News - Page 3
Solar farms and wildlife
Fields of solar panels and wildflower meadows – it sounds unlikely. But the evidence tells a more interesting story – one that's worth considering.
Our energy support for organisations in Oxfordshire
We’ve now supported over 500 Oxfordshire organisations with fully-funded energy assessments, and delivered over £125,000 in match-funding towards energy efficiency upgrades in the last financial year. Managing premises for a small business, charity or community can be costly, confusing and seriously time-consuming. Because of this, energy usage might not always be at the top of […]
Small community grants 2025-26
A small grant from Low Carbon Hub can go a long way – from thermal imaging campaigns to fashion shows, EV charging upgrades to repair cafes. Here's how fifteen Oxfordshire community groups are putting their 2025–26 grants to work.
Why battery storage is the next step for community energy
Battery storage is the next frontier for community energy. Here's what we learned building the case for a 3MW battery at Ray Valley Solar – and why the timing matters.
Inside our grid battery project
What does a grid-scale battery actually look like on the ground? This post takes a detailed look inside the 3MW / 12MWh battery planned for Ray Valley Solar – explaining how it works, what equipment is being installed, and why those engineering choices matter for performance and long-term returns.
Community benefit from renewable energy
As the UK builds renewables at pace, who actually benefits? Our second Community Energy Insights webinar of 2026 explored what meaningful community benefit looks like in practice – and why the window to act in Oxfordshire is right now.
How battery storage makes solar work better
Ray Valley Solar, the UK’s largest community-owned solar park, is adding a 3MW / 12MWh battery to reduce curtailment, shift electricity to peak demand, and increase long-term community benefit in Oxfordshire.
Invest in the UK’s first community-owned battery
Will you invest in the Community Energy Fund and help install the UK’s first community-owned battery? Low Carbon Hub is re-launching our Community Energy Fund to raise £1.3 million in community shares to install battery storage at Ray Valley Solar, one of the UK’s largest community-owned solar parks. The battery will be the UK’s first community-owned battery co-located with a community owned solar park and represents the […]
Outstanding year for Community Grants funding
It's been our best year yet for community grants. In 2025–26, Low Carbon Hub awarded £31,500 to community groups across Oxfordshire — funding projects from draughtbusting affordable housing to building a community shop with rooftop solar. Here's what our members have been doing.
Energy efficiency and comfort in an 18th century home
I recently visited Julia Shay and Martin Groves, who have lived in their 18th-century thatched cottage in Eynsham for about twelve years. The house is Grade II listed and sits in a conservation area, which has shaped almost every decision they make about improving it. The windows were one of the biggest projects to undertake. […]
How to pay for improving your home
A plain-English guide to paying for home energy improvements in 2026, including what the Warm Homes Plan means for grants, loans, and getting started with retrofit.
An old house with new challenges
They wanted to reduce their energy usage, make the house warmer and well insulated, and possibly replacing their gas boiler with a heat pump.