Solar powered communities
BHESCo want to partner with communities in Sussex to develop locally-owned rooftop solar power
Solar powered communities
BHESCo want to partner with communities in Sussex to develop neighbourhood-scale solar power and battery storage systems
Why Solar Powered Communities is needed
Households across the UK have been hammered by high energy costs for years, and prices keep going up and up.
The best way for families to take long-term control over their energy is by installing solar panels and solar batteries, so that they can generate there own electricity and save it for when they need it,
The trouble is that lots of households can’t afford the upfront cost of solar panels, or don’t have the time to spend researching and getting quotes.
That’s where BHESCo’s Solar Powered Communities programme comes in…
What is Solar Powered Communities?
BHESCo are working with communities across Sussex to develop neighbourhood-scale solar power.
Our goal is to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage for as many homes as possible and to establish BHESCo’s Solar Powered Communities programme as a blueprint for towns and villages across the UK.
This is how it works:
1
Design
BHESCo design and optimise a bespoke solar panel and battery storage system for participating households. Properties which are not a good fit for solar panels can choose to install a battery only.
2
Finance
We add up the total cost for all of the solar panels and battery systems to be installed. The cost is met by our network of community investors who want to use their money to tackle climate change. There is no upfront cost to participating households.
3
Discount
By purchasing solar panels in bulk (for forty or fifty properties) BHESCo can secure a discount on behalf of homeowners. Through economies of scale, the more households that participate in the programme, the cheaper the solar electricity unit price becomes.
4
Install
BHESCo work with our solar partners to install solar panels and batteries on behalf of all participating households. BHESCo’s team reviews the installs to ensure they are of the highest quality.
5
Savings
Each household will be billed by BHESCo for the electricity they use that has been generated by the solar panels on their roof. This is called a ‘Power Purchase Agreement‘. The cost of this electricity is much cheaper than the cost of buying electricity from an energy supplier, so households start to make savings immediately. Our aim is to offer everyone the same price per unit of electricity.
6
Payback
Over time the household pays back the cost of the solar panels to BHESCo. Once the upfront cost has been fully repaid ownership of the solar panels transfers to the household, who enjoy free solar power for the remaining lifetime of the solar panels.
Why Solar Powered Communities is needed
Households across the UK have been hammered by high energy costs for years, and prices keep going up and up.
The best way for families to take long-term control over their energy is by installing solar panels and solar batteries, so that they can generate there own electricity and save it for when they need it,
The trouble is that lots of households can’t afford the upfront cost of solar panels, or don’t have the time to spend researching and getting quotes.
That’s where BHESCo’s Solar Powered Communities programme comes in…
What is Solar Powered Communities ?
BHESCo are working with communities across Sussex to develop neighbourhood-scale solar power.
Our goal is to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage for as many homes as possible and to establish BHESCo’s Solar Powered Communities programme as a blueprint for towns and villages across the UK.
This is how it works:
1
Design
BHESCo design and optimise a bespoke solar panel and battery storage system for participating households. Properties which are not a good fit for solar panels can choose to install a battery only.
2
Finance
We add up the total cost for all of the solar panels and battery systems to be installed. The cost is met by our network of community investors who want to use their money to tackle climate change. There is no upfront cost to participating households.
3
Discount
By purchasing solar panels in bulk (for forty or fifty properties) BHESCo can secure a discount on behalf of homeowners. Through economies of scale, the more households that participate in the programme, the cheaper the solar electricity unit price becomes.
4
Install
BHESCo work with our solar partners to install solar panels and batteries on behalf of all participating households. BHESCo’s team reviews the installs to ensure they are of the highest quality.
5
Savings
Each household will be billed by BHESCo for the electricity they use that has been generated by the solar panels on their roof. This is called a ‘Power Purchase Agreement‘. The cost of this electricity is much cheaper than the cost of buying electricity from an energy supplier, so households start to make savings immediately. Our aim is to offer everyone the same price per unit of electricity.
6
Payback
Over time the household pays back the cost of the solar panels to BHESCo. Once the upfront cost has been fully repaid ownership of the solar panels transfers to the household, who enjoy free solar power for the remaining lifetime of the solar panels.
Benefits to residents
- You pay nothing upfront – BHESCo finances the installation of solar panels on your behalf
- BHESCo will monitor the ongoing performance of the solar panels and address any maintenance issues
- BHESCo ensures that the cost of purchasing electricity from the solar panels is lower than what you are paying to your energy supplier
Some key points to consider...
Power Purchase Agreement
Participating households enter into a contract called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), agreeing to buy electricity from the solar panels and battery. The cost of electricity is fixed for the duration of the agreement.
Unit price of electricity
Participating households benefit from solar electricity offered by BHESCo at a discounted price in comparison to the price they pay to their energy supplier. This is only possible where the solar panels have been funded by BHESCo.
Price increases
To account for the impact of inflation, BHESCo will increase our prices at a fixed rate of 3% each year. This is much lower than the annual increase in prices from your energy supplier, which averages 6% each year.
25 year contract
Because the solar panels are financed by repayments, the discounted price is directly impacted by the agreement term, so a longer term ensures a lower price. A typical BHESCo PPA contract is 25 years.
Transfer of ownership
After an agreed length of time, typically 25 years, the household can either keep the panels or BHESCo will remove them. Solar panels can continue generating electricity for up to 35 years.
