Ovingdean Decarbonisation Plan
Ovingdean
Decarbonisation
Plan
Ovingdean Community Energy (OCE) have partnered with Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCo) to prepare a decarbonisation pathway for the village.
Our goal is to support residents of Ovingdean with the adoption of renewable energy technologies, low-carbon transport options, and home insulation upgrades.
The programme is being delivered as follows:
Phase 1 - Decarbonisation Study
In 2024 BHESCo completed Phase 1 of the journey by creating a Decarbonisation Study for the village.
With funding provided by the Community Energy Fund, BHESCo worked with Ovingdean Community Energy (OCE) to produce a decarbonisation plan covering the energy use and carbon emissions of all 550 households and businesses.
We produced a 90-page Decarbonisation Plan which complements the existing Neighbourhood Plan. Our study concluded that the village can largely eliminate carbon emissions with the introduction of renewable energy generation made up of:
- 2.5 MW one onshore wind turbine
- 776 kW non-domestic solar
- 5,823 kW domestic solar
We also created a Residents’ Summary which was made available for local households, as well as a whole-village retrofit advice booklet.
BHESCo also submitted a pre-planning advice application for a 2.5MW community-owned wind turbine.
Phase 1 concluded in March 2025.
Phase 2 - Onshore Wind & Community Solar
With additional funding secured from GB Energy, Stage 2 advances the Stage 1 Decarbonisation Plan across multiple fronts:
- a full planning application for a community-owned wind turbine
- development of a community solar and battery storage programme built on a proven model is launching April 2026,
- a village wide EV charging initiative, retrofit action plan, and heat pump rollout to 2040.
BHESCo hosted a heat pump workshop for local residents, providing an opportunity to learn about the financial impact of installing a heat pump, and what adaptations are needed to make a home ‘heat pump ready’.
In collaboration with Ovingdean Community Energy BHESCo is supporting Ovingdean Village Hall and the Oxford International College with their own decarbonisation ambitions.
There are a variety of options available to meet capital cost requirements for energy upgrades, including:
- direct homeowner investment,
- the Warm Homes Plan,
- a community share or bond offer,
- co-investment with Brighton and Hove City Council, GB Energy or the National Wealth Fund
Read the Ovingdean Decarbonisation Plan
In 2024 BHESCo prepared a decarbonisation plan for the village of Ovingdean.
The area is part of Brighton & Hove City Council, but received only a few mentions as part of the city’s Decarbonisation Pathways Report.
BHESCo’s Decarbonisation Plan for Ovingdean encompasses a fully costed approach for decarbonising all homes, business properties, and transport options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who are Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCo)?
BHESCo is a social enterprise which has developed more than sixty low-carbon energy projects since 2015. Most projects are financed at no upfront cost using a ‘Pay As You Save’ finance model. BHESCo has raised nearly £2million of investment from more than 400 co-operative members and investors. BHESCo prepared an energy survey for the Village Hall in 2020 and has been supporting Ovingdean Community Energy since January 2022.
Where has the funding for this project come from?
Ovingdean Community Energy and BHESCo successfully applied for funding from the Great British Community Energy Fund, which is administered by the Greater Southeast Net Zero Hub. This grant funding is for the purpose of preparing a plan to decarbonise the village of Ovingdean, something that was requested following a community meeting held at St Wulfran’s church in November 2022.
Why is this project taking place in Ovingdean?
Ovingdean Village is an ideal location for a decarbonisation plan, as an essential part of the Neighbourhood plan. The area has great potential for both solar power and wind power. Ovingdean is an area with roughly 85% home-ownership, where around one in five homes is not connected to the gas grid.
Ovingdean has a rich history of being active in sustainability programmes, including the Ovingdean Green Festival, a Plastic Free focus group, and St Wulfran’s Eco Church.
In partnership with:
Project funded and administered by:
