by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Oct 18, 2019 | Blog
Support for Extinction Rebellion is found in surprising places After the internet shouting, Westminster was tranquil. A bunting of high-vis policemen lolled about Whitehall. “We’re holding it as a contingency”, said one. For what? “For the...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Sep 10, 2019 | Blog
Last month, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) suspended beleagured fracker Cuadrilla after the Lancashire earthshaker caused a 2.9ML earthquake. The OGA – the industry regular – says it’s considering the ‘appropriateness’ of...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Aug 5, 2019 | Blog
It’s likely a general election is just around the corner. Boris Johnson’s government hangs by one seat; if we get a no-deal Brexit then Johnson will surely go to the public riding on his success. “Either way,” says the Economist, “a vote...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Aug 1, 2019 | Blog
As the millions of people planting trees in Ethiopia this week showed (see above), with enough will power, there’s plenty that people can do about climate change. Here in Brighton we’re doing our bit. With the support of people like you, since...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 9, 2019 | Blog
Poisoning Poseidon with Plastics – We are the Sea’s Disease Written by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop July 9, 2019 Brighton and the ‘Seaside’ go together like ‘fish and chips’. Brighton & Hove people know they are...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 5, 2019 | Blog
People Want Environmental Solutions – and Brighton & Hove Has Them | Part 2 0 Comments Written by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop July 5, 2019 Brighton Energy Coop’s salute to our Brighton & Hove home as a green, caring, conscious...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 3, 2019 | Blog
The UK government is intent on removing planning permission requirements surrounding fracking. Yet with Energy Minister Claire Perry demanding a “line of sight to commerciality”, evidence from the US shows fracking almost never makes any money. The...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 1, 2019 | Blog
People Want Environmental Solutions – and Brighton & Hove Has Them | Part 1 0 Comments Written by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop July 1, 2019 Brighton Energy Coop’s salute to our Brighton & Hove home as a green, caring, conscious...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 27, 2019 | Blog
With the sun recovering its boldness today, solar rays have provided 76% of the energy at one of our biggest community-owned solar builds – Ore Valley College near Hastings. BEC’s 1000-odd BYD solar panels at Ore Valley have been flexing their muscle all...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 24, 2019 | Blog
From Divest East Sussex – add your signature here Dear friends, With polls showing a sharp increase in public concern over the environment, Mark Rylance resigning from the Royal Shakespeare Company over its continued sponsorship by oil giant BP, and Theresa May...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 24, 2019 | Blog
Interesting from Environmental Finance: The combined total of all green and sustainability-linked loans issued to date has reached about $111.5 billion, according to figures compiled by Environmental Finance. The analysis reveals a market that exploded into action...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 19, 2019 | Blog
On 4th May the British Geological Survey (BGS) received more than 100 reports of an earthquake near Gatwick Airport. Measuring 2.5 on the Richter Scale, the tremor is the latest of 34 earthquakes in the area in the last 12 months. Oil company Horse Hill Developments...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 12, 2019 | Blog
Dear All, The call to action is in response to GTRailways (Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express) who have are now consulting on their £15m Community Benefit Fund which they have had to set-up to compensate for all the delays and disputes etc over the four years! The...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 12, 2019 | Blog
We recently received this in our inbox and thought it worth passing on… Dear Supporter Our campaign for the Local Electricity Bill continues to gain support in Parliament and across the country. If made law the Bill will give a huge boost to community-scale...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jun 12, 2019 | Blog
Great news! BEC recently polished off phase 1 of our solar schools programme: solar panels on five new educational buildings – including: – Woodingdean and Coldean Primary Schools (60kWp each) – Ore Valley College (250kWp) – and 240 panels the...
