SOCIAL IMPACT REPORT
Welcome to our 2021 Social Impact Report, a round-up of the contribution we have made during the past financial year towards the creation of an energy system that is good for people and good for the planet.
2020/21 was a record-breaking year, with:
- 4.3 GWh of renewable electricity generated
- £2.59 m of new investment raised to support our growing portfolio of renewables
- 400+ new investor Members putting their savings to work supporting community-owned renewables
- 33 low carbon community groups from across Oxfordshire joining us in community led action on climate change
- £3.3 million of community benefit activity being delivered.
2020/21 was also the year where work started on Ray Valley Solar, our
first ground mount project. At 19 MW it will not only be the UK’s largest
community-owned solar park, it will also result in a six-fold increase in
our anticipated annual generation, a huge step change for us.
Innovation has been a growing theme for our work, providing innovation grant funding and piloting new services to help householders and organisations improve the energy performance of their buildings. Through Project LEO (Local Energy Oxfordshire), our renewable installations are becoming increasingly important for the role they are playing at the heart of our innovation work, sitting at the centre of trials to test new flexibility services.
Partnership and collaboration continue to be key to our approach. Our work draws on the support of a growing ecosystem of community, commercial, public sector, and academic partners. Together we are seeking equitable and practical real-world solutions that put people and their needs at the heart of the energy system.
Thank you to our members and partners for your extraordinary support over the last 12 months. Together we can continue to put Oxfordshire at the forefront of the energy revolution.