News Blog
Brighton Energy Coop kicks off latest Community-funded solar project
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 of new...
WANTED: Project Finance professionals
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...
Is Business Rate Hike a Taste of Renewable Taxes to Come?
Infinity Foods Solar PV system is our best performing system!
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...
Solar Powering ahead in Brighton area
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...
Brighton Energy Coop launches latest community energy scheme – join us!
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...
Supporting Community Energy also means Battling Fracking – National Day of Action 25th Feb
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 with...
Life in Old (Solar) Dog Yet – solar grows 7% in 2016
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 balloon-hissing 21% less...
Motivating positive investors – pioneers to speak at Brighton event
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...
Brighton Energy Coop completes four new projects – pics
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...
Action on Fuel Poverty – can you help?
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 at BEC...
Help us Bring Solar Powered Electric Buses to Brighton – Vote Now!
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 Marks and Spencer Community Energy fund to...
Help us bring Solar-powered electric buses to Brighton – Vote Now!
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 it's a UK first) by voting for...
We’ve done it – solar PV at Infinity Foods is under way!
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 Prime Roofing, our solar build at Infinity Foods' warehouse is now under way. 200 panels are now fitted to one of the...
Hinkley Heads for the Junkyard – Last Few Days to Help Fund Infinity Solar!
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 solar PV at Infinity Foods'...
One week to go to help fund Solar PV at Infinity Foods!
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 more than...
Help build PV at Infinity Foods – Two Weeks to go!
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 help green the...
The Jet Streams are Mixing. Join Brighton Energy Coop to take Action on Climate Change
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...
A great gift for your kids – Brighton Energy Coop shares are inheritance tax free
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 joining BEC...
Why renewable energy should change how you think about Europe
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 that's overseen 60% cuts to Feed in...
Revolution
Brighton Energy Coop raises £100,000 in ONE DAY – last day for EIS tomorrow
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...
Community Energy poised to sue Osborne over EIS – 3 days left to claim!
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 removal of EIS for...
Brighton Energy Coop hits £1,000,000; 5 days to go for 30% tax break
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, did you know that you can receive R&D tax credits to cover the cost of your R&D? It can make...
10 days for new Brighton Energy Coop investors to qualify for 30% tax relief
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....
Brighton Energy Coop sign Maidstone United in late transfer shocker
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 panels later...
New Brighton Community Energy installation kicks off, and a new project announced!
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 Hove;...
Brighton Energy Coop raises £200,000 – get involved!
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 on the...
Osborne Spectre looms over Community Energy – last chance to claim 30% tax relief
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...
Brighton Energy Coop launches new Community fund – apply now!
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...
