community-funded solar PV installation – at Park Gate in Hove. The framing system is currently going onto the roof; we hope to have the panels on by the end of next week. Park Gate is a block of 40 flats in...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 6, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has recently raised more than £200,000 as part of our ongoing share offer. This means that our organisation is now worth just under £900,000 – all invested in new community-owned renewable energy. We are the largest community energy scheme...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 3, 2015 | Blog |
Chancellor George Osborne last week launched a calculated attack on the community energy sector. The move underlies the government’s continuing hostility to renewable energy, and seeks to undermine one of the most popular areas of the industry. As part of a...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 29, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop recently launched our new Community Fund. This year the fund is for £2,500, and is open for any organisation in the Brighton and Hove, East or West Sussex areas. The aim of the fund is to support local generation of renewable electricity or...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 8, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has recently beaten the proposed government Feed in tariff cuts by per-registering 4.5MW of new solar PV for Brighton and the surrounding area. This staggering amount – at more than 30 locations, means that BEC has a pipeline of work that...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 5, 2015 | Blog |
The good ship UK solar recently sailed into a storm of uncertainty as the government proposed slashing subsidies to renewable support schemes. After enduring the punishing headwinds of continual reviews (the current FIT review is the the fourth in four years), the...
by Will Cottrell | Jul 29, 2015 | Blog |
Over the past few weeks there’s been a fair amount of online cant about the government’s changes to subsidy regimes for FITs. Ex Energy Secretary Greg Barker has called this ‘doom-mongering’. So what has the government done, and what does it...
by Will Cottrell | Jul 17, 2015 | Blog |
Hiya folks, Just to let you know that we’re looking for a dynamic person to help Brighton Energy Coop develop new solar PV projects. The role is to scope new sites – you’ll be working with Google Earth and Google Maps to identify new roof prospects,...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 29, 2015 | Blog |
Hi Folks, I’ve very pleased to tell you that we’ve just launched Brighton Energy Coop’s most recent share offer. This aims to raise more than £1,000,000 to install 950kWp of new solar in the Brighton and Hove area, and will add to the £680,000...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 2, 2015 | Blog |
Hi folks, Wow – it’s been an amazing few days. I’m very pleased to say that over the weekend we’ve had the fantastic amount of just over £135,000 pledged to our forthcoming solar scheme. While we’re currently finalising the details of this...
by Will Cottrell | May 28, 2015 | Blog |
Hi folks, I’m pleased to say that Brighton Energy Coop will launch our fourth community-owned solar PV project next month. While we’re currently finalising the details, but we expect to double our current size and install up to 1MWp of new solar in the...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 2, 2015 | Blog |
Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) has a dismal track record on solar PV. Of the city’s 119 schools and colleges, only four have solar on them. This is a remarkable failure, especially given what other more progressive authorities have done. Indeed...
by Will Cottrell | Apr 2, 2015 | Blog |
Shoreham Port is set to be the site of two new wind turbines after Adur planners recently approved the project. Located at the top of the beach near Shoreham power station, the turbines will feed power to the Pump House near the Port’s lock gates. The two...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 27, 2015 | Blog |
Above: a Qube Renewables anaerobic digestor Why is Brighton and Hove not recycling its food waste? A Brighton Energy Coop report from a few years ago identified that a staggering 30,000 tonnes of food from commercial companies in Brighton gets thrown into...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 19, 2015 | Blog |
Hi there, Hope you’re all well – and that you can help. Here at BEC we value your contribution and are keen to understand how you’d like to see the organisation move forward. To do this on April 9th we’re kicking off a bunch of working groups...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 16, 2015 | Blog |
For nearly nine months a stalker has plagued Community Energy. While many new community groups are either planning fundraising or actually installing new renewables, the Financial Conduct Authority has been shadowing the sector, threatening two radical shake ups: one...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 6, 2015 | Blog |
Hi everyone, Hope you’re all well in this bitter chill. Here at Brighton Energy Coop we’ve encouraging news: while the weather seems pretty grim, our solar generation is picking up as we head away from January. Indeed, we’ve just had the sunniest 3...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 22, 2015 | Blog |
Last week Brighton Energy Coop hosted a delegation from Chile, visiting Brighton to look at innovative sustainability models that might be taken home to South America. Led by the British Embassy in Santiago, delegates included the representatives from the Chilean...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 21, 2015 | Blog |
Community energy is set for an impressive year. With more than 180 projects registered in 2013, many of these are now coming to fruition. Most of these are solar, so a key component for these schemes is obviously how much they should pay for their renewables kit. So:...
