Burnham and Weston Energy C.I.C

What Burnham and Weston Energy C.I.C does

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC is a UK Community Interest Company (company number 10994773), operational since June 2016, that owns and operates a 9.3 MW community-owned ground-mounted solar array at Wick Farm, Lympsham, comprising nearly 36,000 solar panels and generating 9,871 MWh of electricity per year — equivalent to the consumption of over 2,000 homes. The asset is financed by a long-term Triodos Bank loan and a 2018 community solar bond that raised £4 million via the Triodos Crowdfunding platform, with bondholders receiving a single voting share each on a '1 member 1 vote' basis. The solar farm's electricity sales and Feed-in Tariff receipts are the company's primary revenue source, valued in board communications as a £10 million seed asset supporting the enterprise for 25+ years.

The company reinvests surplus income into a portfolio of community programmes serving residents of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare and surrounding Somerset and North Somerset areas. These include the Sunshine Fund (community grants up to £2,500, reopening July 2025), Solar Soft Loans (low-interest funding for school solar installations), a free LEAP-funded Home Energy Saving Service reaching approximately 500 households per year, a Community Retrofit Programme for village halls and community buildings, and a recently launched £400,000 partnership with Solar for Schools and ELAN installing rooftop solar on eight primary schools. Governance is provided by eight volunteer directors; technical and financial management is outsourced to Communities for Renewables CIC (CfR). Headcount is 7 employees supplemented by contracted Home Energy Advisors, and the organisation is registered for VAT purposes but operates as a not-for-profit, distributing surplus for community benefit rather than to shareholders.

Name

Burnham and Weston Energy C.I.C

Legal name

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC

Website

https://burnhamandwestonenergy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC is a UK Community Interest Company that owns a 9.3MW community solar farm at Lympsham and reinvests surplus into home energy advice, community grants, and school solar across Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, and surrounding Somerset.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Renewable Energy

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Community solar energy
• Home energy advice
• Community grant funding
• School solar installation
• Community retrofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnham-on-Sea | Weston-super-Mare

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Sales: Sale of electricity generated by the 9.3MW solar farm to the national grid. Revenue from wholesale electricity prices.
2. Feed-in Tariff: Revenue from the UK Feed-in Tariff scheme for renewable energy generation from the solar array.
3. Solar Bond Investment: Community bonds raised £4 million in 2018 from local investors. Bonds pay 5% initial interest rate rising with inflation, repaid over 18 years. Bonds eligible for Triodos Innovative Finance ISA.
4. Community Grants and Energy Services: Surplus income after operating and finance costs funds community grants (Sunshine Fund up to £2,500), solar soft loans to schools, home energy advice services, and community building retrofits. All surplus reinvested in community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company that owns and operates a 9.3 megawatt community solar farm at Lympsham (nearly 36,000 panels) generating electricity sold to the national grid, with surplus income funding community programs. Its offering spans solar electricity generation, a free Home Energy Saving Service for fuel-poor households, the Sunshine Fund community grant programme, Solar Soft Loans for schools, and a Community Retrofit Programme assisting community buildings with energy efficiency upgrades.

