Preston Park Community Energy Programme
The Preston Park Community Energy Programme (PPCE) is one of BHESCo’s most inspiring local initiatives, a neighbourhood-scale project that’s bringing the people of Brighton together to take control of their energy future.
By combining solar power, battery storage, and community ownership, the programme demonstrates how residents can lower bills, cut carbon emissions, and build a more resilient local energy system – all with little or no upfront cost.
Building Brighton’s first solar-powered neighbourhood
Nestled just north of the city centre, Preston Park is home to a community united by a common goal; to live more sustainably and reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Working hand-in-hand with BHESCo and local partners OneZero (now POP Energy), neighbours have come together to create Brighton’s first community-scale solar power programme.
What makes this initiative truly special is that it began with a handful of passionate local volunteers who pledged to champion the idea within the community. These residents put their heart and soul into the project – mobilising neighbours, door-to-door campaigns, organising meetings, and collaborating closely with BHESCo on a joint communications strategy. Their enthusiasm was essential for transitioning the programme from concept to reality.
The project began with a simple premise: to provide households with the opportunity generate and use their own renewable electricity without the burden of high installation costs. Through BHESCo’s innovative financing model, residents now enjoy the benefits of clean energy via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), agreeing to buy electricity generated by the solar panels on their own roofs at a fixed, discounted rate of 17.9p per kWh. This is a significant saving compared to the average 26.35p per kWh charged by energy suppliers, and also provides protection from market volatility and price fluctuations over the long term.
The programme vision: in numbers
Since its launch, the Preston Park Community Energy Programme has grown from an ambitious idea into a thriving community success story. More than 80 households have signed up to take part, with over 50 desktop surveys already completed to assess roof suitability and 25 on-site surveys carried out by BHESCo’s energy experts.
So far, nine households have had systems installed, delivering a combined 40 kWp of solar generation capacity and 47 kWh of battery storage, enough to power a small street with clean, renewable energy. Over the term of the Power Purchase Agreements, these installations will provide collective savings of £61,125 for participating residents while helping to cut carbon emissions and advance Brighton & Hove’s journey toward net zero. With growing interest from new households, surveys for additional sign-ups are already underway, marking the next exciting phase of the programme.
Timeline of the programme
The Preston Park Community Energy Programme has evolved through three exciting phases, from community mobilisation and planning to real-world installations transforming homes across Brighton.
Phase 1: Building momentum (January – April 2025)
The journey began in January 2025, when BHESCo introduced the Preston Park Community Energy Programme at a lively launch meeting held in the heart of the neighbourhood.
BHESCo’s CEO, Kayla Ente, outlined the vision for a cleaner, fairer energy future, while OneZero’s team explained the technical possibilities for rooftop installations.
The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity, as dozens of residents asked questions, shared ideas, and expressed interest in joining what would soon become Brighton’s first community-scale solar initiative.
Over the next few months, local champions poured their energy into spreading the word, encouraging neighbours to sign up.
- Door-to-door visits to speak with neighbours and build awareness
- Flyer drops through letterboxes across Preston Park
- WhatsApp group created to share updates and answer questions
- PPCE website launched by community champion Elaine Hills
Their enthusiasm quickly built momentum, turning interest into action.
Meanwhile, BHESCo’s project team began conducting initial roof assessments and desktop surveys to identify homes most suitable for solar installation, laying the groundwork for the technical design and financial modelling to follow.
With continuous growing interest, BHESCo expanded the programme to all homes served by the local UK Power Networks substation, now including parts of Hollingdean, Hollingbury, Withdean, and the neighbourhoods around Withdean Park, bringing more Brighton households into the community-powered initiative. |
Phase 2: From interest to commitment (May – August 2025)
In May 2025, BHESCo hosted an online Solar Power Offer Meeting to present the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) offer in detail, explaining the benefits, pricing, and long-term impact of the programme.
Residents learned how they could purchase electricity from their own rooftops at a fixed rate of 17.9p per kWh, compared to the national average of 21p, a sustainable and affordable way to protect against market volatility.
By June, the community’s excitement was in full swing. Households were invited to sign letters of intent (LOI), confirming their commitment to join the programme.