by Will Cottrell | Dec 20, 2014 | Blog |
Hi folks, Well, the year is nearly at an end so I thought I’d give you an update on how Brighton Energy Coop’s solar PV systems have been performing to date. You may recall that earlier in the year we raised £480,000 to install several thousand solar...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 25, 2014 | Blog |
Earlier this year we got together with Enertis Solar, an independent company specialising in technical assessment and engineering services for solar PV. We wanted Enertis to take a good look at our new community-owned systems at Shed 10 in Shoreham Port – one of...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 26, 2014 | Blog |
Energy Minister Greg Barker (centre) and Hove MP Mike Weatherley (right) on the roof of Shed 3a at Shoreham Port this morning Energy Minister Greg Barker returned to visit Brighton Energy Coop again today. Last September the minister liked what he saw at our St...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 24, 2014 | Blog |
Over the last week we have continued fitting panels at our new 200kwp solar system at Shed 3a, Shoreham Port. Our bright yellow inverters also arrived and were put into position and the grid connection cable established. While there remains work to do on the...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 19, 2014 | Blog |
Hi folks, Given that we’re in the middle of our fifth new community-owned installation, there’s an interesting debate on the 27th June on the ‘Future of Community Energy’ at Brighton’s EcoTechnology Show, 12-13.00. Where are we going with...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 18, 2014 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop kicked off our fifth project this week – a 200kw installation at Shed 3a in Shoreham Port, Sussex. 818 panels currently sit on the dockside of the port, waiting to be hoisted onto the roof where the framing system is being installed....
by Will Cottrell | Jun 5, 2014 | Blog |
First published on Sustainable Development Blog by BEC director Ross Gilbert Getting an export meter takes time and patience. It makes sense to start this process before installing your system as – crucially – payments are not made until you’ve got your meter in...
by Will Cottrell | May 2, 2014 | Blog |
There’s something of a debate in solar land as to the benefits of south facing solar installations vs setups that are installed on an east/west orientation. Using a case study of one of our installations at Hove Enterprise Centre in Portslade (above, total size...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 31, 2014 | Blog |
Balcombe hit the headlines again this week: not because of the Sauron-like threat of evil Cuadrilla, but because plucky locals in the village have started their own community energy scheme: REPOWERBalcombe. Indeed, REPOWERBalcombe is one of 15 energy coops launched...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 26, 2014 | Blog |
Shed 10 at Shoreham Port, where we installed nearly 1000 solar panels in December. We’re currently fundraising for a similar sized system close by Hi Folks, I’m sure you don’t need reminding but the end of the tax year is almost upon us, so...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 19, 2014 | Blog |
Above: the largest community-owned solar farm in the UK: Westmill Solar Coop near Oxford, where 5000 local people own £16 million of solar PV. Many places across the country are seeing solar farm developments. Interestingly, the Department of Energy and Climate Change...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 13, 2014 | Blog |
Hi folks, If you’re interested to find out more about community energy, and the challenges that more renewables pose to our grid infrastructure, come along to the inaugural talk in the POWER TO THE PEOPLE series in Brighton, organised by our friends at Community...
by Will Cottrell | Mar 2, 2014 | Blog |
We’ve done well. Really well. The 40-odd energy coops that exist across the country have so far raised £18m quid for spanking new renewable installations. In 2013 131 new energy coops were registered, so we’re looking forward to seeing things grow hugely...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 26, 2014 | Blog |
Hi folks, Brighton Energy Coop has now raised the rather incredible total of £400,000, leaving just £50,000 before we can install our second huge solar project at Shoreham Port. You can help us achieve our latest target: by becoming a member of Brighton Energy Coop...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 16, 2014 | Blog |
Romantic Copenhagen, 2009. Enormous halls filled with the world’s great and good; thousands gathered for the COP15 Climate conference. Despite all the the talk, a resounding silence. At the same time, my climate virginity was taken. In the large hole left by by...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 4, 2014 | Blog |
Meridian TV did a great job this weekend covering our call for Prime Minister David Cameron to come and visit Brighton Energy Coop. Check out their coverage here – it’s also a great opportunity to see the huge scale of our recent install at Shoreham Port....
