Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the solar energy generated and greenhouse gas emissions saved; the host of energy, environmental, and education projects in the local community that are funded by the surplus income we generate; and by the community ties we create by owning and generating our own renewable energy.
Our story
The Ferry Farm community solar array in Selsey and Sidlesham, West Sussex, has been generating electricity and income from the sun since June 2016. The solar farm is owned by Ferry Farm Community Solar Ltd, a not-for-profit community benefit society.
The community solar farm is made up of around 19,000 solar panels, able to generate over 5.4 million kWh of green energy every year for 25 years or more. This adds up to enough electricity to power 1,300 homes!
Income from the sale of electricity and surplus income from the solar array is used to support energy, environmental, and education projects in the local community. The array currently generates around £50,000 per year of surplus income and is expected to generate over £2M over its 30-year lifetime. This surplus income is split between strategic grants and a small grant fund.
In January 2022, we launched a new grant fund to support local projects across the themes of energy, environmental education, climate change readiness, and wildlife. We have also recently set aside £55k as a strategic grant to support the Sussex Kelp Restoration Project which carries out invaluable work restoring the kelp forests on the Sussex coastline. In 2020, we allocated £40,000 to a Covid Crisis Fund to assist those facing hardship in the local community due to the pandemic. This included a year's core funding for Chichester Foodbank to support their work through lockdown and laptops for local children who did not have access to a computer to enable them to engage in home learning.
Ferry Farm Community Solar was awarded "Highly Commended" in the Community category at the British Renewable Energy Awards 2020.
Our advice
Collaborate with partners and individuals who can help to support your goals – Ferry Farm Community Solar was set up and is run with the support of CfR CIC, a not-for-profit community energy enterprise that helps communities develop, finance, and manage their own large-scale community energy projects.
It took several years of work to develop, finance, and refinance the community solar array and, today, Fery Farm Community Solar is governed by a board of volunteer directors but is professionally run by CfR CIC.
We also work with a community steering group that helps to decide on the best use of surplus income to support local community projects with an energy, environmental, and education focus. Selsey Community Forum manages our small grants fund and has coordinated a number of the community projects we have supported.
