A renewable energy initiative in the Oxfordshire region is inviting local people to back a battery storage venture attached to a solar power station close to Bicester.
The Ray Valley solar development in Arncott, operated by the social enterprise Low Carbon Hub, is opening up investment options to the public.
Created by Low Carbon Hub in 2022, Ray Valley counts among the biggest community-controlled solar farms in the country, able to power roughly 7,000 homes with emissions-free electricity.
The group plans to equip the Arncott location with battery storage capacity to boost clean energy utilisation and deliver improved financial outcomes for nearby communities.
Finance for this scheme will arrive through public share investments in the Community Energy Fund, accessible via the impact investment platform Ethex.
Investment amounts commence at £100 and reach a maximum of £100,000 per person.
The funds collected will help maximise renewable generation and build infrastructure to speed the transition to a net-zero energy network.
Low Carbon Hub chief executive Dr Barbara Hammond stated that Britain has never previously witnessed a community-controlled battery fitted alongside a community-controlled energy project, and members of the public can be part of this landmark development for community energy. Solar generation has always depended on daylight, yet battery storage brings dependability and steadiness throughout the day and night.
Currently, the Ray Valley site cannot channel all produced electricity when demand reaches its highest.
On days with exceptionally strong sunshine, the installation creates more power than the local network can absorb, causing clean energy to go to waste.
Moreover, wholesale electricity rates during daylight hours are generally reduced when solar production peaks, meaning the electricity generated fetches lower prices.
Fitting batteries would allow more clean energy to be harnessed while strengthening the site’s revenue.
Earnings from every Low Carbon Hub clean energy scheme support local environmental projects, including help for educational institutions, households and companies aiming to enhance energy performance and lower emissions.
The proposed battery arrangement would retain surplus solar output that would otherwise be discarded for deployment at a later time.
Yearly benefits are estimated at about 809 MWh of clean power—enough to meet the needs of roughly 300 residences annually.
By releasing stored solar electricity during high-consumption periods when the grid leans more on fossil fuel-based sources, the battery would accomplish further environmental cuts of around 102 tonnes yearly, similar to taking roughly 45 cars off the roads.
Ms Hammond added that ventures like this produce energy everyone can feel good about. This share launch gives people the chance to fund and jointly own vital clean energy infrastructure tackling climate change. Investors obtain a reasonable return while seeing earnings directed into further low-carbon community schemes. This represents an ideal time to improve an existing, thriving solar energy system at Ray Valley with complementary battery storage and keep providing advantages for our local areas.
The public share launch runs from 26 March until 26 June.