Community Energy Organisation Case Studies

In just two years, North Lincolnshire Community Energy has put solar panels on 21 buildings, from primary schools to a football stadium — generating over 2.7 GWh of clean electricity for the local area.

South East London Community Energy has installed community-owned solar on 11 schools, community buildings, churches, and even a local hotel, while helping thousands of households in fuel poverty along the way.

Born out of the Transition Town movement in Kentish Town, Tufnell Park and Highgate, Power Up North London has turned a GP surgery, a church roof and a community sports centre into local power stations for Camden and Islington.

What started with a handful of passionate volunteers and a single solar array at an arts centre has grown into a 641kWp portfolio across Berkshire and Surrey — all owned by MaidEnergy's 250-plus members.

From a junior school in Torpoint to the local swimming pool, Tamar Energy Community has quietly built a 327kW portfolio of community-owned solar across the Tamar Valley, while helping local households battle rising energy bills.

Started by a small group of volunteers who wanted to bring community-owned solar to Greater Manchester's schools, Greater Manchester Community Renewables (GMCR) has now generated enough clean electricity to make an eyebrow-raising 16 million cups of tea.

In 2016, Plymouth Energy Community turned a derelict, contaminated stretch of land next to a wastewater plant into a solar farm generating enough clean electricity for 1,000 homes...and that was only the beginning.

In 2024, Stonegrove Community Trust switched on the largest charity-owned solar installation in London, with 210 panels on the roof of the community centre in Edgeware. 

Wedmore is a historic village in Somerset, and although it has roots stretching back to the Iron Age and Roman times, it's an early and incredibly proud adopter of community-led renewable energy!

This wind turbine is one of the most northerly sites that we support in the UK, but it is also one of the most important. It supports the island communities of Rousay, Egilsay and Wyre, and is a brilliant example of what a community energy project should be.

Starting up in 2004, the Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative is one of the pioneers of British community-owned renewable projects, think of them as one of the grandparents of community energy.

The opening of their wind farm in 2008 earned them the title of the first and largest wind farm co-operative in the South of England… they might even be the great-grandparents by now.

Community energy projects are often praised for their smart land management and for not having to sacrifice biodiversity for projects, and Southill Solar, run by Southhill Community Energy, is the perfect example of that.

Ever thought we should be doing more in schools to teach kids about renewable energy, decarbonisation & taking care of our planet?

Well, that’s exactly what Solar for Schools thought too. Since 2015, they’ve been on a mission to give the next generation the skills they’ll need to take on the climate crisis.

By supporting community groups and delivering gardens and solar projects in London, Energy Garden is taking action against the environmental crisis. With each £1 invested into Energy Garden, it brings a social return worth £11.35.

Being responsible for the equivalent of 33% of Bristol's solar generation, Bristol Energy Cooperative aims to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for the benefit of the local community.

By installing solar panels on community buildings, and developing suitable sites for wind and hydro schemes, Gloucester Community Energy Co-operative (GCEC) aims to give everyone in Gloucestershire a chance to benefit from low-carbon, locally generated electricity.

The Low Carbon Hub develops community-owned renewable energy installations across Oxfordshire that not only produce clean energy but accelerates the transition to a zero-carbon energy system.