Since 2010 BEC has raised over £3,000,000 from the local community to build some of the largest solar PV systems in the South East region.

We are now the proud owners of 60+ community-owned solar arrays.

Our solar partners range from schools to businesses, and from blocks of flats to a football stadium!

Our solar systems are funded by our members – hundreds of people who joined us over the past ten years, to build renewable energy systems for our city.

Our members receive a 5% return on their investment and the chance to join a dynamic, progressive organisation committed to the development of community-owned renewables.

 

Community investment in BEC Solar Projects (£)

Brighton Energy Coop MEMBERS

Community Energy Projects built

Commercial Rooftops

Our expanding portfolio of commercial partners includes Shoreham Port, Refine Metals near Horsham and The Big Lemon bus company in Brighton.

We also own solar energy projects on the roof of Maidstone United Football Club, at Infinity Foods Wholesale warehouse in Portslade and in 2018 we built a solar PV on the roofs of BCMY, Medisort and RT Page in Littlehampton.

Infinity Foods uses BEC Solar to Run Cleaner and Cheaper

Infinity Foods uses BEC Solar to Run Cleaner and Cheaper

Infinity Foods is the largest distrubutor of whole foods in Europe, with an annual turnover of more than £25m. Their warehouse consumes large amounts of electriciy; using BEC's community-funded solar panels means substantial reductions and carbon savings each year,...

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Refine Metals use BEC solar to save thousands ££££’s on their energy bills

Refine Metals use BEC solar to save thousands ££££’s on their energy bills

Installed in the summer of 2016, the solar PV system at Refine Metals is owned and operated by energy co-operative Brighton Energy Coop. The Coop funded and developed the system; Refine now buys electricity from the solar panels at a discounted rate. This discount means Refine Metals in excess of £7,000 a year on their electricity bills, and saves more than 40 tonnes of carbon. Refine Metals was developed by the Brighton Energy Coop team and installed by GenerationFIT

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Community Energy at Shoreham Port | Pre 2019 projects

Community Energy at Shoreham Port | Pre 2019 projects

Brighton Energy Coop has a long-standing partnership with Shoreham Port, one of the largest cargo-handling ports on the south coast. BEC owns more than 2000 solar panels on Port buildings – on two large industrial sheds and at a Port-owned business centre. These systems generate a substantial proportion of the energy used to operate this crucial Sussex facility.

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Bringing Solar to our Schools

BEC works with Brighton and Hove City Council, Worthing and Adur Council, the University of Brighton and various Academies to bring solar to many of their educational buildings. We’ve put free solar on Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Blatchington Mill Secondary School, GBMC, Ore Valley College, and numerous local primary schools – which all benefit from our solar power.

BEC Helps Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) Go Green

BEC Helps Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) Go Green

Portslade Aldridge Community Academy collaborates with Brighton Energy Coop to house 100kWp of community-owned solar PV. 32 local people invested in the PV system at PACA, providing the school with cheap electricity and saving thousands on their electricity bills each year. These systems generate a substantial proportion of the energy used to operate the school; the PV system was developed by our in-house team and was built by GenerationFIT.

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Brighton Energy Coop helps power the University of Brighton

Brighton Energy Coop helps power the University of Brighton

The University of Brighton collaborates with BEC to lease its airspaces for solar installations. BEC paid for the three installations in return the university pays BEC for the electricity generated by the panels. During the 20 years of the lease, the panels are expected to save the university over £185,000 and over 1,000 tonnes of carbon. After the lease expires, the university will take ownership of the panels at no cost and will benefit from the free electricity generated.

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Residential and in the Community

We’ve put solar PV on both St George’s Church in Brighton and City Coast Church in Portslade, and on Park Gate in Hove, a block of residential flats. We have a large solar array on Splashpoint Leisure Centre in Worthing, and we’ve also helped the Brighton Earthship develop solar energy on their roof and supported other low-carbon schemes via our Community Fund. You can also see a selection of our off-grid systems here.