by Ella Hendrix | May 22, 2019 | Blog
Humans consume 221 tonnes of coal, 1,066 barrels of oil, and 93,000 metric cubes of natural gas every second. The greenhouse gases released through burning these fossil fuels have a disastrous effect on our planet. Scientists warn that we face catastrophic and...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Apr 15, 2019 | Blog
Last week Brighton Energy Coop hit a major target – we’ve raised just over £400,000 for our new solar builds. A big welcome to all our new members – nearly 100 people – and also thanks to those members who have increased your existing investments. We...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Apr 8, 2019 | Blog
Recently completed BEC Community Solar at Ore Valley College near Hastings,...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Apr 3, 2019 | Blog, new project
There’s been a lot of talk about the end of the solar subsidy known as Feed in Tariffs (FITs). For eight years FITs were the basis on which nearly 1 million UK buildings installed solar panels. In March FITs were summarily scrapped. This, many posited, meant UK...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 9, 2019 | old projects
RT Page uses BEC Solar to Run Cleaner and Cheaper System: kWp Expected generation KWH/pa CO2 Saved KG/pa RTPage RT Page is a distribution firm in Barnham, offering transport services across the UK & abroad. Our new PV system covers two of RT Page’s main...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 9, 2019 | old projects
Infinity Foods uses BEC Solar to Run Cleaner and Cheaper kWp Saved on Infinity's electricity bill this year (£) Bisol BMU 260W Solar Panels Infinity Foods is the largest distrubutor of whole foods in Europe, with an annual turnover of more than £25m. Their...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 9, 2019 | old projects
Community Energy powers Maidstone FC's ground, helping the Stones go green kWp Shinetime Xtp6-60 Solar Panels Saved on the clubs's electricity bill each year (£) Maidstone United work with Brighton Energy Coop to house solar panels on the roof of buildings at the...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 9, 2019 | old projects
Solar PV at The Big Lemon Bus Depot Solar energy powering the UK’s first solar electric buses. A Major Centre for Renewable Energy BEC’s solar PV support the Port in becoming a major centre for renewable energy Community-owned Solar PV Our solar systems save the...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 9, 2019 | old projects ed
BEC Helps Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) Go Green Saving our schools thousands on electricity bills each year BEC’s solar PV provides PACA with cheap, green renewabe electricity year round Clean Energy - at no cost to PACA Community ownership means PACA...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 8, 2019 | old projects res
Solar PV at Park Gate in Hove Community-owned renewable energy on a block of 120 flats in the heart of Brighton and Hove kWp Shinetime XTP6-60 solar panels SMA SB 25000TL inverters In 2014 Brighton Energy Coop partnered with Park Gate, a residential block in east...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 8, 2019 | old projects ed
Brighton Energy Coop helps power the University of Brighton Saving tonnes of Carbon each year BEC’s solar PV support the University in becoming a centre of low carbon education. Community-owned Solar PV Our solar systems save the Univesity thousands of pounds each...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 8, 2019 | old projects
Refine Metals use BEC solar to save £000s on their energy bills Community-owned by Brighton Energy Coop 140 local people invested in the solar PV system at Refine Clean Energy powering green recycling Refine Metals are a UK leader in recycling catalytic convertes...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 8, 2019 | old projects
Community Energy at Shoreham Port Community Solar PV at Shoreham Port in West Sussex A Major Centre for Renewable Energy BEC’s solar PV support the Port in becoming a major centre for renewable energy Community-owned Solar PV Our solar systems save the Port thousands...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Feb 6, 2019 | Blog
From The Guardian Launching a new fossil fuel industry was a bad idea, and a coalition of localists and environmentalists appears close to defeating it Less than four months after what was supposed to be a new beginning for fracking in England, when Cuadrilla resumed...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 22, 2019 | Blog
This is community energy in action! #SolarForSchools Well it’s been quite a ride over Christmas and New Year! Since we launched our latest series of community-owned solar PV projects we’ve raised £258,000 – and built one: 60kWp of new community-owned solar...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 14, 2019 | new project
4 Projects and counting for BEC and University of Brighton Grand Parade is the fourth of our ongoing partnership with the University of Brighton. Grand Parade will be a 60kWp solar system, and join community-owned systems on the University’s Varley Halls of Residence,...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 14, 2019 | new project
This is the first community energy investment offer in Hastings. Sussex Coast College is a new college where students have access to the latest equipment and digital technology, a sports pitch, diner and coffee shop. In partnership with Energise Sussex Coast, BEC’s...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 13, 2019 | new project
Bees need Solar power! Our seven-year partnership with Shoreham Port will soon see two additional installations: the Lady Bee Business Centre, and Maritme House with 90 and 30 kWp solar systems respectively. We’ve worked with Shoreham Port for many years now, and...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 13, 2019 | new project
Another Brighton & Hove school to get FREE SolarPV – funded by community energy in action! Coldean Primary School is home to 370 four to eleven year olds, and another pioneer of Brighton and Hove City Council’s solar schools program. Our new 60kWp solar...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 13, 2019 | new project
Another FREE Solar For Schools project gets rolling Tucked in a high corner of Brighton’s Hollingbury, Carden Primary School’s south-facing roofs are a great home for BEC’s proposed 240kWp solar system. Our locally-owned green energy system will build on the school’s...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 13, 2019 | new project
