Kent Community Energy (KCE) has already raised over £575,000 in its community share offer, surpassing its original £400,000 target.
The funds will create a pipeline of community-owned solar arrays on community, charity, and heritage buildings, generating a surplus fund to benefit local initiatives.
The share offer invited people from around the UK to invest in rooftop solar projects across Kent.
“Investments in the offer start at just £100, with a target return of 6% per annum, making it an accessible way for people to back meaningful climate action with real community impact,” KCE states.
Projects already underway which will benefit from the funds include:
- A dementia care centre in Tenterden, installing solar and battery storage.
- A mental health charity in Maidstone, powering a café and therapeutic garden.
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch heritage railway, transitioning from coal to solar.
- A library and Age UK building in Hythe.
- The Beltinge village community hall.
KCE highlights the potential impact if the £750,000 maximum is reached, stating that it will:
- Install 400 kW of solar capacity across vital community spaces.
- Cut energy bills by around 25% for participating organisations.
- Prevent 150 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year – equivalent to the footprint of 30 UK households.
- Increase money given back to local community groups to £80,000 annually by 2028 to tackle energy poverty, promote low carbon energy, and protect biodiversity.