Plug-in solar is hitting the market this week. Community energy has long provided a solution for people in flats and rentals who want to engage with renewables but don't have the roof space/permissions - now plug-in solar will make access to domestic renewables much easier

Plug-in solar: could a low-cost panel cut your bills?

Britons will be able to buy ‘balcony’ systems they can install themselves from 27 August thanks to rule change

theguardian.com

Scenes from our Ulverston/Barrow team yesterday evening. Wind turbines still going, whilst the sun had some once-in-a-generation downtime.

'Community energy is the way forward for small communities like this... we own it, we run it and we benefit': www.northern-times.co.uk/news/communi...

WATCH: ‘Community energy can be done’ – KLB hydro scheme raises over £100k for village

A community in north-west Sutherland is proving that renewable energy profits don’t have to leave the area.

northern-times.co.uk

We hope everyone has an excellent easter weekend! This photo is from West Solent Solar Cooperative a few years ago, sheep continue to graze twice annually on the carefully managed site near Lyndhurst in Hampshire 🐑

ICYMI: Our letter to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero @ed-miliband.bsky.social welcoming the #LocalPowerPlan 👏 @rosemarley.bsky.social @jameslwright.bsky.social @energy4alluk.bsky.social

Co-operatives UK@cooperativesuk.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Last week, Co-operatives UK – along with @energy4alluk.bsky.social and Energy Local CIC – wrote to the Sec of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, @Ed_Miliband, and Dan McGrail, CEO Great British Energy, about the recently #LocalPowerPlan. @rosemarley.bsky.social @jameslwright.bsky.social

Our response to the Local Power Plan, the government's new commitment to community energy: energy4all.co.uk/local-power-...

Energy4All's Response to the Local Power Plan

Energy4All is impressed by the ambition behind the government’s Local Power Plan, committing £1 billion funding for community/local energy.

energy4all.co.uk

Attended a joint meeting of Community Energy Moray and Zero Carbon Moray today to dicuss various projects including a substantial solar farm in the local area. Exciting times. @energy4alluk.bsky.social #Moray #renewables

'Community energy has a very different spirit and culture to it' 🔆 This interview with Energise South is a great intro to community energy www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk/we-can-use-t...

Just a reminder that applications close on MONDAY for the role of Westmill Energy Chief Executive Officer. You could help drive forward two pioneering renewable energy co-ops (covering solar and wind) at this exciting time for community energy. Head to energy4all.co.uk/job-vacancies/ to apply.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! 2025 was a record year for wind and solar in the UK, with wind the biggest single renewable source of electricity and solar jumping by nearly a third. We need to do a lot more, and quickly, to meet 2030 targets - but let's start the year on a positive!

That's it for our anniversary posts... Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you in 2026! 🎁

Last one! Edinburgh Solar is 10 years old🎉 ECSC was one of the first community energy groups to demonstrate the mutual benefits of working in partnership with the local council. Today, the co-op operates 30 solar PV installations across the city, from schools to leisure and community centres.

RainePower is a community-owned 35 kW Archimedes screw hydro project in south east Cumbria. This project faced lower than expected generation during its first five years. The project has endured thanks to a committed team, including volunteers who maintain the site almost daily.

The Schools' Energy Co-op celebrated their 10-year anniversary roughly the same time as their 100th solar PV installation 🔆 SEC are experts when it comes to rooftop solar on schools, and they partner with other community energy groups to lend expertise and get projects going.

Next up is High Winds www.highwinds.coop who, 10 years and 11.5 MW on, have widened their community fund remit to tackle more local issues: most recently awarding a significant grant to help open a new community hub in Ulverston, following 9 other local spaces shutting down. Great stuff!

Rumbling Bridge Community Hydro in rural Kinross-shire is rated at 500 kW, but local geography sees it generate power equivalent to much larger schemes 💪 They are now actively looking to the future, e.g. whether changing energy policy could open opportunities for the society to trade energy locally.

Happy 10 year anniversary to Four Winds Co-op. FW owns two 500 kW wind turbines on former colliery sites on either side of Sheffield. The turbines generated around £80,000 for their community fund in 2024–25, supporting vital local organisations like hospices and food banks.

Exciting opportunity with @westmillenergy.bsky.social who are looking for a Chief Executive Officer. Help grow the community energy movement with 2 pioneering renewable energy co-ops. See energy4all.co.uk/job-vacancies for all the details!

6 renewable energy co-ops have hit their 10-year anniversary this year, so in the build up to Christmas we'll be sharing what they're up to now.

A new 127 kW installation is underway on St John's Market in Scunthorpe, thanks to @nlce2024.bsky.social ☀️(or maybe 🌧️ today). That brings them to 5 installations for 2025 - a busy year!

Something new! 📍 We have always mapped our member co-ops (currently 35) but now we have gone a step further and added each of their individual solar, wind, hydropower and biomass sites - and the picture is very different. Have a look: energy4all.co.uk/coops-map/

Last week John (our wind, hydro and solar Asset Manager) was at @westmillenergy.bsky.social looking at shading and controlling vegetation around the solar panels and equipment. Not a big issue as the sheep were already doing a great job. 👍 🌱

Are you a young person passionate about community, collaboration and creating change? 🌍 Join our Community Calls - a monthly online meet-up bringing together young people from across the UK who share co-operative values. 📣 1/3

Off-grid on Fridays 🍃 a tiny bit of positive news for the weekend.

Plantlife@plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 10mo ago

This tiny rare moss was believed extinct in the UK, until its rediscovery in 2003. After recent ID training in the Cairngorms, volunteers, landowners & experts found Aspen Bristle-moss populations have doubled!🌿 Read the full story - https://loom.ly/V3tHfI8 📷Gus Routledge #NationalMossDay

Our quarterly newsletter went out this week. If you want to hear when new share offers are live, plus community energy news, you can join here: energy4all.co.uk/register/

Orkney Council has confirmed all profits from its new wind farm will go into local services - wealth will circulate locally, not flow to distant shareholders. It's a glimpse of what community benefit from renewables can look like. But how typical is this? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

‘Much fairer’: all profits from new Orkney windfarm to benefit locals

Construction due to begin in 2027 on what is expected to become UK’s largest publicly owned windfarm

theguardian.com

New blog post up! Last week we were in Brussels for the final ACCE project event, unlocking finance for community energy projects across Europe. Find out more here: energy4all.co.uk/community-en... @rescoop.eu #communityenergy #localenergy #iyc2025

Connecting with European energy communities

Energy4All were in Brussels for the final ‘ACCE’ conference, sharing stories with community energy groups across Europe.

energy4all.co.uk

Going off-grid on Friday's: something non-energy related to brighten the day 🔆

RSPB@rspb.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Today’s #AutumnArrivalSpotlight is the Redpoll! 🍂 These tiny finches add a pop of colour with their red crowns and lively calls as they forage in flocks among birch and alder trees. A winter treat from the north!

Why don’t all schools in the UK already have solar panels?: energy4all.co.uk/why-dont-all...

Why don't all schools in the UK already have solar panels?

Solar panels bring financial savings to schools as well as meeting climate goals, so what barriers are there and how can community energy help?

energy4all.co.uk

It's useful to check-in every now and then with what community energy & being a co-op means in practice, so here's Energy4All's development model...