Somerset solar farm featured in ‘Meet the Generators’ campaign

A community co-operative in Somerset is the latest project to be featured in Good Energy’s ‘Meet the Generators’ campaign to celebrate the network of more than 1,700 independent generators supplying it with electricity.

Last year they provided 698GWh – equivalent to powering all the homes in Manchester for more than a year – and contributed to customers saving more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

The network includes Wedmore Community Power Co-operative in the Somerset Levels, whose solar panels produce an average of 1.1 MW of electricity each year. 

WCPC sold shares to raise £1,225,000 to fund the project, which became operational in 2013.

The 4,000 solar panels are split between two paddocks to the north of the village and are mounted at a height that allows sheep to graze underneath, maintaining the value of the land for pasture as well as providing the animals with welcome shade in the summer.

Today, the co-operative has around 230 members – including many Wedmore residents – and all the profits are returned to the community as grants for good causes, especially those with a climate focus. 

A total of £78,000 has been distributed to date, focusing on ‘green’ initiatives such as installing solar panels on village halls and other community facilities.

In response to the current cost-of-living crisis, the co-operative is donating £5,000 to help Wedmore residents who want to reduce their bills through energy efficiency measures.

Co-operative director Derek Logan said: “It’s very rewarding to have achieved the planning, delivery and successful operation of the solar park. 

“To be able to reward our members who backed the ambitious plan, distribute funds widely in the community, and contribute to tackling climate change is an amazing outcome.”

Fellow director Steve Mewes added: “Some people claim solar farms are a blot on the landscape, but I still meet people in the village who ask when we’re going to start building it – they don’t realise it’s already been operational for several years. It blends in perfectly!”