Since 2012 BEC has raised nearly £1,900,000 from the local community to build some of the largest solar PV systems in the area.
Over the last five years we’ve built two or more new community-funded solar systems each year.
We are now the proud owners of 20+ medium sized 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 have joined in the past seven years, helping to support more renewable energy for our city.
We continue to develop new renewable energy projects in the area; our members receive a 5% return on their investment and the chance to join a dynamic, progressive organisation committed to development of community-owned renewables
See all our SolarPV projects around Brighton & Hove below
Money invested in new solar projects (£)
Members of Brighton Energy Coop
Community Energy Projects built
Commercial Rooftops
Our expanding portfolio of commercial partners include 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 at solar PV on the roofs of BCMY, Medisort and RT Page in Littlehampton.
RT Page is a distribution firm in Barnham, offering transport services across the UK & abroad
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 buildings, providing lots of clean, green power for the company’s logistics systems.
Infinity Foods uses BEC Solar to Run Cleaner and Cheaper
nfinity Foods is the largest distrubutor of whole foods in Europe, with an annual turnover of more than £25m. Their warehouse consumes large amount of electriciy; using BEC's community-funded solar panels means substantial reductions and carbon...
Community Energy SolarPV powers Maidstone FC’s ground, helping the Stones go green
aidstone United work with Brighton Energy Coop to house solar panels on the roof of buildings at the club. The panels produce electricity to cover about two thirds of the club’s needs, including floodlighting. Club co-owner Oliver Ash said: “This...
Solar PV at The Big Lemon Bus Depot – Solar energy powering the UK’s first solar electric buses!
Solar energy powering the UK's first solar electric buses. BEC’s solar PV support the Port in becoming a major centre for renewable energy Our solar systems save the Port thousands of pounds each year on electricity bills he...
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
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.
Educational Organisations
Both the University of Brighton hosts community-owned solar and Portslade Aldridge Community Academy also benefits from our solar power
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.
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.
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’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.
Solar PV at Park Gate in Hove | Community-owned renewable energy on a block of 120 flats in the heart of Brighton and Hove
Solar PV at Park Gate in Hove | Community-owned renewable energy on a block of 120 flats in the heart of Brighton and Hove
Become a member
Join BEC: your Investment in Brighton Energy Coop Makes it all Happen
None of this would be possible without you. BEC isn’t backed by venture capitalists or private equity, pension funds or fossil fuel companies.
The only money we get is from you.
New Projects 2019
#SolarforSchools and more!
Feed in Tariffs Scrapped – but BEC Gets Exemptions at THIRTY New Solar Sites
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 solar...
NEW PROJECT: Grand Parade Building, University of Brighton
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,...
NEW PROJECT: Sussex Coast College, Hastings
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...
NEW PROJECT: Lady Bee Business Centre, Shoreham Port
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...
NEW PROJECT: Coldean Primary School, Coldean
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 system...
NEW PROJECT: Carden Primary School, Hollingbury
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...
Are you a teacher or a parent with children in school in Brighton and Hove? | Urgent action required. Tell your schools to act now!
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...
NEW PROJECT: Woodingdean Primary School, Woodingdean
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...
