We’re delighted to have exceeded our £2 million target in our latest share offer. Raising these funds means we’re now able to steam ahead with some very exciting projects, including our Bristol hydro-electric scheme, the UK’s first domestic housing micro-grid with battery storage, and rooftop solar.
We’re very grateful to the 800 or so investors who’ve made this raise possible. It’s thrilling to welcome so many new members. Many thanks also to Ethex who have provided so much support to us.
This successful raise comes as we mark 10 years since the founding of Bristol Energy Co-op, a decade in which we’ve raised over £14million, installed over 9MWp of solar and battery assets, and facilitated over £250,000 of community benefit payments. Our renewable energy portfolio already provides enough electricity to power the equivalent of 3000 average homes, a figure now set to increase as our new projects come online.
We also have some exciting new plans in the pipeline which we look forward to sharing over the coming months.
BRISTOL COMMUNITY HYDRO SCHEME
A key project supported by this share offer is Bristol’s first-ever urban hydro-electric scheme, Bristol Community Hydro. This run-of-river twin-screw scheme is to be sited at Netham Weir on the river Avon. It is expected to generate around 900,000 kwh of renewable electricity annually, the equivalent usage of more than 250 average homes, or enough to drive an electric car between Bristol and Bath more than 200,000 times, and have a working life of over 40 years.
The project is receiving up to £1,153,539 of funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020, and is being managed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, the local community and create jobs.