Henley in Transition Launch Free Solar Panel Community Scheme

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Many public buildings in Henley have already embraced solar energy by installing solar panels and are benefiting from lower electricity costs without having any noticeable blight on the building’s architecture. Can you guess where they are from the pictures above?*

Henley in Transition (environmental community group), researched which Henley buildings already have them for their new Henley Community Energy Scheme (HCES) in partnership with Reading Community Energy Society (RCES) which is inviting applications from building owners and users to offer their roofs for the installation of FREE solar panels.

Suitable buildings include churches and charity buildings, colleges, offices, museums, doctors’ surgeries, care homes and leisure centres, as well as commercial buildings such as factories, technology centres and retail stores with a southwards facing roof space of at least 100m2 and have a single occupier and a single meter.

There is no cost to building owners as the panels are funded through Energy4All, a national co-operative of people who invest in “green” projects through public share offers.  Building owners will benefit from electricity at reduced rates over a 20 year period, after which they will own the panels and benefit from completely free electricity. Any extra revenue generated by the Henley Community Energy Scheme will be used for projects focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency.

RCES have already completed a successful scheme in Reading involving 700 solar panels on 12 buildings including a library, schools, churches and community centres.

Katrina Judge, who is leading the project for Henley in Transition said, “This is a fabulous opportunity for community organisations and businesses to use their roofs to install solar panels, create green electricity, reduce their carbon footprint, reduce their electricity costs, and all at no cost to themselves.”

For more details or an informal discussion, please email henley.in.transition@gmail.com with details of your building or call Katrina on 07734 607453.

*St Mary’s Church, Over 60s Club, Henley Hockey Club and Henley Business School