Case study

Energise Barnsley: bringing solar energy to the community

How social investment increased Energise Barnsley’s capacity to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions for vulnerable households.

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Project snapshot

What

Solar panel installations

Why

To tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions for low-income households

The cause

Energise Barnsley is an community benefit energy society, set up in 2015 by several organisations and individuals working together to deliver lasting social impact across the Barnsley area of South Yorkshire.

It delivers community-owned renewable energy and smart energy innovation projects for low-income households and community buildings. It is the largest local authority and community energy solar photovoltaic and battery storage project in the UK by the number of roofs with solar PV installed and the number of residential batteries installed.

The scheme, set up in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, consists of six areas to deliver the project’s goals of reducing energy bills and promoting sustainability in vulnerable households:

  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • Battery storage
  • Demand-side response (DSR)
  • Smart local grids
  • Asset management
  • Community funding

This collaborative initiative is a paragon of a locally focussed renewable energy targeting those most at risk of fuel poverty, and winners of numerous awards and accolades.

Our support

CAF has supported Energise Barnsley since 2016 by participating in three bond raises.

In 2016, Energise Barnsley launched its first five-year community bond – The Barnsley Solar Bond, into which CAF invested £150,000 – the largest individual investment in the community bond, which combined with a £1.2 million variable rate loan from Charity Bank, totalled a £2million bond raise.

The following year they installed 321 solar panels in low-income households – 75% of which were bungalows inhabited by elderly individuals and 25% were residents on pre-payment meters – and 16 solar installations on community buildings such as schools and sheltered housing in Barnsley.

150 smart batteries have subsequently been installed to homes owned by social housing, 70% of which were occupied by retired residents, with solar electricity monitors showing when the greatest savings can be made.

In 2021, Energise Barnsley returned to CAF when launching their Series II to refinance their previous bond. We rolled over the original £150,000 into the Series II as we believe that the environmental and social impact of this innovative project is increasingly relevant in the current context of the energy crisis. During this second raise, the community refinanced the outstanding Charity Bank variable loan, enabling the Societies solar assets to be entirely 100% community owned.

In 2024, we were invited to increase our bond holding by £100,000, by participating in the Series III bond with an aim of raising finance to install solar PV on up to 1,000 tenanted homes owned by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council owned properties, currently managed by Berneslai Homes. These new homes will benefit from  income being recycled from earlier solar installations financed by Barnsley Council, and still receiving Feed In Tariff income and from the any exported generation from the homes.

The impact

Energise Barnsley is a particularly attractive initiative, tackling some of the core social issues and inequalities of our time: fuel poverty, levelling up and the green energy transition. Its success is recognised and its ambition to bring more clear and affordable energy to council housing in Barnsley remains steadfast. Supporting this work delivers a high social impact.

The solar panels installed led to a confirmed source of income for Energise Barnsley, their principal income has been generated by government incentives awarding a guaranteed unit price for electricity exported from registered renewable energy generators. Additional income is generated through selling electricity from larger solar assets to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council through a power purchase agreement.

Participants in a trial by Energise Barnsley saw their energy bills fall around 30% thanks to the installation of solar panels, and 20% to 40% additional savings  as a result of the battery units.

Since it was launched, Energise Barnsley has installed solar panesl on 321 homes generating a total of 6,809 mWhs.  It has reduced energy bills (£494,000 in savings for residents as of March 2021) and CO2 emissions across Barnsley (1,402 CO2 tonnes saved). It has also used surpluses to distribute around £80,000 to local projects through its Community Fund, the largest amount of grant funding per megawatt of rooftop solar installed in the UK across community and commercial energy projects.

Energise Barnsley granted £20,000 in 2021 to Barnsley’s Community First Credit Union branch to help those most in need of paying bills. It has also partnered with the council and other organisations in fuel poverty and energy efficiency initiatives such as installing smart batteries in partnership with Age UK Barnsley to enable households to increase solar self-consumption levels.

Energise Barnsley has proven its commitment to the Barnsley community by helping to reduce levels of fuel poverty, supporting the most vulnerable in the community, reduce carbon emissions and educate residents on energy saving and low-carbon technologies.

The current energy crisis highlights Energise Barnsley’s high social impact and will strengthen the call for more domestic solar and batteries to protect low-income homes from energy price volatility.

“We are delighted to have the continued support of CAF , investing alongside our community bond holders, into our community solar bonds.”

Jeremey Sykes, Energise Barnsley Director

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