Community solar power comes to Crawley
BHESCo are bringing fully-funded solar panels and batteries to households in Crawley.
Register your interest for a free, no obligation survey.
What is the fully-funded solar programme all about?
Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCo) is helping households in Crawley reduce their energy costs with fully funded solar panels and battery storage, available with **no upfront cost**, no hidden fees, and immediate savings on electricity bills.
At a time when energy prices remain volatile and global markets continue to drive uncertainty, this programme offers residents the chance to gain greater control over their household energy costs and benefit from more predictable energy expenses for the next 20–30 years.
Built around the principles of affordability, accessibility and community benefit, the scheme is designed to ensure that the advantages of clean energy are available to everyone. It is open to homeowners, private tenants and social housing residents, with a particular focus on supporting households most affected by rising energy costs.
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
Become part of this community-led programme. Click to register your interest
2
Free survey
We’ll visit your home to assess your roof’s solar potential at no cost
3
Receive quotation and system design
We’ll show you exactly how much you could save, with a tailored design for your home
4
Sign a Letter of Intent (LOI)
To confirm your interest in proceeding with the programme, with no obligation
5
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
6
Installation of equipment
An MCS-certified installer will install high-quality solar panels and battery storage at your house
7
Start saving
You enjoy a big cut in energy costs as your home is powered by solar electricity.
Which households can participate?
Anyone living in the shaded area in the map below is invited to sign up for the Solar Powered Communities programme.
Solar Powered Communities Timeline
Community launch meeting
Dec 2026
Home surveys to identify potential for solar panels
Jan – Mar 2027
Preparation of finance options
Apr – June 2027
Residents receive solar design and finance options
July 2027
Contracts signed and systems installed
Aug – Sept 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.
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 households in Crawley access 100% fully-funded solar panels and batteries through the Warm Homes Plan.
Warm Homes Plan: No-cost or low-cost loans
If your household is not eligible for fully-funded home upgrades through the Warm Homes Plan, you can apply for a loan at a zero or very-low interest rate.
BHESCo Solar Powered Community-programme
BHESCo can cover the cost of your solar panels and battery storage system, and sell the electricity back to you. The electricity rate you pay BHESCo will be much lower than the rate you pay to your energy company.
Benefits to your household
- Pay nothing upfront
- Enjoy instant savings
- Protection against energy price hikes
- Increased property value
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/.
Crawley was selected for the programme because of the strong support of Crawley Council and because of the number of social housing households in Crawley who struggle with their energy bills. These are exactly the kinds of people that we want to help through this programme; people who could not afford solar panels themselves, but for whom having solar will make a huge difference to their lives.
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.
Interested? The next step is to register for the programme!