Mongoose Energy has claimed to have completed the UK’s “largest ever” community energy deal by financing a 15MW solar-plus-storage project. The community energy specialist has completed the financing of Anesco’s Drayton Manor solar farm, based near Stratford-Upon-Avon, which comprises three separate arrays backed by revenue streams including feed-in tariffs and ROCs. All three arrays have had battery systems retrofitted. Two 1MVA/1.2MWh batteries and one 800kVa/1.1MWh battery have been installed by Anesco to complement the solar generation. Mongoose said the new financing deal would deliver nearly £5 million in local community benefits over its 20-year lifetime. The new deal takes Mongoose Energy’s solar portfolio to 80MW, and the supplier’s chief executive Mark Kenber insisted community energy remained “alive and kicking” in the UK.
Solar Portal 7th Aug 2017 read more »
June and July saw Community Energy Fortnight celebrate its fifth year. The annual event, supported by Co-operate Energy and The Climate Coalition, brings together different groups who are independently generating renewable energy. A total of 77 separate events were held up and down the country, projects which included the use of clean technologies such as solar, hydro, wind and biomass heat, all of which developed using community-serviced finance. The latest survey of England, Wales and Northern Ireland by Community Energy England identified 269 community activities from 222 organisations, 191 of which were focused on generating heat or electricity. The survey found 121MW of electricity generating infrastructure has been installed by community groups since 1997, generating 265 GWh of electricity. Community energy is now a clear contributor to the UK’s power demand, with benefits shared across the spectrum. It mobilises residents to reap the growing solar economic and environmental benefits at a local level. A proportion of the profits made are redistributed back into the community to fund local causes, projects and charities.
Solar Power Portal 7th Aug 2017 read more »