Share Offers

Energise South Downs - first share offer to power Hampshire businesses and communities with rooftop solar

Energise South Downs, a non-profit community energy co-operative, has launched its first share offer (community investment opportunity) to raise £302,000 for three rooftop solar installations in Hampshire. The projects aim to generate 270,000 kWh of clean electricity annually – saving around 54 tonnes of carbon in the first year alone, the equivalent of planting 2,100 trees. The share offer will be hosted by ethical investment platform, Ethex.

The installations will take place at Hayling Island Sailing Club, Britannia Reeves in Petersfield, and Energique in Alton. The electricity produced will be used on-site, lowering energy bills and reducing reliance on the national grid. Any surplus will be fed into the grid, strengthening local energy resilience. In the case of Britannia Reeves, a low energy user, the excess energy
will be used by neighbouring Broadway Park, a community of over 50s, reducing their energy.

Shares cost £1 each, and anyone can invest from £100 to £30,000. Investors will then become members of ESD and given the opportunity to be consulted on key decisions regarding the organisation, including how surplus income is spent within the local community. As a Community Benefit Society, Energise South Downs operates on a one member, one vote basis, regardless of investment size.

ESD will use the money invested to buy and install the solar panels on three buildings in Hampshire. We will then sell the electricity back to the host business or local community at a fair price. A significant percentage of the income from electricity sales will go into a community fund, while the rest will be used to repay your investment – with a target return rate of up to 5.5%. At the end of the term, the panels will be signed over to the host business, providing them with free solar generation for the remainder of the panels’ lifespan.

Ethex. The share offer carries the Community Shares Standard Mark, ensuring transparency and best practice for investors.

The offer opens on 8 July 2025 and closes at 5pm on 30 September 2025, or earlier if fully subscribed.

To find out more or invest, visit www.esd.energy or search for Energise South Downs on Ethex.

Greater Manchester Community Renewables (GMCR)

Greater Manchester Community Renewables (GMCR) has launched their fifth community share offer. They’re aiming to raise £250,000 by 20 July 2025 to fund the installation of over 600 solar panels on 3 schools and a leisure centre.

Since 2016, GMCR has supported 9 schools and a local charity to go solar, saving them £190,000 on their energy bills – money that’s gone towards educating children and supporting local communities instead of boosting the profits of big energy companies.

In the first full year of operation, the four new solar arrays are expected to generate enough clean energy to make 16 million cups of tea – and prevent over 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from polluting power stations.

What’s more, GMCR anticipates that the new arrays will generate a further £100,000 of grants for community projects relating to carbon reduction, energy efficiency and environmental education via their Community Fund.

GMCR relies on investments from individuals, businesses and organisations to fund the solar arrays.  Anyone who buys shares will be eligible for annual share interest of up to 5% and GMCR aims to repay the shares over 20 years (or sooner on request). 

Anyone interested in using their money to make a positive difference can find the Share Offer Document and Business Plan on GMCR’s website, along with an online application form.

You can also sign up to GMCR’s newsletter, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, or email them directly with any questions.

Shropshire and Telford Community Energy (STCE) - The Twemlows Solar Farm second share offer is now open!

Shropshire and Telford Community Energy (STCE) is aiming to raise extra share capital to carry out the next step of securing the Twemlows Solar Farm nr Whitchurch.

STCE is looking to raise around £500,000 through this share offer, adding to the £294,000 we raised in 2023.  They are offering a target interest rate of 6% per year on these shares and expect to be able to repay the  share capital within 11 years. STCE have already paid out the first 6% interest to their initial investors but future payments are not guaranteed.  

STCE purchased Twemlows, near Whitchurch, in December 2023 with some cheap long-term Senior finance and a relatively expensive short-term Junior Loan. This share offer will enable STCE to strengthen their position as a local leader in Community Energy. 

Rossendale Valley Energy Solar

Rossendale Valley Energy Solar are looking to raise £375,000 for an 882-panel solar array that is set to generate an estimated 368MWh of clean energy annually, with around 85% of the electricity used on-site by Interfloor, costing them less than their normal energy costs.

Investors can purchase shares from as little as £100, up to a maximum of £35,000, with a target annual interest rate of 6%.

This range makes the offer accessible to a wide range of residents of Rossendale – and beyond. The project is the result of a 25 year agreement between Interfloor and RVE, with a 20-year repayment plan for share capital.

