The Community Energy Fund 2021 is open!
We are so thrilled to be building our first ever ground mount solar park, which will have a significant impact on the amount of green electricity produced in Oxfordshire. We are committed to putting community energy at the heart of the new zero carbon energy system and are so excited to open up the Community Energy Fund for new investment to enable people to own part of this exciting project.
Dr Barbara Hammond, MBELow Carbon Hub CEO
Our Community Energy Fund has now re-opened for new investment. With your help, we can make an energy system that works for all of us, and for the planet, a reality. Find out more below, or invest in the Community Energy Fund now.
Deadline: 31 March 2021
Target raise: £1.5 million
Minimum investment: £100
Maximum investment: £100,000
Interest rate: 5% (capped at 4% for the first 5 years)
What is the Low Carbon Hub’s Community Energy Fund?
Concerned about climate change and want to do something to help? As we outlined in a previous post, positively investing your money can be a great action to take against climate change. Our Community Energy Fund is one such opportunity.
We’ve been raising investment through Share Offers since 2016, supporting the development of renewable energy projects, such as Sandford Hydro in 2016, with interest rates tied to the performance of that project. So far, we have reached over £7 million in investment and have developed over 40 renewable energy projects across Oxfordshire. An achievement we can put down to fantastic support from our 1300+ investor members.
In 2018 we launched the Community Energy Fund. The Fund allows investors to invest in a portfolio of projects which will change over time – but always support our mission of accelerating the transition to a zero carbon energy system. We aim to open the Fund annually, giving a regular opportunity for investors to support our work. Since it’s launch, we have received over £3 million into the fund.
Today we re-opened the Community Energy Fund for new investment. We’re aiming for a target raise of £1.5 million by the end of March and £3 million by the end of 2021, and we need your help to reach this. Take a look at our 2021 Share Offer Document for all the details on the community energy projects this funding will enable.
Ray Valley Solar
Planning permission has been secured for Ray Valley Solar, a 19 MW ground mount solar park, near Arncott, three miles south-east of Bicester. Permission has also been obtained for significant battery storage on site.
We plan to:
- Build the largest community-owned solar park in the UK
- Generate 18 GWh of clean green electricity every year, enough to power over 6,000 homes
- Keep £2.6 million worth of energy spend in the local economy each year
- Provide £13 million community benefit funding over the project lifetime.
The solar park will provide an important ‘anchor generation load’ for Project Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO). This collaborative partnership is one of the most ambitious, wide-ranging innovative and holistic smart grid trials ever conducted in the UK. It is an incredible opportunity to fundamentally change the way the UK energy system works. Be part of the largest community-owned solar park in the UK and consider investing in the CEF 2021.
What are the benefits of investing in the Community Energy Fund?
When you invest in our Community Energy Fund, you become an Investor Member of the Low Carbon Hub IPS Limited. That means you join a community of over 1300 investors who are putting their money to work tackling climate change and doing social good, whilst receiving a financial return and democratic voting rights at our AGM.
The benefits of investing in the Low Carbon Hub include:
- Earn up to 5% interest on your investment*
- Help fund more renewable energy projects across Oxfordshire
- Keep money in the local economy through community ownership
- Tackle the global issue of climate change on a local level
- 100% of our surpluses support further local action on climate change.
*capped at 4% for the first four years of investment.
How do I make an investment in the Community Energy Fund?
Step 1: Read our Share Offer Document and supporting documents to ensure you have all the information and details you need to decide to invest
Step 2: Head over to the Ethex (the investment platform we use) website to invest online.
Step 3: If you have any questions or issues, you can always email our Investor Support Coordinator on members@lowcarbonhub.org.
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