A co-operative investment featuring Westmill Solar Co-operative was announced as a finalist at a renewables industry awards ceremony.
The financing was one of three business models highlighted in the ‘Advancing Innovation’ category – which recognises cutting edge advances in the community energy space – at the annual Community Energy Awards event held last night (22 November).
Westmill Solar Co-operative announced last month that it was part of the first-ever cross-border co-operative investment in Europe, in partnership with energy co-ops from Spain, France, Belgium and the UK. The deal – a collaboration with MECISE (Mobilising European Citizens to Invest in Sustainable Energy) – secured a £5 million loan to support community-owned renewable energy projects, expanding sustainable energy initiatives across Europe.
The eventual category winner at last night’s presentation saw Cepro and Bristol Energy Cooperative awarded for pioneering community-owned residential microgrids, integrating solar energy, battery storage, and demand-responsive technology in groundbreaking projects in West and Southwest England.