In January 2016, we successfully secured funding from DECC’s Urban Community Energy Fund to help us investigate the feasibility of our first project in the City. We have now installed our first 50kW solar photovoltaic system on the Council-owned Northgate Arena leisure centre in Chester to generate renewable electricity for at least 25 years. Our Project Manager, Gill Fenna of Quantum Strategy Ltd., explored this fully for us. We would very much like to thank Gill for all her hard work, as well as GenFIT the installers, and CWAC and Brio Leisure for their cooperation and support. And of course, a huge thank you to our members whom without which, there would be no solar panels on Northgate Arena. We are now taking a well-earned rest before embarking on our next project.

A summary of the project can be viewed here:Northgate Arena Members Meetings 18th Oct 2016

Chester Community Energy Ltd (CCEL) has recently been selected for the second stage of the New Generation programme with funding provided by the charity Power to Change.  Of 35 applications, we were one of eight to be chosen to carry out 3 months of research into our project, to replace inefficient lighting in community buildings with modern lighting which saves energy and reduces electricity bills. A modest income can be earned by providing capital for the installations and receiving payments back from the power saved over a number of years. This could provide benefits for CCEL members, the electricity consumer and the environment.