Heart of England Community Energy
About Us
Heart of England Community Energy Limited is a community benefit society that owns one of the largest community solar farms in the UK. Located just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, our 15-megawatt array, made up of around 60,000 solar panels, has been generating clean and sustainable electricity since 2016!
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Our not-for-profit community energy enterprise is set up to bring the benefits of local energy to the Heart of England region. We empower local people and organisations by enabling them to invest in, control and benefit from local renewable energy generation. Structured as an asset-locked community benefit society, our ownership lies with our members, governed by dedicated local volunteer directors, and registered under the Co-operatives and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
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We recycle our profits back into the Heart of England area by supporting local charities and projects with a positive social and environmental impact. We also support initiatives to tackling climate change and poverty in developing countries.
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Community Fund
Heart of England Community Energy is dedicated to supporting local charities and organisations. Through our Community Grant Fund, we reinvest surplus profits into community projects with a positive social and environmental impact. We fund projects in South Warwickshire, Stratford upon Avon, and nearby areas.
If you're part of a local community organisation with an idea that can benefit both your community and the environment, we're eager to hear from you. We have £50,000 to invest in projects that reduce carbon impact and enrich the community.
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We also support SolarAid, an international charity which combats poverty and climate change through providing access to solar lights in Uganda, Malawi and Zambia.
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News
Our Solar Arrays
Poplars
With a total installed capacity of 4.98MW, Poplars has generated a total output of 4.58GWh this financial year – this exactly meets target (enough to power just under 1,500 typical homes)
Partners
CfR CIC is a mission-led community interest company which helps communities to set up local energy enterprises and works with them to develop, finance and manage their own renewable energy generation. CfR provides company and asset management services to Heart of England Community Energy Ltd and its subsidiaries.
Act on Energy supports householders on their energy journey, offering a full home energy support service and impartial advice. As a non-profit environmental charity in South Warwickshire, they put the householder at the centre of all they do.
Heart of England is using its community benefit to fund staffing costs to assist vulnerable consumers, conduct home visits for energy efficiency improvements, and pilot a GP practice engagement model to address fuel poverty-related health issues.
Ethex is an award-winning not-for-profit positive investment platform that offers potential investors the opportunity to invest online in a wide range of savings and investment products, offering strong social and environmental benefits, as well as a financial return.
Ethex manages HECE's share and bond register. This includes administering interest and capital payments, keeping contact and bank details up to date, share buy-backs and issue of new shares and probate administration.
Anesco is a UK-based integrated solar company which developed and built the solar farms, and provides ongoing operations and maintenance services. With a portfolio that includes over 100 solar farms, Anesco has demonstrated its commitment to advancing clean energy solutions in the United Kingdom. These solar farms collectively boast an impressive installed capacity of over 480 megawatts peak (MWp).