BIG SOLAR CO-OP

Expanding community-owned solar energy to reduce carbon emissions and help organisations generate affordable, clean electricity.

Organisation: Community benefit society
Location: Nationwide
Investment: £800,000
Investment Date: 2024
Source of Investment: Resonance Community Developers

About Big Solar Co-op

Big Solar Co-op is a volunteer-powered, not-for-profit community benefit society helping organisations generate their own renewable energy through rooftop solar installations. Working with schools, businesses, leisure facilities and community buildings, the co-operative develops community-owned solar projects that reduce carbon emissions, lower energy costs and support the UK's transition to a low-carbon economy.

With more than 650 members, Big Solar Co-op is working towards its ambition of installing 100MW of rooftop solar capacity by 2030, creating long-term environmental and community benefit.

Our investment

In 2024, Resonance Community Developers invested £800,000 to help Big Solar Co-op accelerate the delivery of rooftop solar installations across the UK.

The investment strengthened the co-operative's asset base and, alongside additional finance, enabled the organisation to increase the pace of delivery, with plans to install new solar projects at a rate of approximately one installation per month. These projects are bringing renewable energy generation to commercial and community buildings while supporting organisations to reduce long-term energy costs.

Impact

The investment is helping Big Solar Co-op expand community-owned renewable energy at a time when organisations are seeking more affordable, resilient and sustainable sources of power.

The new solar installations are expected to generate enough clean electricity to reduce UK carbon emissions by around 350 tonnes each year, while supporting Big Solar Co-op's long-term ambition to install 100MW of rooftop solar capacity by 2030. As the portfolio grows, the wider programme is expected to help avoid almost 40,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, making a significant contribution to the UK's transition to net zero.

By combining social investment with community ownership, the partnership is helping schools, businesses and community organisations reduce energy costs, increase energy resilience and play an active role in creating a cleaner, more sustainable future.

“The loan from Resonance will enable us to build new solar on the rooftops of buildings across the UK, from schools and leisure facilities to factories and supermarkets. 

“All of these new solar installations are co-owned by our members on a non-profit basis - we have over 650 members and more are joining us every day. With the support from Resonance we will be able to build new solar installations at the rate of one per month in the first half of 2025. Together they will generate enough electricity to reduce UK carbon emissions by around 350 tonnes a year  - that's enough energy to drive an electric car over 2 million miles.” Jon Hallè, CEO at Big Solar Co-op