Do you have a roof space that’s calling out for some solar panels? Find out how BEC can help.

Our offer
Which Roofs Are Suitable
Download our Guide (PDF)

our offer

Free Solar PV 
(no capital required)

Immediate cost and carbon savings

Supports our local community benefit schemes

Moves Bristol one step closer towards Net Zero

WHICH ROOFS ARE SUITABLE

Right now, we are looking for partner sites in or around Bristol which have large roofs and use a lot of electricity

For example, your site could be a factory with energy-hungry machinery, or a leisure centre with high light and heat demand.
The roof of your building could be flat or tilted, and facing in any direction except for North.

It really helps if your roof is in a good condition, and if you own your building or have a long-term lease.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

To kick off the process, please complete our form at the bottom of this page to find out if you could be a partner site for Bristol Energy Cooperative

If your site appears to be a good match for us, we will reach out to you and ask for more information about your buildings and energy use.

Feasibility Checks

We will visit your site and undertake a survey of your roof and electrics before making a written offer. The offer will be to supply electricity to you at a below market rate in return for use of your roof space. 

Offer & Lease

Once you have accepted the offer, we will agree a formal lease agreement between us and progress to installing the solar panels. We’ll sort out the structural survey, grid application and planning approvals.

Installation & Commissioning

We’ll cover all installation costs for the solar panels. We aim to begin installation no more than six months after you agree to our written offer.

Generation begins!

We take care of O&M and sell electricity to you at a reduced rate. Once in operation, we will operate and maintain the solar array. The electricity generated will be sold to you with the excess feeding the grid. 

Lifetime of the array

The solar array will help fund community projects benefiting local people and the climate. After 25 years, we will remove the array and responsibly dispose of all components, aiming to reuse or recycle wherever possible.

WHAT IS OUR TRACK RECORD?

We own and operate 23 rooftop solar arrays. Our oldest has been operating since 2011 and is still going strong. In 2024 alone, 
ten partner sites signed up to our offer

In 2024, we installed a 140 kilowatt array at the airbase of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. Our solar power saves money for the charity, which in turn supports their life-saving helicopter service.


Another iconic BEC array is on Bristol Beacon. We are proud that all the electricity generated by this installation is used on site, providing the electricity needed for events run by the venue. You can catch sight of the panels if you stand on the traffic island opposite the Beacon!

What makes Bristol Energy Coop Different?

If your site appears to be a good match for us, we will reach out to you and ask for more information about your buildings and energy use. We offer free solar PV for businesses, schools and community organisations across Bristol.

Free Installation

Bristol Energy Cooperative installs and operates solar arrays at its own cost. We do not ask for payment from our site partners. Our arrays are funded by community share offers, topped up by commercial loans.

Bill Savings

In return for using your roof space over a 25 year period, we sell you clean electricity at a price we guarantee to be below market rates. Our partner sites typically save thousands of pounds each year on their electricity bills. 

Easy Process

Bristol Energy Cooperative will manage the installation and operation of the array, using our network of tradespeople. The installation itself takes a few weeks, and we will work with you to keep disruption to a minimum.

Community Benefit

All our projects include community benefit elements. Some of the revenue goes into local projects which address the climate and energy crisis. We will also work with you to engage with your local community, like offering energy saving advice to your employees or clients.

Not for profit

Bristol Energy Cooperative does energy differently. We are a not for profit company and our aim is to work with local communities to make meaningful reductions in carbon emissions. Once we have paid our costs, the revenue we make is invested back into Bristol and the surrounding area.

Local reliable service

Being Bristol-based, we rely upon building good relationships with local businesses and communities. We will always be open, fair and provide an excellent service, both during development and during operation.

Don’t fit these criteria but still interested in rooftop solar?

We sometimes have grant funding we can use on smaller projects, such as churches, community centres and schools.


Please get in touch with us to find out more about whether we could partner together on a rooftop project.

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