BWCE has launched its Community Solar 2020 programme to install community owned solar pv in the Bath & West area. The programme will offer free solar panel installations for businesses, schools and community buildings. It is looking for help from the community to identify suitable roofs. Further information is available here: https://www.bwce.coop/bwce-launches-community-solar-2020/
Category Archives: Bath and West Community Energy
BWCE Community Fund 2017 now open for applications (£30,000, deadline 22 Nov)
The BWCE (Bath & West Community Energy) Community Fund which provides grants to local organisations that want to shrink their carbon footprint or address the real issues of fuel poverty and climate change, is open for applications. For more information on the application process whose deadline is 22 Nov 2017, click here, the maximum grant is […]
BWCE £1M 5% ISA 5 Year Solar Bond Offer:
Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) are refinancing a loan taken out to fund its first tranche of solar PV panels which were installed on 9 local schools and community buildings in 2011/2012. The bond which is available in an ISA wrapper (tax free interest payments on investments up to £20,000) aims to pay interest […]
Energy Sparks website launched (Transition Bath Schools’ Energy Education Programme)
Transition Bath have been working with Bath: Hacked (a not-for-profit group promoting Open Data) on a website as part of an energy education program we are running with schools this year, and our new website have recently gone live: http://www.energysparks.uk/ . The website makes public electricity and gas smart meter data and integrates a gaming engine to […]
150 fold increase in renewable energy capacity in B&NES in last 6 years
According to an article written by Pete Capener, CEO of Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE), the renewable energy capacity in B&NES based on data from Ofgem has increased from 150kW to 22MW in B&NES between 2010 and 2016, a 150 fold increase. The current production is enough to provide electricity for 5.600 local homes, […]
Video: BWCE Batheaston Waterwheel Turning
BWCE’s waterwheel at the Old Mill Hotel, Batheaston was installed and started turning just before Christmas. The wheel which is of a ‘Zuppinger’ water wheel type design shown above and will have the capacity to generate 13.5kW of electricity, or about 88,000 kWh per year, enough to provide the electricity for 25 homes. BWCE hope that the […]
Don’t buy it, Borrow It!
Time Bank Plus, is starting a new project offering locals the opportunity to borrow rather than buy useful items like tools, household and gardening equipment, catering utensils, camping items, children & baby equipment. The project is being funded by a grant from the Bath &West Community Energy Community Fund. The Borrow It ‘store’ will be located […]
Progress update: BWCE Waterwheel at Batheaston now generating electricity
The community owned waterwheel at the Old Mill Hotel has finally started turning. The wheel was the first project discussed by the newly formed Bath & West Community Energy 6 years ago, but has now, finally, come to fruition. In the mean time BWCE has raised just under £13million for 16MW of projects for solar […]
Batheaston Old Mill Hotel: BWCE waterwheel construction progressing well
Work in continuing apace on the water wheel on the River Avon at Batheaston. Much of the construction work for the race has been completed, see photo to right, and construction of the wheel itself is in progress in Germany – see photo above. More news about the project is available on the BWCE website.
BWCE successfully completes fundraising for 5MW Crewkerne Solar PV Array
Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) has successfully raised the money to purchase a solar PV farm near Crewkerne, Its combined share and bond offer raised £2.63million to help purchase the farm. The remaining balance of £3.33million will be raised through a commercial loan. The farm will produce enough electricity to provide about 1,600 homes […]