MORE Renewables' new community benefit society rules have been accepted by the FCA.  They can be found here.

Lancaster City Council Planning committee today voted unanimously to approve an application by BE Renewables for a 6.2 MW solar farm near Lancaster.  MORE Renewables hopes to purchase 1.2 MW of this project, once various financial and contract issues are resolved.  

MORE Renewables is in discussion with solar farm developer, BE Renewables, about the purchase of 1.2 MW of a planned 6.2MW solar farm near Lancaster. The site is just north of the sewage treatment works next to the Lune Estuary and could provide renewable electricity for the sewage works. The project goes to Lancaster City Council Planning committee next Monday (29th June) and MORE Renewables is encouraging people to write in support of the application (click here for link). 
MORE Renewables' purchase of part of the solar farm would enable local people to have an ownership stake in the project and result in around £250,000 of community benefit payments over the 25 year life of the project. The land would continue to be used for sheep grazing and would not become 'brownfield land' at the end of the 25 year life of the development.  Views into the site from the cycle way will be screened by hedgerow planting, which will also increase the value of the site for wildlife.  

The solar thermal and PV systems are now installed and running!  In the picture are club treasurer, Tim Hamilton Cox, local councillor Dave Brookes (with his children), Club leader, Steve Naylor, and Anne Chapman from MORE Renewables.

Our solar system being installed on the roof of the Boys and Girls' club, Dallas Road, Lancaster.  This is the solar thermal panel going in, with the solar PV panels already there.

After a sunny year we are pleased to say that our income is up on our projections so we have been able to pay the 3% share interest to members, as set out in our share offer documents, and give £1,400 to LESS towards the salary of their energy officer, who is key to their Home Energy Service.  

The panels are now all on the roof - this picture is through the one gap in the trees from the cycle path on the other side of the river, taken yesterday.

The rails, the top row of panels and the river all looking lovely in the sunshine!

One of the installers in front of their work.

MORE Renewables is pleased to announce the opening of its third share offer.  The offer seeks to raise £50,000 to install a further 39 kWp of solar PV panels at Forge Bank, Halton - part of the Lancaster Cohousing development.  The panels will be installed on Terrace D, which was still under construction at the time of the installation of the existing PV system there.  The roof is south facing and brackets for the panels have already been fitted, so is perfect for solar.  The closing date is 30th June and the offer document can be downloaded from here.

Our 2014 AGM will be held at Halton Mill on 17th May during the Energy Fair and Green Open Homes event.  There'll be lots to see and do - have a look at the website for the event here - but we hope members will take half an hour to come to out AGM in the meeting room at 2pm.