West Oxford Community Renewables

Community-owned renewable energy for west Oxford

West Oxford Community Renewables (WOCoRe) has developed 220 kWp of renewable energy, mainly solar panels with a small wind turbine. It also developed the microhydro at Osney Lock, set up as a separate organisation, Osney Lock Hydro, to build and run it.

Members’ investment funds WOCoRe’s projects. Hosts get discounted electricity and members get a modest interest payment. The surplus goes back into local environmental projects to cut more carbon. A large share goes to Low Carbon West Oxford, supporting its work on home energy efficiency, food, transport, waste reduction and wildlife.

WOCoRe also helped set up Hogacre Common Eco Park on the former Corpus Christi College sports ground. Hogacre is now its own Community Interest Company, though WOCoRe still holds the lease.