Westmill Solar Cooperative built the UK's first and largest solar farm, located next to an existing wind farm. The 30 acre site has 20,000 solar panels that generate 4.5GWh per year, reducing CO2 emissions by 2,000 tonnes and powering 1,400 homes. The £16.5 million project was financed through over £5 million in share sales to 1,650 cooperative members, who receive an estimated annual return of 9-11% from renewable energy subsidies and power purchase agreements.

1. Frank Gordon
Project Manager, Westmill Solar Cooperative

2. Westmill Solar Farm
 UK’s first (& we think
world’s largest)
 Next to Westmill wind
farm- Adam Twine
 Built July 2011;
unanimous approval
 30 acre site, 20,000
panels
 4.5Gwh/year
 2,000 tonnes CO2
 1,400 homes

3. Westmill Solar Farm
Purchase process:
 £16.5 million project
 Over £5m share
sales (A & B)
 Raising debt- in
progress
 c.9-11% pa IRR for
members (FITs &
PPA)
 1,650 members

4. Big 6 Utility Renewables
 Shareholders benefit (based where?)
 No or very little compensation/benefits to local people
 National contractors likely to be used (economies of
scale across projects)
 Small community fund may be provided
 Control of asset?
 What connection to local area/people?

5. Community renewables
 Financial returns go to local people
 People can buy their “own” electricity
 Communities doing it for themselves
 An alternative to the Big Six
 One person one vote member-led decision making
 AGMs with real democracy
 Creates passionate advocates
 Research shows members change attitudes to energy
 Potential for 3.5GW of community power in the UK

6. How to start a project?
Requirements:
 Site, landowner on board
 Community!
 Detailed planning submission(s), technical and
financial models
 Project management/continuity
 Specialist legal / technical / financial skills
 Some upfront resources (pre-planning)
 Stamina and persistence! (1-3 year projects)

7. Bear in mind
 Consider organisation’s rules carefully (eg ‘B’ shares)
 Build in time for FSA and legal clearance and
spreading the word
 How to cover upfront costs (early investors,
landowners?)
 Make the case to investors on a range of issues
(resilience, energy security, climate, financial)- appeals
to many
 Back up plans & project continuity

8. The future
 New models? Energy saving, energy efficiency
 New technologies? RHI, offshore wind
 Dedicated community Feed-in-Tariff to support
projects
 Ethical share exchange, Ethex, December 2012
 Crowdfunding sources Abundance & Microgenius…

9. A new, national, not-for-profit web platform for
community shares in sustainable energy projects
Easier to find community shares to buy
Easier to promote and manage your share offer
www.microgenius.org.uk

10. Contact
Frank Gordon
ftagordon@gmail.com
@renewables_uk
www.westmillsolar.coop