Almost £1million raised for the first community-owned battery in the UK

Thanks to the incredible support of 368 investors from across the UK, we have raised  £971,023 in community shares to help fund the UK’s first co-located, community-owned battery at Ray Valley Solar.

Our latest share offer, hosted on the Ethex ethical investment platform, closed on 26 June having reached 194% of it’s target – almost half a million more than we originally set out to raise.

Where does the money go?

Every pound invested will go directly towards funding battery storage at Ray Valley Solar, one of the UK’s largest community-owned solar parks.

The site already exceeds its generation targets year on year, but in peak sunny periods, it produces more clean energy than the grid can cope with. By adding battery storage we will capture that surplus clean energy, store it and release it when it’s most needed and most valuable, rather than allow it to go to waste.

This means that the site will earn more, and generate over £1 million more in community benefit over its lifetime.

First of its kind project  

This is the first time a community energy organisation has raised funds specifically to install co-located battery storage at an existing solar park, making this a milestone for both us at the Low Carbon Hub and the sector as a whole. We look forward to sharing updates as the battery is constructed and installed.

Thank you

To everyone who invested for the first time, or reinvested in us: welcome, and thank you. To everyone who shared this opportunity and helped us spread the word: thank you too! Your support made this possible.