The Big Solar Co-op

2025 award winner - Big Solar Co-op Small or Medium Big Solar Co-op has grown quickly over the past six years, running volunteer-led rooftop solar projects alongside bigger installations like Whiteborough Solar Park.

So much can be achieved when we cooperate and aim for a shared goal! An (ace) award and...

100 volunteer members
1,300 investor members
450 bond holders
£3.8 million invested by the public
1,489 MWh of clean energy produced

communityenergyengland.org/guidance/cas...

@commenergyengland.bsky.social

We did it! It feels good to be bringing this home for the rest of the Big Solar Co-op team. Onwards and upwards!

We made the papers with our most recent install!

stroudtimes.com/dr-simon-oph...

If you would like regular updates about new installs, impact, events, progress and more...please click the link below and join our mailing list >>>

bigsolar.coop/newsletter-s...

China academic intimidation claim referred to counter-terrorism police Sensitive research into alleged human rights abuses is alleged to have been shut down by Chinese agents.

The Big Solar Co-op stands with Laura Murphy.

Their work helped to inspire our ethical solar PV panel sourcing policy. We want to see independent sources, that provide ethical auditing and/or carbon lifecycle analysis for solar PV in the UK.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Shropshire Hills, the Discovery Centre is much loved visitor centre with a café, riverside meadows, a museum, a shop and a packed roster of activities for all…

Today we are celebrating the switch on of a new solar pv array on the roof of our latest community site. This living grass roof was a technical challenge but well worth it to be able to help by supplying around 64% of their energy requirements at below grid prices!

bigsolar.coop/shropshire-h...

WOW! We're thrilled to share that we've been shortlisted for not just one, but two gongs at the #CommunityEnergy Awards 2025!

🏆 Community Energy Excellence
🤝 Collaboration in Community Energy – with our amazing partners @ethexuk.bsky.social and @younityuk.bsky.social

YouTube video by Big Solar Co-op Medical practice teams up with the Big Solar Co-op for cheaper energy and lower emissions.

Wow, this was Eden Court Medical practice in Birmingham almost a year ago. Since then our 89 solar panels have been meeting 50% of their energy needs and saved 6 tonnes of carbon. #inspo #climate #community #renewables #netzero

Would you like to come and work with our parent org - Sharenergy? Or know someone else who would?

They are looking for somebody exceptional to head up the Development Team >>>

www.sharenergy.coop/jobs

Volunteer Our work is powered by our Volunteer Members and supported by a professional team. You don’t have to join an existing community energy group or spend time creating one – you can just join the Big…

Hi Matthew, good thinking and we are not aware of any blocker to this in principle. But we need established contacts and lines of communication to help our co-op members to get talking to the right people. More info about how this works on our website:
bigsolar.coop/volunteer/

YouTube video by Big Solar Co-op How to invest in community solar with the Big Solar Co-op

As the bond offer for the Whiteborough Solar Park, on #ethex comes to a close we are back to our first focus - rooftops!

Today, Jon Halle presented the hows and whys of investing in community solar with the Big Solar Co-op. Check it out on our Youtube channel >>>

youtu.be/ZsPm9z21VSs

There are now 13 rooftop solar installations owned by Big Solar Co-op members! Potential investors are very welcome to join our webinar next week, when Big Solar Co-op CEO, Jon Halle, will discuss progress to date and the impact of investment in community energy.

us06web.zoom.us/.../reg.../9....

If you would like regular updates about new installs, impact, events, progress and more...please click the link below and join our mailing list >>>

bigsolar.coop/newsletter-s...

It's fantastic to see the investor support continue for the @bigsolarcoop.bsky.social bond offer, they've now raised over £1.3 million to construct the UK's first recycled solar park on the site of a former coal mine!

#Communityenergy #investincommunityenergy

Join us this Friday lunchtime to find out how you can invest in community solar with the Big Solar Co-op >>>

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-inv...

Big Solar Co-op raises over GBP 1 million for UK coal mine project Solar bond offered through impact investing platform provides community energy cooperative with funds to construct 3.5 MW project in Whiteborough, England. Big Solar Co-op plans to use European manufa...

We love to see our friends at @bigsolarcoop.bsky.social getting the recognition they deserve 💛☀️

They’ve raised over £1 million to build a 3.5MW solar park on a former coal mine site in Whiteborough, smashing their target & powering forward with second-life & European-made panels 🔋🌍

Holy moly...we hit £1M over the weekend! This is fantastic news and means we can get more done sooner onsite at Whiteborough as well as not needing to take on some of the loan finance we had in place🌞

Our Whiteborough Solar Park bonds are flying out of the door, which makes us very happy!💸💛 This 'groundmount done right' project has been a lot to manage alongside our roster of rooftop installs. But with the support of our amazing Volunteers and Investors it feels like almost anything is possible.

Join us next Tuesday lunchtime to find out how you can invest in community solar with the Big Solar Co-op.

By buying shares or tax efficient bonds you can help us to get many more arrays built and have a significant impact on community solar across the UK >>>

www.eventbrite.co.uk/x/how-to-inv...

Don't forget to register on Zoom if you would like to be in the call today:

us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

IFISA bond issued to provide community solar power The bond is a tax-efficient opportunity to support a groundbreaking 3.5 MW solar park in Whiteborough, Nottinghamshire.

We are delighted that the @bigsolarcoop.bsky.social's first-ever bond offer is off to a flying start. It's already nearly 45% funded!

Read about the bond offer and why it’s generating so much interest in this article from @thearmchairtrader.com:

www.thearmchairtrader.com/features/ifi...

Any orgs with high bills and a large roof, who have been thinking about solar, won't want to miss this call. Come and find out about how we will install, operate and maintain them and our clients just pay us for the clean electricity, at below grid prices.

Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Now live! Our first ever bond offer for our first ever groundmounted solar development. More details about the project are up on our website and head to Ethex if you would like to invest:

bigsolar.coop/whiteborough...

Here is one of our amazing volunteer members helping to spread the word about what the Big Solar Co-op does at the British Geological Survey today.

Find out more about how to get involved by joining our mailing list:

bigsolar.coop/newsletter-s...

Solar panels installed at community centre through social enterprise scheme A community centre is now being powered by solar panels installed through a social enterprise scheme

Great to see one of our recent installs covered in the local press! We are delighted to be helping support this vibrant community hub in Southampton by supplying around 60% of their energy requirements at below grid prices🌞

www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2523562...

Some great news for World Environment Day 🌏

colleaguesconnect.midcounties.coop/stories/expa...

Join us bright and early next Tuesday morning to find out how you can invest in large-scale community solar with the Big Solar Co-op >>>

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-inv...

Check out our latest blog to learn more about the impact created by members of the Big Solar Co-op 💪

828MWh (megawatt hours) produced by their solar panels equivalent to:

☀️307 houses' electricity needs powered for 1 year
☀️2.6 million miles driven in an electric car

bigsolar.coop/2025/05/21/i...

Big Solar Newsletter Sign Up SIGN UP FOR UPDATES Our unique model means empty roofs across the UK that are perfect for solar energy can start cutting bills, improving energy security, and reducing emissions to help tackle the…

Our unique community energy model means empty roofs across the UK that are perfect for solar energy can start cutting bills, improving energy security, and reducing emissions to help tackle the climate crisis. Join our mailing list for regular updates and no spam!

bigsolar.coop/newsletter-s...

Do you own/run a community/commercial building in the UK? You could reduce carbon emissions while making a long-term saving on electricity costs.

Join us next month for a Zoom presentation on capital-free solar installs by our Client Lead - Dean Hill.

Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...