Plans to install solar on almost 750 roofs across Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA) have become crowdfunding platform Abundance’s most successful project, in terms of conversion of visits to investment.
Abundance claims that the scheme is Europe’s largest ever crowd funded solar project, with £700,000 of the £3.1 million target already raised since the fund was launched on 31 October 2014.
The ‘Oakapple Berwickshire’ scheme will see Leeds-based renewable installer, Oakapple Renewable Energy in partnership with Glasgow-based Edison Energy, fit solar on eligible properties across a four month window. Once completed, BHA will operate 2,595kWp of solar capacity and residents with solar installed will be able to benefit from unlimited use of the electricity generated by their system for free.
Commenting on the early success of the scheme among investors, chairman of Oakapple Renewable Energy, Phil Taylor, said: “It is great news that so many people are keen to become involved having read about the project on the Abundance Generation website.
“A growing number of people are looking to make ethical investments and this type of project allows them to invest in renewable energy projects, enabling them to make money while supporting the planet.
“There are a number of benefits associated with ‘Oakapple Berwickshire’. The Housing Association and its tenants have nothing to pay to have the solar panels installed, and the tenants can use as much electricity generated by their solar panels as they need for free, reducing their bills significantly. ‘Oakapple Berwickshire’, on the other hand, will benefit by earning revenues from the government’s feed-in tariff scheme.”
The project will close for investment on 31 May, 2015 or when the maximum investment target is met.