Published: 21 Apr 2021, 12:29
BEC’s installation at Greater Brighton Met College on Pelham Street. Image: BEC.
Brighton Energy Coop (BEC) has added 240kWp over three new buildings in Brighton, bringing its portfolio to 3MW.
The rooftop solar systems were installed by the coop’s long-time installation partner GenFit use LG Mono X Plus 450W solar panels and SolarEdge 25kW inverters, and sit across Greater Brighton Metropolitan College’s sites in Central Brighton, Shoreham Airport and Westdene Primary School.
BEC chairman Will Cottrell said it was great to have “yet more local organsiations coming on board for more solar in our city”.
“We’re a strong example that community energy is a still a driving force behind solar in this country.”
Westdene is the last of 15 schools the coop has installed solar for as part of a tender from Brighton and Hove City Council that BEC won in 2017.
It has now installed 62 solar systems, and has 20-year power purchase agreements with 30 local organisations, including Brighton University, Shoreham Port and Greater Brighton Metropolitan University.
The most recent installations were crowdfunded over three days in March, with BEC members raising £200,000 towards the systems. Members get a 5% return on their investment.
BEC is continuing to work to expand its pipeline, and in 2019 secured 2.5MW worth of feed-in tariff exemptions before the feed-in tariff window closed in April.
Those interested in supporting BEC’s pipeline are encouraged to join the coop here.