To ensure everyone fully understood the PPA and encourage residents to sign the LOI, Kayla Ente and community organiser Elaine Hills hosted a Podcast Q&A about costs, timelines, system maintenance, and long-term benefits, helping build confidence and trust in the programme.
In July and August, BHESCo’s engineers and installation partner OneZero (now POP) carried out detailed on-site surveys, checking roof suitability, shading, and structural needs.
Based on these assessments, final quotations were prepared for each household. Once the financial model was ready, BHESCo began sending out the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), marking a key step toward turning plans into reality.
Very soon, the signed PPAs started coming in, and the project reached its final stage, ready for installation.
Phase 3: Powering up Preston Park (September – November 2025)
By early September, installation work officially began. BHESCo’s project team coordinated closely with OneZero to schedule and oversee each installation, ensuring systems were safely and efficiently fitted.
As part of this stage, a structural survey was carried out for one household to confirm roof suitability, and planning permission was successfully secured for another. Following installation, BHESCo’s Project Developer visited every participating household to review progress, sign off completed work, and ensure each system met safety and quality standards.
As panels and batteries began appearing on rooftops, Preston Park’s vision of a community-powered neighbourhood came vividly to life. By November 2025, all planned installations were completed, marking a proud milestone, Brighton’s first community-scale solar energy neighbourhood, built by residents, powered through partnership, and owned by the people.
Download a PDF summary of the project
In recognition of this unique project that brought together so many partners, BHESCo was nominated for the Collaboration Award at the 2025 Community Energy England Awards.
You can read the short award nomination here, which summarises the innovative and collaborative nature of the project
How the community energy programme works:
No upfront cost: BHESCo finances the installation of solar panels and batteries for each participating household.
Community ownership: BHESCo owns and maintains the systems, funded through community investment.
Affordable clean energy: Residents purchase the electricity their system generates at a discounted, fixed rate under a long-term PPA.
Reinvestment for good: Any surplus from the programme is reinvested into community energy projects that reduce fuel poverty and support the local transition to net zero.
This model removes the financial and technical barriers that often stop households from adopting solar power, proving that energy independence can be both affordable and communal.
Benefits beyond the bills
The impact of the Preston Park programme goes far beyond electricity savings. It’s about empowerment, resilience, and community pride.
For households: A step towards energy independence and protection from market volatility.
For the planet: Significant carbon savings through local renewable generation and reduced reliance on fossil-fuel power.
For the community: A tangible step toward a zero-carbon Brighton, owned by the people who live there.
For the future: A replicable model that other neighbourhoods can follow to create their own community-powered energy systems.
As one participant said, “It feels amazing to know that the energy powering my home is not only clean but also helps our community become more energy independent.”
Overcoming challenges, learning together
Like all pioneering projects, PPCE has faced its share of challenges , from navigating roof suitability and planning permissions to building awareness and trust among residents. But these challenges have only strengthened the sense of collaboration that defines the initiative.
By working closely with community champions and neighbours, BHESCo and the Preston Park community have demonstrated that shared effort and transparency are key to success. The growing waiting list of interested households and communities is proof that once people see the benefits first-hand, the idea quickly gains momentum.
Looking ahead
With the first phase of installations well underway, the next goal is to expand the programme to other communities across the Southest, creating a network of local, interconnected, community-owned energy systems that together form the foundation of a fair, low-carbon future.
From rooftop to rooftop, the people of Preston Park are proving that when communities come together, the power to change the status quo really is in our hands.
Join the clean energy community
Interested in starting a community energy project where you live?
Register your interest here or get in touch with BHESCo’s team to explore how we can help your neighbourhood take charge of its energy future.
Listen to community organiser Elaine Hills as she sit down with BHESCo CEO Kayla Ente to ask some key questions about the programme on behalf of the local community:
VIDEO:
AUDIO ONLY:
Watch the presentation about the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) offer. 29th May 2025:
Watch the presentations from the launch event:
Introduction from Kayla Ente MBE (BHESCo)
System and installation details from Howard Johns (OneZero)
Audience Q&A
View the presentations