Investing With Us
Chester Community Energy Ltd. aims to raise funds to install renewable energy systems in and around Chester by offering shares in our cooperative to members of the public. In return, we give interest on your investment generated by the income we generate from owning and operating renewable energy systems. This depends on three factors: the price we can sell our electricity for, the subsidy (feed-in-tariff) that we receive from the Government for producing the electricity and the subsidy we receive for exporting electricity to the national grid.
Our first share offer in 2016 raised £62k in community shares, which funded our first 50kw solar PV system at Chester’s Northgate Arena leisure centre.
Our second share offer in 2019 raised £122k and we have used these funds to install two further solar PV projects and to start a LED installation scheme. Many thanks to everyone who has supported us, and joined us as members. We will continue to keep you informed with our progress early in 2020.
For information, our Business Plans and Share Offer document is below. Links are also provided below to our Society Rules and our Data Privacy Policy.
- Chester Community Energy Share Offer Document (Sept 2019)
- Chester Community Energy LED Business Plan (Sept 2019)
- Christleton-Neston Solar Business Plan (Sept 2019)
- Chester Community Energy Rules (July 2016)
- Data Privacy Policy May 2018
Chester Community Energy Ltd. is a Community Benefit Society registered by the Financial Conduct Authority. Prospective members are invited to purchase a minimum of 250 shares (1 share = £1) up to 10,000 shares. Being a member means you can attend our Annual General Member and play an active part in shaping our future direction. You can potentially become a Director. If you buy shares in Chester Community Energy Ltd. you will automatically become a Member. We aim to return up to a 4% interest on member’s investment per year (for the last three years we have given 4%). We are also aiming to generate a surplus fund for community and environmental projects (£7,000 since 2016). To find out more email info@chestercommunityenergy.org.uk or see the links to our Business Plan above.
Our partners provide vital support in helping us to achieve our goals. We are registered with Cooperatives UK and have learnt a lot from other community energy societies such as MORE Renewables, Liverpool Community Renewables and Lymm Community Energy Ltd. We work closely with Chester West and Cheshire Council.