The group wanted to support their rural community through a community‑owned solar farm to supply affordable electricity, support local homes and institutions, and reinvest surplus income into wider community projects.
The Calleva Community Energy team explain, “We’re really big fans of the idea that renewables are developed on behalf of communities, that benefits go back to communities. The whole sense of ownership and link to the renewables that sit in their space is very, very important to us.” they added, “the project was incredibly technical and not something we could have done on our own.”
The Hub supported the group through a Stage 1 feasibility grant of £40,000 under the former Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF), followed by Stage 2 development funding of £66,000 from the Community Energy Fund (CEF). This helped build a strong business case and secure planning and grid agreements for the first community‑owned solar farm in the area, built across two stages and capable of generating around 3,000 MWh of clean electricity a year over 25 years and offsetting the emissions from around 300 local households.
The Hub helped Calleva Community Energy with a feasibility study application that explored local energy needs, options and rural constraints. The study demonstrated a viable opportunity for a 3MW solar farm on land held in trust for the benefit of the Enborne community by the Enborne Field Charity. The research showed that a ground‑mounted solar array could solve modern fuel challenges and bring real community benefits.
The Hub liaised with consultants, reviewing reports, answering delivery questions and signposting additional support where needed.
It wasn’t just about their expertise and opening the right doors; the Hub also provided valuable support to the project. “You bump your head against a brick wall so often through processes like this,” the Calleva Community Energy team said, “and knowing there’s a team behind you that thinks it’s a really good idea and emotional support…that cannot be underestimated.”
The first 1.7kWh phase of the build will generate enough energy to power 586 homes, saving 391 tonnes of carbon in the first phase alone, increasing to 690 tons of carbon per year for the full 3M kWh farm.
With planning consent secured, the scheme is about to start the first phase of construction. The Hub’s structured support across both stages has helped de‑risk the project, strengthen the business case and give funders confidence.
“The very first thing the Hub does is provide finance, because we were a group without any specialist skills,” the client says, “we needed people who could help us design the farm, understand the output, work out the numbers and even write the grid application.”
Over 25 years, the 3MW solar farm is expected to generate around 3,000 MWh of clean electricity per year, saving an estimated 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and offsetting the consumption of around 300 nearby households. The scheme will also create jobs, provide valuable flood mitigation for the community, and enhance biodiversity through habitat creation and sympathetic grazing.
The project has demonstrated how even modest early‑stage grant support can be transformative for rural community energy schemes.
The time spent up front in detailed feasibility work and strategy enabled the tools and confidence to lead a complex development process. The project’s volunteers are passing on the skills developed through this scheme to support and mentor other local community energy groups.
The Calleva Community Energy team said, “We want to make sure the benefits go back to the community. It’s about improving biodiversity, increasing the charity’s income and creating a surplus that flows back into the community.”
Get in touch with the Greater South East Net Zero hub for support.
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