BIG THANKS to new and existing members, an amazing response to our share offer this week 🎉🎉WE HAVE EXCEEDED TARGET! We aimed to raise £440,000 by 31 Jan to support in the finance of a 2 MW solar farm, under construction in Compton Dando.
Total shares applied for so far is £446,762. The share offer closes tomorrow Saturday 31/1/26 , however there is still more to raise for this project, and we will be launching a national Bond Offer during February.
The UK must double its renewable energy capacity and retrofit 1 million homes per year by 2030 to stay on track for net zero targets. Yet trust in government and big energy companies is low. Community energy can make a vital contribution to the solution. So, our call for community investment will continue this year.
To find out more about this and future opportunities keep a watching eye here www.bwce.coop/invest
Thank you to all of you for your interest and supporting in making this important work possible.
#TheFutureofEnergyisLocal
We're proud to launch our new brand and website. During the last few years, Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) has expanded, largely due to funding we have secured to grow our #homeenergy service. We now have an exciting new identity to reflect the breadth of our organisation.
Through #community engagement, we aim to build awareness and involve local people in our #community energy projects. By developing local renewable projects, supporting home energy efficiency and funding community projects tackling carbon reduction and fuel poverty, we foster a sense of ownership, control and community resilience.
This is a critical time for our planet and our local communities. We want people to join our member-led, not-for-profit community business or show support in other ways as we build a just and fair community energy movement and transition to a clean energy system. For more info see link in bio #communityenergy #energyefficiency #energyefficenthomes
If you live in Farrington Gurney, join us at the Spring Pollinator Party this Sunday 🌼🐝
Alongside foraging walks, willow crafts, free plants and family activities, our Home Energy Specialist Cathy Crozier-Cole will be giving a talk on home energy efficiency and the local support available to help residents make their homes warmer, greener and cheaper to run.
📍 Farrington Gurney Village Hall
📅 Sunday 17 May
⏰ 10am–2pm
We’re so grateful for all the support for our Bond Offer so far – we’ve now exceeded our original £750k target! 🎉
A huge thank you to @wehavethepowerorg , the impact-investing initiative founded by Julia Davies and friends for their generous £30,000 match funding contribution.
There’s still time to be part of it as we work towards our £1 million stretch target before the offer closes on 27 May.
The 5-year bond offers 5.5% interest and will help complete funding for Fairy Hill Solar Farm in Compton Dando, generating clean electricity locally and delivering long-term community benefit.
Find out more and invest today: https://www.bwce.coop/invest
Capital at risk.
#ethicalinvestment #communityinvestment #communityenergy #renewables #cleanenergy
Locally generated clean energy positively impacts communities ✨️
BWCE raises capital from local people and further afield, to build projects and then recycle surplus back into the local area to support community action on carbon reduction and fuel poverty.
When we asked Alison Turnbull, Head of Renewables Development, what projects mean for communities, she said:
"The positive impacts of Fairy Hill solar farm on the local community are the opportunity to join a club to purchase the solar electricity at a preferential tariff, to enjoy opened-up countryside access beside the solar farm and to receive support for local community projects through the community benefit fund".
Our portfolio of 14.5MW of community renewable projects generates enough electricity to match the annual demand from around 5,000 homes. We are working to significantly increase this over the next five years.
#communities #renewables #cleanenergy #carbonreduction #projects
The climate & nature crisis threatens all aspects of British life from national security to food supply, but solutions exist.
The National Emergency Briefing was commissioned to present the latest evidence, and build an irresistible call for the Government to stage a televised emergency briefing, the essential first step towards the WW2-scale response now required.
We are currently working with a number of community partners organising screenings of this film in Bath and would encourage our networks to find a screening near them and watch the film, or consider hosting one themselves too. As an office we had a private screening today (ahead of our public events to help inform our considerations for hosting Q and A's after) and it was powerful and very well done.
@national emergency briefing #climateemergency #nature #education #calltoaction #Bath #NorthEastSomerset
/screening-map
We asked our Community Head of Engagement, Nick Bird, for his thoughts on our new office. Sat in a hot desk today with a great view of the tree complete with birds nesting in it, Nick says:
"It’s great having the new office with all the extra space it provides to meet together, plan together and connect with our local community!
Don’t take my word for it – come and see for yourself at our drop-in on 20th May, between 5pm and 7pm."
#office #team #welcome #community
✨️ The Bath & West Community (BWCE) Fund is seeking to recruit three new Trustees to join its Board ✨️
If you are over 16 years of age, have a passion for environmental issues and taking positive action on climate change, this could be the voluntary position for you. Trustees will help guide the Fund’s work supporting community led renewable energy and local climate action.
There are some requirements but as a friendly and committed group with a passion for local action on sustainable energy and a just transition to net zero, we welcome people from a range of backgrounds and skills and can provide mentorship to suitable candidates with little or no trustee experience.
This is a volunteering position. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 9 June 2026. Find out more and apply using the the role description in this link (to the website).
https://www.bwce.coop/news-posts/join-the-bwce-fund-board-of-trustees
#trustees #team #volunteer #recruiting #boardmembers #workwithpurpose
In Widcombe, five neighbouring households took part in a Home Energy Neighbourhoods session focused on understanding and improving their homes.
Each household received a tailored home energy assessment, with input from a B&NES Council Conservation Officer to make sure any recommendations were appropriate for their listed properties.
When the group met, the conversation naturally turned to similarities between the homes – where heat was being lost, what was working well and what felt possible to improve. With full support from a BWCE Home Energy expert, the group were able to explore the findings together in a really practical, grounded way.
Could something like this be possible on your street?
#HomeEnergy #Neighbourhoods #EnergyEfficiency #CommunityEnergy
Press release from our friends at @bathnescouncil about the Green Hertiage Homes project!
Owners of listed buildings across Bath & North East Somerset can benefit from an expanded, integrated energy advice and planning service that makes it easier to plan and carry out sensitive improvements to historic homes.
We’re proud to be working in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council to deliver joint energy surveys through the Listed Building Energy Assessment & Planning Advice (LBEAPA) service. This approach brings together heritage considerations and technical energy expertise, helping homeowners make informed decisions with confidence.
To see more about the support available, take a look at our Listed Building webpage (via the link in our bio), or to see the press release head to the Council's news page: newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk/news
#listedbuildings #homes #bath #energyassessment #retrofit #planning
What a difference the right workspace makes!
Alex, our Director of Operations and Impact, says:
“Having a space where the whole team can come together has been invaluable. It’s already helping us collaborate more easily and feel more connected across the organisation. The range of work zones has been really well received – with sociable areas alongside quieter, focused spaces, more of us are choosing to come in frequently, which has been lovely to see. And moving in during spring, with cherry blossom just outside, has been an added bonus.”
Finding the right space wasn’t simple. Over several months, we carefully planned a move that would support a growing team of 30+, with room for collaboration, dedicated meeting spaces, and a kitchen area – all in a location that’s easy to reach by public transport, with some parking for our technical teams and their equipment.
We're looking forward to inviting some of our members in to see the new space soon!
