Our first bond offer to raise £2.662 million to develop a new solar farm is open to investment giving you another way to support local, clean energy generation.
The new three year fixed interest bond scheme is announced after a successful start to our #OwnIt campaign. Over £640,000 has been raised so far through Bristol Energy Co-op’s most recent share offer; more money than it has raised in its previous two share offers together. This bond offer gives investors an alternative opportunity to invest in this community energy scheme.
The bond offer will help finance a 4.568MWp solar farm near Puriton, Somerset, just west of the M5 near junction 23 (see one of our directors being interviewed at the site by BBC Breakfast).
This is part of an ambitious portfolio of solar projects including another solar farm near Lawrence Weston and 20 large roof installations which will be funded by our share offer. Together this fund-raise gives people an opportunity to own and benefit from locally generated clean energy through investment.
The bond offer enables people to join a forward-looking community of investors who can:
- Participate in the development of local, renewable energy resources;
- Support the reinvestment of surplus income back into local communities;
- Help strengthen local energy supplies and security, and take action on climate change;
- Earn interest at a rate of 6% per annum, paid after three years.
After three years investors have the option to cash in their bonds or extend the bond beyond three years at 5% per annum. The bond offer closes on Sunday 31 January 2016. The minimum investment is £500.
Mike Simpson, a Bristol Energy Co-op investor said:
“I’ve invested in the share offer, and I’ll put more into the bonds when they’re released. It makes so much sense to have my money doing something positive, helping real people and reducing our carbon emissions at the same time.”
How to invest
You can invest in our share offer or bond offer via the Ethex website.
Risk Warning
Investment decisions must only be made on the basis of the bond offer document and not on information provided in this release. Your original investment capital may be at risk and any return on your investment depends on the success of the Puriton solar array and Bristol Energy Cooperative’s business as a whole. You should read the offer document in full, including the risk factors set out in the offer document, and the terms and conditions regarding this offer at ethex.org.uk before investing. You should consider taking appropriate financial and other advice before making any investment decision.