by Will Cottrell | Jan 29, 2014 | Blog |
At Prime Minister’s Questions today Brighton MP Caroline Lucas invited David Cameron to visit Brighton Energy Coop and see what clean, affordable energy generation really looks like. We’d like to second that (we’re a hospitable bunch): you’d be...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 19, 2014 | Blog |
Hi folks, I’ve very pleased to say that our new 212kWp solar array at Shoreham Port is now ready to generate. Delivered on time and on budget, we’ve just a few more things to connect to the grid and we’ll be ready to go! And we’re not finished...
by Will Cottrell | Dec 10, 2013 | Blog |
Having successfully raised the money for Phase 1 of our new project, last week we began installation. Click below to view our Project Update, including images and details of our exciting solar install at Shoreham Port. While this is going on we are simultaneously...
by Will Cottrell | Dec 1, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has now achieved the amazing feat of raising £280,000 for our new solar PV projects. It’s been amazing experience to be on the receiving end of nearly £10,000 every day for the last five weeks – we couldn’t have done it without...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 26, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has now achieved the amazing feat of raising £280,000 for our new solar PV projects. It’s been amazing experience to be on the receiving end of nearly £10,000 every day for the last five weeks – we couldn’t have done it without...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 15, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has now raised more than £200,000 in just 3 weeks for our new project, and we’ve now nearly achieved our first funding target. Thanks to all our new members and those who have extended their existing shareholdings: we couldn’t have...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 11, 2013 | Blog |
Hi Folks, As we continue to raise funds for our exciting new solar systems, lots of people have contacted us about how the scheme works, so I thought I’d outline here a bit about what our new project means for investors from a financial point of view. Investing...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 8, 2013 | Blog |
Community organisation Brighton Energy Coop (BEC) has raised more than ￡130,000 for a huge new solar project – just 13 days after launching the scheme. Last year the Coop raised ￡240,000 and installed solar PV at three sites in the Brighton area. This year BEC aims to...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 6, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has raised more than ￡100,000 from its latest share offer – in just 12 days. This is a fantastic achievement and many thanks to all of our new members, as well as existing members who have chosen to increase the number of shares they hold in...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 28, 2013 | Blog |
[twocol_one]On Friday night we launched our new project: 500kWp of solar PV on 7 large buildings in Brighton and beyond. By joining Brighton Energy Coop you’ll help support our ambition, and help add more to the solar capacity of the South of England. We aim to...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 24, 2013 | Blog |
Green MP Caroline Lucas and Guardian Executive Editor Jo Confino will be at the launch of Brighton Energy Coop’s second project tomorrow night. This exciting new project will see more than half a million pounds of community-owned solar PV installed in and around...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 15, 2013 | Blog |
Guardian Executive Editor Jo Confino is set to address the launch of Brighton Energy Coop’s second project on 25th October. Jo is a heavy-hitter in the world of sustainability: as well as his executive position at the Guardian he’s also chairman and...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 11, 2013 | Blog |
BEC will hold its Annual General Meeting on Friday 25th October at the Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, at 6pm. Later the same evening we’re also launching Brighton Energy Coop #2, an extraordinary new solar development that will grow BEC hugely and install a...
by Will Cottrell | Oct 7, 2013 | Blog |
For Immediate Release Brighton Energy Coop 2 launch event, 25th October, Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, 7.30pm After raising £240,000 last year, local Brighton organisation Brighton Energy Coop (BEC) is set to launch it’s second solar project on the 25th October....
by Will Cottrell | Sep 18, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop recently received a grant from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to push forward on a new plan to convert Brighton’s food waste to electricity and heat. This process is called anaerobic digestion and uses the natural heat produced by...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 10, 2013 | Blog |
A few months ago the government set up a new fund to kick start community energy schemes. The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is designed to get the ball rolling – the first bit of the fund is a grant of up to £20,000. To apply for the fund, you need to be...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 7, 2013 | Blog |
Yesterday Energy Minister Greg Barker and Kemptown MP Simon Kirby met Brighton Energy Coop to discuss community energy in Sussex. The two MPs inspected our solar systems on St George’s Church, along with members of the St George’s team. Mr Barker was very...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 5, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop’s solar installations have been reveling in the glorious weather: this summer has been a stunning opportunity to see our panels pumping out clean electricity at full force. Above is the output from our system at City Coast Church –...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 7, 2013 | Blog |
Hi folks, Exciting news! Within the next few months Brighton Energy Coop will launch our second project, which will add more than 400kw of new solar capacity to our current systems. We’ll be doing it the same way as we did our first project last year – via...