You’ll need a smart meter
Participants will need a smart meter and allow BHESCo access to the data. This is so that we can see the volume of electricity that has been generated, how much has been used, stored, or exported.
Where is there a successful example of a Solar Powered Community?
Preston Park Community Energy (2025)
Preston Park Community Energy was BHESCo’s first successful community-led residential solar power programme.
Championed by a core group of passionate residents from this neighbourhood in north Brighton, the project sought to design and finance solar PV and battery installations for homes in the area, with no-upfront cost to participating households.
With installations delivered by our partners at POP Energy, the programme saw solar panels and batteries installed at 10 properties, all financed by BHESCo’s network of community investors.
What Solar Powered Communities programmes are BHESCo working on right now?
Building on the success of our programme in Preston Park, Brighton, BHESCo are presently developing a number of new Solar Powered Communities projects throughout Sussex.
Ovingdean
In partnership with Ovingdean Community Energy BHESCo are engaging with residents to develop a complete decarbonisation strategy for this village east of Brighton. Read more.
Eastbourne
In partnership with Eastbourne Eco Action and with funding provided by the Energy Redress programme BHESCo are starting work on Eastbourne’s first community solar initiative.
Brighton
For our next solar power programme in Brighton BHESCo will be offering solar panels and batteries to low-income and marginalised families who struggle with energy costs.
What is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA?)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
BHESCo is a social enterprise co-operative that develops energy efficiency and clean energy projects for communities and businesses.
When entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the homeowner grants BHESCo the right to install the solar panels on their roof and to use the airspace above the roof; there is no lease of the roof. The terms of sale of the electricity generated by BHESCo to the resident are included in the agreement. The agreement will be for the life of the programme, which is up to 25 years.
The agreement will include terms for the maintenance of the solar array, the insurance of the system, fault detection and remedial procedures.
Electricity generated by the solar panels which is not consumed by the residents will be exported to the grid. BHESCo will enter into an agreement with its energy supplier partner, Younity to optimise the payment they receive for the exported electricity.
BHESCo will transfer the agreement to the buyer under the same beneficial conditions or buy the panels from BHESCo outright. The solar panels generate free electricity over their lifetime, creating significant value on the property. The buyer will not need to maintain or operate this system, contributing to the property’s attractiveness.
If you live in a rental property, please pass details of the Community Solar Programme to your landlord. Alternatively, please provide your landlord’s contact details to BHESCo and we can contact them directly.
The minimum amount of houses that are required to take part to make this project viable is 25.
The higher the participation, the lower the installation cost and the lower the collective cost of the electricity.
Please check with your home insurance company to ensure that our solar panel insurance doesn’t impact your annual premium.
BHESCo would be responsible for removing any panels that obstruct roof repairs. The property owner would then arrange and pay for any necessary repairs, notifying BHESCo once completed. BHESCo would then return and reinstall the removed panels.
Prior to the installation of any panels, BHESCo would provide a structural survey of the roof to ensure it is in a suitable condition. This provides residents with useful information that can help prevent/ mitigate future repairs.
The installation of the solar panels will be undertaken by one of BHESCo’s trusted partners, who are insured for any damage caused during the installation. The PPA agreement contains all the insurance terms associated with BHESCo’s performance guarantee for your system.
BHESCo will operate and maintain systems on behalf of the residents, optimising the financial benefit by combining the output of all the systems on the street.
Residents will also have the option to pay up-front for their solar panels, this will mean that BHESCo will not be responsible for the maintenance of their panels.
The information is stored in OMEGA, a cloud-based platform built by Smart Power Network (SMPnet Ltd). They have also developed cybersecurity platforms, so their systems keep data secure.
The advantages to participating in a Community Solar Power Programme are:
1. You pay nothing upfront
2. You can become an investor in BHESCo who will raise the funding for the project, providing you with shared ownership of the project
3. BHESCo oversees the performance of your system, removing the hassle of managing your energy generation system
4. BHESCo can optimise the income from export to the national grid to ensure that you pay the lowest possible cost for your electricity,
5. You participate in an innovative local community programme
Residents will also have the option to pay up-front for their solar panels, this will mean that BHESCo will not be responsible for the maintenance of their panels.
Solar panels are considered permitted development by the planning authority. Under the permitted development criteria solar panels can be installed on a front roof slope in a conservation area. Furthermore, the solar panels can project up to 200mm from the slope of the roof under permitted development. Rules around permitted development can be accessed on the Council’s planning website.
In order for the installation to be worthwhile and effective, roofs must be able to hold 6 panels minimum.
Pitched roofs are more suitable for solar PV than flat roofs. In the past it has been difficult to insure Solar PV on flat roofs as the frames which are required to hold the panels are more susceptible to wind damage, and due to increasing instances of extreme weather, insurance companies are becoming more cautious about insuring such cases.
Solar PV is unsuitable to install on roofs that are North facing.
Roofs must have little to no obstacles, such as Velux windows or dormer extensions.
The roof must have minimal shading.
BHESCo will aggregate the export of all electricity generated from the systems to optimise the price paid by its partner energy supplier – Younity.
If you are interested in partnering with BHESCo to develop a community solar power programme in your neighbourhood, please fill out our short contact form and a member of our team will get back to you soon.