Brighton Energy Coop is a Brighton and Hove City Council – approved contractor to roll out free solar on our city’s schools.Schools can now host solar panels at no cost, and save significant amounts on their electriciy bills each year. A similar arrangement between...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 13, 2019 | new project
Solar for Schools is underway! High up on the Sussex Downs, Woodingdean Primary School is the first of our partnerships with Brighton and Hove City Council. Woodingdean will be a 60kWp system, and as well as providing educational resources to the children, our solar...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Dec 18, 2018 | Blog
#communityenergy in action! Yesterday work began installing a 60kWp solar system at the @uniofbrighton #grandparade site – here’s the framing that will hold the #solar panels in place. Find out details of all our solar projects –...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Dec 10, 2018 | Blog
Carden Primary School – 180kWp of new community-owned solar planned for the new year Hi folks, I’m very pleased to say that we’ve just launched the latest of our new community-funded solar projects. We’ve been beavering away for the last six...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Dec 4, 2018 | Blog
The UK government is intent on removing planning permission requirements surrounding fracking. Yet with Energy Minister Claire Perry demanding a “line of sight to commerciality”, evidence from the US shows fracking almost never makes any money. The...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Nov 25, 2018 | Blog
There’s little time left before the end of the feed in tariffs scheme. And here’s the straight truth: scrapping feed in tariffs in March will bring UK solar to a juddering halt. That’s why I’m asking you to write to your MP. Tell them that...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Sep 30, 2018 | Blog
Grand Parade Solar – new community energy at the University of Brighton This November Brighton Energy Coop is again teaming up with a major Brighton institution to deliver clean energy to the heart of the city – this time installing solar power at the...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 29, 2018 | Blog
April 2019 update – BEC secures exemptions to the end of FITs at THIRTY sites See here for details July 2018: The Government is proposing to bar solar generators’ access to the national grid, by killing off the export tariff, a mechanism via which solar...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 19, 2018 | Blog
Solar panel cost will fall by 35% this year, according to business advisory service Bloomberg. In Europe, the average solar panel price has already fallen by 10%; with suppliers and contractors predicting further price falls ahead. Bloomberg base their numbers on vast...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 10, 2018 | Blog
Solar for Schools is an initiative offering free solar panels to Brighon and Hove schools, Brighton Energy Coop recently signed a contract with Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) so that – as a local community energy organisation – we can provide solar...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 9, 2018 | Blog
Community energy notched up another victory today with the announcement that Littlehampton toolmaker Naiad Plastics will be Brighton Energy Coop’s next community-owned solar PV build. Naiad, a manufacturing company who make injection mouldings and...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jul 5, 2018 | Blog
Recent figures show that the BN postcode area has been kicking out solar PV capacity. More than 9435 buildings across the BN area now have solar. That’s around 36MW of clean solar power Brighton Energy Coop owns 3.3% of our region’s solar capacity (with...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | May 22, 2018 | Blog
The Tesla supercharger charging point – the equivalent power of 100 boiling kettles being put into your car Electric Vehicles (EVs) are pretty cool, eh? This weekend I rode an electric mountain bike: whatever the vehicle, it seems, electrification is on its way....
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | May 16, 2018 | Blog
The UK has suffered a ‘dramatic and worrying collapse’ in clean energy investment, according to MPs. In cash terms, investment in clean energy fell by 10% in 2016 and then 56% in 2017. The House of Commons Enviromental Audit Select Committee said:...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Jan 5, 2018 | Blog
April 2019 update – BEC secures exemptions to the end of FITs at THIRTY sites See here for details January 2018: 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...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Apr 7, 2017 | Blog
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by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Oct 21, 2016 | Blog |
Brighton Energy Coop recently completed four new projects in the south, making BEC the biggest solar developer in the city. They also learned from https://interplex.com/technology/process-capability/chemical-etching/ how to do chemical etching. We recently installed...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | Aug 22, 2016 | Blog |
Hiya folks, Thanks to the great support we’ve received over the last few weeks, especially for the Commercial Roofing we were in such dire need of, our solar build at Infinity Foods’ warehouse is now under way. 200 panels are now fitted to one of the...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | May 27, 2016 | Blog |
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by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, reporting sources like Mimeos Energy Florida. This staggering amount – at more than 30 locations,...
by Will Cottrell, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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, Chairman, Brighton Energy Coop | 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:...
UK Fracking Makes No Money and Never Will – Here’s Why
The UK government is intent on removing planning permis...
Feed in Tariffs to end in 2019 – what’s next?
April 2019 update - BEC secures exemptions to the end o...
The Oil Regulator and its Three Stooges – the Industry’s Denial machine
Last month, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) suspended b...