Quarterly Newsletter September 2024
Quarterly update on Gawcott Solar’s performance and community impact.
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Our community solar farm at Gawcott Fields Farm, between Buckingham and Gawcott, has been generating electricity and income from the sun since June 2016.
The Gawcott Fields community solar project is a step towards a future of energy being generated locally from renewable sources, and the value of our energy economy being retained locally. Read more about us and our story here.
As a not for profit community interest company, we use surplus income generated by the solar farm (after operating and finance costs) to fund energy and environmental projects in our local communities. Our ‘Bee Green’ small grants fund supports community-led environmental projects in the parishes within 5km of the solar farm. Our ‘Solar Soft Loans’ help pay for solar panels and energy saving measures for local schools and community buildings. Our net zero schools programme supports renewable energy and climate change-related STEM activities including school visits to the solar farm.
Find out more about our funding here.
Quarterly update on Gawcott Solar’s performance and community impact.
...read moreTo be considered for the latest round of funding, you’ll need to submit your application by the end of July.
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Buckingham and the surrounding parishes spend almost £20 million per year on energy, almost all of which leaves the local economy. The Gawcott Fields Community Solar project is a step towards a future of energy being generated locally from renewable sources, and the value of our energy economy being retained locally.
Our community solar farm at Gawcott Fields Farm, between Buckingham and Gawcott, has been generating electricity and income from the sun since June 2016. The 4.17 megawatt solar array is made up of over 16,000 solar panels and is generating over 4 million kWh of renewable electricity each year. That’s enough to power 1,100 homes or make 190 million cups of tea!
The solar farm is owned by Gawcott Fields Community Solar Project CIC, a professionally managed community interest company (CIC) that is governed by local volunteer directors and run for the benefit of the local community.
The solar farm is funded by a community bond offer which raised £418,550 and will pay an annual interest at 6.5% and a long-term bank loan from Santander Bank. Social and Sustainable Capital provided a vital bridge loan to help build the solar farm, which has now been repaid.
The solar farm is earning income from the sale of electricity and a Feed-in Tariff. Surplus income (after operating and finance costs) is used to fund community organisations and projects in the local area. The community solar farm is projected to generate around £2.8million for local projects over its 25 year operating life, with a minimum annual contribution of £30,000.
Please see our news section and annual reports to find out how we have put the solar farm income to work. If you have any suggestions for how local community organisations and projects could benefit, please get in touch.
Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC was set up by Communities for Renewables CIC (CfR), a not for profit CIC which helps communities generate their own energy. CfR managed the construction and financing of the solar farm and provides ongoing company and asset management services.
Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC is governed by a Board of volunteer non-executive directors.
We were set up by Communities for Renewables CIC (CfR), a not for profit CIC which helps communities generate their own energy. CfR managed the construction and financing of the solar farm and provides ongoing company and asset management services.
