Community Funded Solar for Your Organisation
The Big Solar Co-op project was built around a simple idea: get solar on big rooftops as easily as possible The vision was also to help organisations and businesses benefit from renewable energy, without the traditional financial barriers that have often held people back.
Rather than relying on businesses to fund expensive installations themselves, the co-op uses a community-led funding model that allows solar to be installed at little to no upfront cost.
The vision behind Big Solar Co-op is to create a large network of rooftop solar systems across the UK, helping businesses unlock underused roof space and turn it into a practical asset that generates lower-cost electricity.
Unlike conventional solar developers that focus purely on commercial returns, Big Solar Co-op is driven by a broader purpose. The model is based on shared benefit. Community investors fund projects that help businesses reduce energy costs, while supporting the wider transition towards cleaner electricity generation.
This approach creates a circular benefit:
- Businesses reduce electricity bills immediately
- Community investment supports renewable infrastructure
- Rooftop spaces that would otherwise sit unused generate clean power
- Local and national carbon reduction goals are supported
- Organisations gain access to sustainability improvements without needing large budgets
For many organisations, rising electricity prices have become a significant challenge. Solar offers a way to create greater certainty over future energy costs, reduce dependency on grid electricity and improve operational efficiency.
Businesses that operate during daytime hours often see the greatest benefits because solar power is generated when the building is actively consuming electricity.
Solar with no upfront cost
Installing solar panels has traditionally meant a large upfront investment, which can make it difficult for businesses to move forward, even when the savings are clear. Big Solar Co-op removes that barrier by fully funding and installing commercial solar systems, allowing businesses to benefit from lower electricity costs immediately without needing to spend capital.
For many businesses, energy is one of the biggest and most unpredictable overheads. Solar can provide long-term protection against rising electricity prices while improving sustainability credentials and reducing carbon emissions. Businesses that operate during the daytime often benefit the most, because solar generates electricity when they are actively using power.
The Big Solar Co-op model is designed to make solar accessible, simple and low risk. Instead of paying for the system, businesses purchase the cheaper electricity generated by the panels installed on their roof.
How the Big Solar Co-op scheme works
Here is a quick outline:
- The co-op fully funds and installs the solar system
- You benefit from immediate energy savings of around 35%
- No capital outlay is needed
- You simply purchase the electricity generated at a reduced rate
- After 5 years, you may have the option to purchase the system outright and increase your long-term savings even further
Saving around one-third on electricity costs can make a significant difference to business overheads. Those savings can then be redirected into staffing, equipment, growth, investment or improving cash flow.
Unlike many traditional solar projects, there is no need to secure funding, finance or internal CapEx approval. This makes the scheme especially attractive for manufacturers, warehouses, offices, farms, schools, leisure venues and multi-site businesses.
The programme is completely free to access, and the Big Solar Co-op has received national recognition for its work through awards from Community Energy England, winning their Community Energy Excellence Award in 2025.
Why businesses choose this model
Businesses often choose the Big Solar Co-op approach because it offers:
- Immediate reduction in electricity bills
- No installation or equipment costs – or ongoing maintenance costs
- Improved sustainability and ESG credentials
- Reduced exposure to future energy price rises
- Better use of unused roof space
- Potential long-term ownership of the solar system, earning more savings
- Minimal disruption during installation
- No need for borrowing or finance agreements, meaning no ongoing administration or financial risk
For organisations trying to lower operational costs without making major capital investments, it can be one of the simplest routes into renewable energy.
How to Apply to Big Solar Co-op
To assess whether your site is suitable, Big Solar Co-op needs enough information to understand your roof, your energy use and when electricity is consumed. Below are the key details they need to create your quote, and you can send this direct to us at GENR8 Energy and we can help you get your quote.
You will need to share:
1. Annual electricity usage
Ideally this should be half-hourly electricity data for a full year. If unavailable, monthly usage for a full year can be used instead. Not sure how to find this data? Read on and we’ll give you some help finding it later in this article. Usually you can get this information form your energy supplier.
2. Cost per kWh
Provide the actual unit rate you pay per kWh, excluding standing charges but including usage-related levies. If you are unsure simply provide a monthly energy bill as this usually contains all of this information.
3. Roof location
Provide the what3words location for the roof or roofs where solar panels would be installed. If you don’t know, get in touch and we can help you figure this out.
4. Business activity
Explain what the business does and what electricity is used for.
For example:
- Office lighting and computers
- Refrigeration or cold storage
- Manufacturing machinery
- Industrial welding or fabrication
- EV charging
- Warehousing operations
- Food production equipment
5. Opening days and hours
Solar works best when a business consumes electricity during daylight hours, so this information helps assess potential savings.
6. Main contact
Provide the name, email and phone number of the person who will be championing the enquiry from your business.
How to get your annual electricity usage
Option 1: Login to your energy supplier portal and download data
In most cases you should be able to find your half hourly data in your energy supplier portal. You have to have this enabled as a feature, and if you’re not sure you can contact your energy provider to check.
Option 2: Request half-hourly data from your supplier
- Step 1: Contact your electricity supplier.
Ask for:
“Half-hourly electricity consumption data for the last 12 months in CSV format.”
- Step 2: Request it by MPAN or site address.
- Step 3: Save the file and forward it.
This data helps Big Solar Co-op accurately understand when electricity is used, which is critical when modelling savings.
Option 2: Use monthly electricity bills
If half-hourly data is unavailable, gather 12 months of electricity bills.
Record:
- Month
- kWh usage
- Total electricity consumed
Although less accurate, this still allows an initial assessment.
How to find your electricity unit cost
Find a recent electricity bill and look for the following:
- Unit rate (p/kWh)
- Day rate
- Evening or night rate if applicable
Do not include:
- Standing charge
- VAT
- One-off admin fees
In many cases, you can simply share a copy of your energy bill and the Big Solar Coop team can find what they need from this.
How to find your roof location using what3words
- Go to the what3words website or app.
- Search for your property.
- Zoom into the roof.
- Click the roof location.
- Copy the three-word reference.
- If there are multiple roofs, provide a separate reference for each.
What to send
Once you have gathered the information, send the following to our main email:
- Business name and site address
- Electricity usage data
- Cost per kWh
- Roof what3words location
- Business activity description
- Opening hours
- Main contact details
- Preferred communication route
You can contact us at any time with these details and we can arrange a quote and initial assessment.
Who else has benefited from Big Solar Coop?
Examples of organisations supported through community energy and rooftop solar programmes include schools, churches, industrial units, agricultural sites and commercial premises across the UK.
These include:
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