Solar Powered Communities | Shoreham-By-Sea
Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo) are bringing fully-funded solar power and battery bundles to homes in Shoreham-By-Sea.
No hassle. No cost.
Just instant lower bills.
What is the Solar Powered Communities programme?
Southeast England is a brilliant location for solar power, and we want more people to share in the benefits.
In partnership with Transition Town Shoreham, BHESCo are making solar power and battery storage available to every household in Shoreham-By-Sea, for zero upfront cost.
Homeowners have two options:
1. Warm Homes Plan
Where a household is eligible, BHESCo will signpost the home to the Government’s Warm Homes Plan.
This makes up to £30,000 of grant funding available for upgrades including solar power, batteries, heat pumps, and insulation.
To be eligible you must:
- Own your home or rent privately
- Have an EPC score of D, E, F, or G
- Receive benefits OR have a household income of less than £36,000
2. BHESCo Power Purchase Agreement
BHESCo covers the cost of your solar panels and battery storage system. You pay a fixed monthly fee for the solar electricity from the panels and battery. BHESCo guarantees that the rate you pay is cheaper than your energy company, meaning that you start to make savings immediately.
3. Warm Homes Loan Scheme
If your household is not eligible for fully-funded home upgrades through the Warm Homes Plan, you can apply for a loan at a low interest rate through the Warm Homes Loan Scheme.
How to get involved in the Shoreham Solar Powered Communities programme
The goal is to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage for as many homes as possible.
This is how the process works.
*** Before we proceed with free energy surveys, we need at least twenty-five homes to register their interest.
1
Register your interest
No commitment, just a quick conversation. Become part of this community-led programme.
2
Free home assessment
We prepare a free desktop assessment of your roof’s solar potential
3
Receive your bespoke system design
See exactly what it means for your home
4
Sign a Letter of Intent (LOI)
To confirm your interest in proceeding with the programme, with no obligation
5
Installer survey
Our trusted solar installers will visit your home to produce a final design
6
Finalise your funding option
We’ll help you identify the best route, whether that’s the BHESCo Power Purchase Agreement or through the Warm Homes Plan
7
Installation of equipment
An MCS-certified installer will install high-quality solar panels and battery storage at your house.
You start saving on energy costs as your home is powered by solar electricity.
Benefits to your household
- Pay nothing upfront
- Enjoy instant savings
- Protection against energy price hikes
- All maintenance and monitoring taken care of (with a BHESCO Power Purchase Agreement)
- Increased property value
How solar PV can help landlords with MEES Compliance
As part of the Warm Homes Plan the Labour Government is bringing new housing rental regulations into force.
Under new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), all rental properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of at least a C by 2030.
Where landlords need to improve the EPC of a property before the MEES deadline, installing solar PV and a battery is about the most effective way to increase the EPC score.
Who are the project partners?
Transition Town Shoreham
Transition Town Shoreham is part of the wider international Transition movement.
Transition is an international movement of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world. Since 2005, thousands of groups have emerged in villages, cities, universities and schools in more 50 countries
Transition is about people taking practical action together in their local area to address the big challenges they face. In practice, this can mean setting up renewable energy projects, re-localising food systems, sparking entrepreneurship, re-wilding cities, creating important community spaces and weaving webs of connection and support.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
BHESCo is a Brighton-based company that develop energy saving and renewable energy projects for communities and businesses in Sussex. Founded in 2012, BHESCo has developed sixty-six clean energy projects which are expected to save our customers more than £4 million.
Private rental tenants are welcome to participate in the programme.
If you live in a rental property, please pass details of the Solar Power Communities programme to your landlord. Alternatively, please provide your landlord’s contact details to BHESCo and we can contact them directly.
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 Adur Council’s planning website.