by Will Cottrell | Feb 6, 2013 | Blog |
XTRACT FROM HANSARD Tuesday 22 January 2013 Tom Greatrex: I beg to move amendment 42, in clause 6, page 5, line 4, at end insert— ‘( ) Regulations must— (a) place a duty on the Secretary of State and the Authority to promote new generation capacity from community...
by Will Cottrell | Jan 22, 2013 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop has just qualified for EIS tax status. This means investors in BEC can claim 30% of the money they invested into Brighton Energy Coop as an EIS tax rebate. To do this, email info (at) brightonenergy.org.uk and we’ll then provide you with a...
by Will Cottrell | Dec 10, 2012 | Blog |
Something unthinkable is about to happen in the energy sector. Something so far away from the edge-of-a-precipice feeling that often envelopes renewable energy that it’s hard – at first – to comprehend. And yet it will utterly transform our...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 23, 2012 | Blog |
In contrast to public perception, solar power just gets cheaper and cheaper. The price of some panels have fallen up to 28% in 2012, and most panels are becoming 3-5% cheaper each month. The falling price of solar has nothing to do with the UK. Instead, it’s...
by Will Cottrell | Nov 9, 2012 | Blog |
Hi folks, Well, we’ve been the proud owner of our solar systems for three months now, so I’m pleased to enclose a bit of data as to how they’re performing. Do feel free to share the following images on Facebook etc! Below you’ll also find a...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 24, 2012 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop is calling for companies developing renewables to support community-energy schemes, following the launch of a consultation by DECC. Our proposal is that private renewable energy developments help finance locally-owned energy projects as part of...
by Will Cottrell | Sep 3, 2012 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop’s solar systems are outperforming expectations by at least 10% since we installed in mid July. As the graphs here show, our solar system at Hove Enterprise Centre (HEC – 66% of our total system) has now generated nearly 20,000 KwH of...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 25, 2012 | Blog |
CityCoast Church is hosting one of Brighton Energy Co-op’s solar arrays. Here, Simon Lewis, operations manager at the church, explains why they got involved and what benefits the energy scheme will bring. Today, the scaffolding went up on CityCoast Centre in...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 24, 2012 | Blog |
Hi Folks, The Guardian’s ‘Money’ section yesterday recommended community-minded investors take a look at Brighton Energy Coop as a place to put their money. As the piece says, community schemes offer savers 6%-8% returns a year and a clear...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 19, 2012 | Blog |
Exciting news: forty of our solar panels were installed today at Shoreham Port. These are the first of our community-owned solar array at the Hove Enterprise Centre; 200 more will go on our five roofs there in the next few weeks. Together they will form the largest...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 19, 2012 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Co-op is following a tested business model. Chris Rowland, a director of Ovesco Ltd, which has successfully completed a community energy scheme in Lewes, explains how they made it work and what happened next. Ovesco was started by a group of local...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 13, 2012 | Blog |
Hi folks, It’s been a dynamic few weeks here at BEC. I’m very pleased to say that we’ve so far raised more than £120,000, which has helped us begin our installation at Shoreham Port. After two years of work on the project, visiting the roofs at...
by Will Cottrell | Jun 9, 2012 | Blog |
A new wave of ‘unconventional gas’ in the UK (including fracking) is a direct threat to the roll-out of renewable energy in the UK. Often touted as a ‘bridge’ between coal-based electricity generation and renewables, unconventional gas is in...
by Will Cottrell | May 30, 2012 | Blog |
Units 1-9 at Hove Enterprise Centre, roughly half of our 87kw array Brighton Energy Coop began the installation of an 87kw solar array earlier this week. Owned by the Brighton and Hove community, the array, which covers five buildings at the Hove Enterprise Centre,...
