Finance

UK’s first community-owned solar battery seeks investors

Low Carbon Hub plans to add battery energy storage system (BESS) to existing solar plant. The developer is offering shares in what’s thought to be the first community-owned co-located battery in the United Kingdom.

By

Matthew Lynas

Mar 26, 2026

The largest community-owned solar parks in the United Kingdom is seeking investors for a 12 MWh BESS in a bid boost revenues for the 19 MW plant.

Low Carbon Hub claims adding energy storage would make the Ray Valley Solar project the first community-owned co-located battery in United Kingdom. The developer has raised more than GBP 10 million (13.4 million) in community investment since it was founded in 2011 and is now seeking GBP 500,000 to fund a battery for Ray Valley.

Members of the public and organizations are being invited to buy shares in Low Carbon Hubs Community Energy Fund via direct impact investing platform Ethex. Investments in the share offer start at GBP 100, with a maximum investment of GBP 100,00.

The Ray Valley solar project was first commissioned in 2022, however grid constraints are limiting revenue performance according to the developer. Low Carbon Hub plans to use a co-located BESS for arbitrage, storing electricity for sale when demand is stronger and prices are higher.

This should mean more revenue to support good causes, according to Low Carbon Hub. The Community Energy Fund uses surplus revenue to support energy-focused community benefit projects – the developer has forecast that adding BESS to Ray Valley Solar would increase the surplus revenue available for community benefits by more than GBP 1 million over the lifetime of the plant. Rye Valley Solar is currently projected to generate approximately GBP 13 million in community benefit.

CEO Barbara Hammond (left) and Low Carbon Hub team members at the Ray Valley project in Oxfordshire, England.

Barbara Hammond, CEO at Low Carbon hub, said the latest fundraising round provides an opportunity to invest in the “exciting next phase of community energy.”

“Solar energy used to be heavily dependent on the time the sun was out, but adding battery storage makes the clean power more reliable and consistent day and night,” Hammond said.

One of the United Kingdom’s largest community-owned developers, Low Carbon Hub has built more than 50 clean energy projects across Oxfordshire, England, including rooftop and ground-mounted solar. Its latest community share offer is open to investors until June 26, 2026.

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Matthew Lynas
Matthew Lynas joined pv magazine as features editor in 2023. An experienced business-to-business journalist, Matthew is responsible for features in our monthly global print title. Previously, he served as editor of a leading UK retail magazine, covering a broad range of issues including sustainability projects in the grocery and FMCG sectors.
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