Kate Gilmartin, RVE Board member said:

“As a Community Benefit Society, we are committed to delivering sustainable energy solutions while reinvesting in our local community. This project is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and businesses to take part in the green energy transition, all while receiving a fair return on their investment. This is the first of many opportunities to buy into a non-profit solar scheme which will benefit the community”

Interfloor’s Managing Director, Gary McEwan, said:

“Partnering with RVE on this solar project aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals. It’s a great opportunity to not only reduce our energy costs but also make a positive contribution to the environment and the local community. We’re proud to be part of such an impactful initiative.”

In addition to generating renewable energy, the project is expected to contribute a minimum of £2,000 annually to support RVE’s wider initiatives, including community energy advice and low-carbon heating solutions. Over the lifespan of the project, contributions to the local community are expected to reach £250,000, subject to financial performance.

Grimsby Community Energy - Community Share Offer

Over the last eight years Grimsby Community Energy have raised £444,732 of investment to deliver renewable energy across Grimsby, Cleethorpes and North East Lincolnshire, installing 534kW of solar PV (photovoltaic) panels for community organisations, generating 157MWh of clean electricity and saving 184t of CO2.

This place-based approach to energy generation means local community organisations pay less for their energy and everyone who invests in Grimsby Community Energy has a vote in the running of our society. 

This new share offer is an ‘open offer’ without a closing date, so that people can support them financially whenever they are able to.

You can invest from as little as £100 (option for instalments) up to a maximum of £80,000 to help them raise £500,000 and achieve their target of one megawatt of solar PV for Grimsby. 

Congleton Community Solar - BECOME A GREEN INVESTOR

DVCE-CP (Dane Valley Community Energy-Congleton Park Ltd) is embarking on a new renewable energy initiative to harness power from roof based solar panels which we will install on schools and commercial properties in Congleton, wider Cheshire and North Staffordshire.

The project will reduce energy costs for participating sites including schools as well as provide an educational resource to increase environmental and sustainability awareness.

Surplus funds will also benefit local community projects. 

This is an opportunity for you to generate a projected 5% return on your investment and have your capital returned over 15 years. You can invest from £100 to £50,000 (institutional investors can invest up to £100,000). Our aim is to raise £530,000. The offer will close at the end of October 2023. 

For a share offer and business plan including full details of the project, benefits and risks we invite you to visit www.congletonsolar.co.uk or click on the link below.

* Our hydro scheme has generated 380 MWh of green electricity in under 2 years of operation and has already raised £9000 to community projects.  We are proud that the UK government chose to use our scheme as the poster child for its new £10M development fund to support community energy. 

Grimsby Community Energy's 4th community share offer

Grimsby Community Energy's 4th community share offer is now open for investment. Their offer is to fund solar PV installations at the CATCH Industrial Training Centre, and at YMCA Humber's Orwell Street building.

Grimsby Community Energy are a cooperative, run by members, who are dedicated to bringing community energy projects to their local area. With solar PV already operating at E-Factor, St Andrew's Hospice and the new YMCA Humber building on Freeman Street, they are now looking to build on their success.

Big Solar Co-op Share Offer

Why doesn't every big roof have solar? The Big Solar Co-op is on a mission to solarise the Uk, one rooftop at a time. We have an always-open rolling share offer to finance our ambitious program of new installations on big rooftops across the UK. We've now got over 40 new sites signed up and ready to build, from children's nurseries to steelworks, leisure centres to historic buildings - we just need more members to invest so we can deliver these and focus on the next round (already coming thick and fast).
A few key facts:

• Big Solar Co-op's focus is on solar that's not getting built but needs to be - large rooftops, small ground-mount (on appropriate sites)
• Our target interest rate is 5% (or 2% above base rate where that's higher)
• We're committed to make it as easy as possible for members to withdraw capital when they need to
• You can opt to reinvest your interest (to help build more solar - and so your returns are more like compound interest in a bank)
• We have a very strong ethical policy - we pay a significant premium for our low-carbon solar panels that don't source raw materials from areas implicated in forced labour

Whether or not you invest, you could join us - we are majority-owned by our Volunteer Members who pay £1 for membership. We can train you to find, design, and deliver solar. Do you have a favourite local big roof? Work with other volunteers from across the UK to make it happen - we've already helped several people to make this happen in their communities, sometimes in places that don't have existing community energy groups.

Brighton Energy Cooperative

Brighton Energy Coop have launched their latest share offer - to fund 578kWp of new community-owned solar PV at Rathfinny Wine Estate in Sussex.

They have teamed up with Rathfinny - the latest of our more than 40 solar landlords - to host nearly 2000 solar panels. This will be BEC's biggest solar system to date and will generate power for the winery buildings, shop and accommodation. 

Bath and West Community Energy

Bath and West Community Energy have a share offer which supports them to deliver clean local energy, community-owned for the common good.