Community solar comes to Brighton & Hove
BHESCo and Trust for Developing Communities are bringing fully-funded solar panels and batteries to houses in Coldean and Bevendean
What is this all about?
Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCo) has partnered with Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) to bring fully-funded solar panels and battery storage to households in Brighton – with no upfront cost, no hidden charges, and savings on energy bills from day one.
With energy prices continuing to rise and global markets remaining unpredictable, this is a timely and valuable opportunity for residents in Brighton to take control of their energy costs and stay protected from price rises for the next 20 to 30 years.
This programme places fairness, accessibility and community benefit at its heart. It is specifically designed for households that find it hardest to keep up with energy bills, and is open to homeowners, private renters and social housing tenants alike.
We are starting in Coldean and Bevendean – communities where many households are among those hit hardest by rising energy costs yet have been locked out of the renewable solutions that could help them.
How does it work?
The goal is to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage for as many homes as possible.
This is how the process works:
1
Register your interest
No commitment, just a quick conversation. Become part of this community-led programme.
Click to register your interest
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 PPA model or funding through the Warm Homes Plan, depending on your eligibility
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.
Which households can participate?
Anyone living within the yellow boundary in the map is invited to sign up for the Solar Powered Communities programme.
Eligible streets are…
Coldean: Saunders Hill, Hawkhurst Road, Beatty Ave, Crawley Rd, Haig Ave, Kenwards, Wolesley Rd, The Charltons, Waldron Ave, Selham Drive, Standean Close, Woodview Close, Talbot Cres, Nanson Rd, Ingham Dr, Ashburnham Dr, Ashburnham Cl, Twyford Rd, Rushlake Rd, Rushlake Cl, Monk Cl, Coldean Lane, The Byway, Walton Bank, Forest Road, Middleton Rise, Arlington Cres, Ridge View, The Meads, Roundway, Highfields, Park Rd, Woburn Pl,
Bevendean: Upper Bevendean Ave, Lower Bevendean Ave, Manton Rd, Heath Hill Ave, Meadow View, Fitch Dr, Dartmouth Cres, Ghyllside, Dawlish Cl, Torcross Cl, Plymouth Ave, Auckland Dr, Taunton Rd, Hornby Rd, Taunton Way, Ludlow Rise, Leybourne Road, Durham Cl, Bodiam Ave, Walmer Cl, Walmer Cres, Norwich Dr, Bamford Cl, Norwich Cl, Hogs Edge, Kenilworth Cl, Knepp Cl, The Avenue (upper).
Programme Timeline
Community Engagement
Aug – Sept 2026
Free Home Assessments
Sept – Nov 2026
Economic Modelling
Dec 2026 – Feb 2027
Contract Signing & Installations
Mar – May 2027
How are the solar panels and batteries paid for?
There are a few different ways that we can help people get solar panels and batteries installed for free.
BHESCo Solar Powered Community-programme
BHESCo funds the installation of solar panels and battery storage at no upfront cost for your home. You then enter into a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with BHESCo and pay a fixed amount every month for the solar electricity generated by your system – at up to 25% less than your current supplier’s rate.
Warm Homes Plan: Fully-funded upgrades
In January 2026, the UK Government launched the Warm Homes Plan, a £15 billion programme to install solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, and insulation in homes across Britain.
Where possible, we will help eligible households access 100% fully-funded solar panels and batteries through the Warm Homes Plan.
People living in Brighton & Hove are advised to apply for the funding using the Warmer Homes website.
Benefits to your household
- Pay nothing upfront
- Enjoy instant savings
- All maintenance and monitoring taken care of
- Protection against energy price hikes
- Increased property value
Who are the project partners?
Trust for Developing Communities
Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) is a Brighton & Hove-based community charity working to tackle inequality and empower local people to create positive change in their communities.
TDC brings together residents, community groups and local organisations, with a strong focus on reaching communities that are often under-represented in climate conversations. Their trusted relationships across Brighton & Hove make TDC an ideal partner for this programme, helping us reach residents who could benefit most from support with energy, household costs and the transition to cleaner, more affordable energy.
- 25,000+ people reached annually
- 300+ community groups supported
- Building community-led solutions to climate change
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.
Funding for the programme comes from the Just Transition Fund, part of the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme. In Autumn 2025, BHESCo were successful in an application to the fund so that we could expand our Solar Power Communities offering to new communities in Sussex.
Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from companies who may have breached Ofgem rules
The Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, launched in 2018, has awarded over £213 million to fund 790 projects across England, Scotland and Wales that support vulnerable energy customers and carbon emission reduction initiatives.
Read more about Energy Redress here: https://energyredress.org.uk/.
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 Council’s planning website.