Celebrating ten years of Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op

It’s hard to believe but Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo) turns ten years old in November!

What began as a unique vision and a passionate drive for change has become a multi-award winning social enterprise with more than 400 members who have invested over a million pounds in local energy projects.

BHESCo’s 58 clean energy projects will deliver savings of £1.6 million for their local communities, in addition to reducing carbon emissions by 7,083 tonnes (equivalent to the annual emissions of 1,526 petrol powered cars).

We want to take you on a journey from our humble beginnings in 2012 to the present day, where our thriving co-op is considered to be one of the leading community energy groups in England. 

We want to thank everyone who has become a member, a volunteer, a partner, an investor or a supporter in any way – it is only by working together that we can create real change. #

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:

I’m sorry that prior commitments mean I can’t be with you tonight to celebrate such a wonderful achievement – ten years of operating a successful, sustainable business model, run in partnership with the communities you serve.

I’ve been a proud supporter of BHESCo’s work right from the start – it’s such crucial work that is even more urgent in this time of insecurity and high energy costs. Accelerating fuel poverty and fossil fuel dependency must be overcome through increasing efficiency and providing locally generated, renewable energy. BHESCo have shown that is possible – by reaching property and homeowners, renters, and families across our city and the South East, bringing an inspiring and innovative approach to energy generation to keep people warm, bring down their bills, and tackle the climate emergency.

And you have always been ahead of the curve. Back in 2016, BHESCo launched their Energy Saving Service. This was initially targeted at low-income households, allowing them to complete an energy survey considering how heat loss could be minimised, to ensure that proposed green energy solutions were targeted and cost-effective. Since then, they have continued to deliver community-funded energy projects throughout Sussex, mostly at no up-front cost to the consumer.

This is not just vital community work; it is a blueprint for a different world.

It is hugely inspiring and reassuring to know that this is taking place in my constituency and beyond, and I am thrilled to be able to congratulate Kayla, and everyone at BHESCo on all that you have achieved. Here’s to the next ten years!

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove said: 

I am so sorry I couldn’t make it tonight. I’m sure it will be a fantastic evening. I wanted to congratulate all of you at the Brighton and Hove Energy Services Cooperative on marking your tenth anniversary as an organization. To hear that you have delivered nearly sixty renewable energy projects in just ten years is remarkable and it’s a true testament to the exceptional work being done in our country to make the transition to cleaner energy sources. With the devastation, we are seeing in Pakistan now and the threat that a warmer climate poses to our own coastal region, the reality is truly unsettling. Both people and the planet deserve better. I feel so honoured to work alongside a community who are so committed to tackling climate change and are working towards a future with all of us in mind. Your work in housing, healthcare and education facilities is particularly commendable as it is so important that we ensure that renewable energy sources are made accessible to all.

I look forward to seeing this great work continue over the coming years and hope to see more cooperatives like yours follow in your footsteps.