Product overview

Burnham and Weston Energy CIC operates as a not-for-profit community energy company offering a portfolio of products centered around local renewable energy generation and community support services. The core offering is the community-owned 9.3MW solar farm at Lympsham, which generates electricity and income to fund other initiatives. The company provides complementary services including the Home Energy Saving Service (free home energy advice), the Sunshine Fund (community grants), Solar Soft Loans for schools, and a Community Retrofit Programme for buildings. The solar farm serves as the seed asset supporting the entire enterprise and enables community investment through a solar bond offer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Solar Farm 9.3 megawatt ground-mounted solar array at Lympsham with nearly 36,000 solar panels generating electricity for the equivalent of over 2,000 homes. Built on land leased from a local farming family at Wick Farm who continue agricultural use with sheep grazing. Revenue from electricity sales to the national grid and the Feed-in Tariff.
• Home Energy Saving Service Free expert one-to-one home energy advice service for residents in Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Weston-super-Mare, Mark, Winscombe and surrounding areas. Trained Home Energy Advisors visit homes to provide personalised energy-saving advice, install small energy efficiency measures (LED bulbs, draught excluders, radiator reflectors), and refer for larger grants for insulation and boilers. Free for households receiving benefits or with income below £31,000.
• Sunshine Fund Community grant fund providing grants up to £2,500 for local projects that benefit both the community and environment. Supports activities such as community gardens, nature trails, repair cafes, climate education, sustainable transport, and energy efficiency upgrades. Administered with Somerset Community Foundation support.
• Solar Soft Loans Revolving loan programme helping schools and community organisations fund surveys and consultancy to unlock government zero-interest loans and grants for installing low carbon measures. Funds solar panels and energy saving measures for local schools and community buildings.
• Community Retrofit Programme Programme helping community buildings identify cost- and carbon-saving upgrades including improved heating systems, insulation, LED lighting, EV charging points, and solar panels, then exploring grant funding opportunities for these efficiency upgrades.
• Solar Bond Offer Community investment opportunity enabling local people and organisations to invest in the solar farm with an initial interest rate of 5% per year rising with inflation, repaid over 18 years. Bonds eligible for Triodos Innovative Finance ISA or SIPP. Each bondholder receives a single share and 1-member-1-vote governance rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar farm generates 9,871 MWh annually, powering equivalent of 2,000+ homes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Solar for SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Jointly invested nearly £400,000 to install solar on eight ELAN schools. Solar for Schools organized £100,000 grant from National Grid Electricity Distribution, manages installation and provides ongoing maintenance and cross-curricular education program.
• Triodos CrowdfundingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Platform used to distribute solar bonds to community investors. Raised £4 million in 2018 making it one of UK's largest community energy crowd funds.
• Communities for Renewables CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016CfR helped Burnham & Weston Energy acquire the solar farm and provides ongoing technical and financial operation management. They also provide administration and governance support for the organization.
• Citizens Advice SomersetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Energy Champions Programme delivering holistic support to vulnerable residents in Somerset areas.
• Citizens Advice West SomersetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Energy Champions Programme delivering holistic support to vulnerable residents in West Somerset areas.
• Age UK SomersetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Energy Champions Programme delivering holistic support to elderly and vulnerable residents in Somerset.
• West Somerset Green ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Energy Champions Programme focused on sustainability and climate action in West Somerset.
• Community Council for Somerset (CCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide five funded energy audits for community buildings in Highbridge, Burnham-on-Sea, and Mark area. CCS provides 1-2-1 funding advice through their Community Buildings Network.
• SBA CICminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides fully funded business start-up support for self-employed Home Energy Advisors recruited by Burnham & Weston Energy. Support includes accredited programs for setting up and running their contractor business.
• Somerset Community FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManages Sunshine Fund on behalf of Burnham & Weston Energy, including processing applications and providing guidance notes for applicants.
• Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight primary schools in North Somerset receiving rooftop solar installations. Schools include Banwell Primary, Bournville Primary, Locking Primary, Mead Vale Primary, Mendip Green Primary, Milton Park Primary, Oldmixon Primary, and Windwhistle Primary.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plymouth Energy Cooperative: Member-owned cooperative generating renewable energy in the Plymouth area and reinvesting profits locally. Directly comparable community-owned solar generation and local-impact operating model.
• Repower London: London-based community energy cooperative developing community-owned solar projects and using surpluses for local benefit. Comparable operating model and governance structure, although operating in an urban setting.
• Low Carbon Hub: Oxfordshire-based community benefit society owning multiple community solar farms and reinvesting surpluses into local energy efficiency. Closely comparable model to Burnham & Weston Energy: community-owned generation underwriting local impact programmes.
• South East London Community Energy (SELCE): Community-led solar and energy efficiency organisation operating across South East London boroughs. Comparable focus on community-owned solar generation combined with advice and retrofit programmes.
• Birmingham Energy Cooperative (BEC): Community-owned renewable energy cooperative in the West Midlands, raising community shares to fund solar generation and reinvest surpluses locally. Closely comparable CIC/cooperative community energy model.

Others

• Triodos Bank UK: UK arm of the ethical bank that provided the long-term loan financing for BWE's solar farm and hosts the Triodos Crowdfunding platform used to raise community bonds. Key financial partner rather than a peer operator.
• Communities for Renewables CIC: Specialist community interest company that helps community groups acquire and manage renewable energy assets, including providing ongoing technical and financial management for Burnham & Weston Energy's solar farm. Direct service provider and partner rather than a peer competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Good Energy: UK-listed renewable electricity supplier that has historically sourced power from independent/community generators. Broader incumbent operating at national scale, but overlaps in mission of supporting small-scale community renewable generation.
• Ecotricity: UK green energy supplier and wind/solar developer with broader geographic and technology footprint than Burnham & Weston Energy. Competes in the renewable generation/retail space but at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Mongoose Energy: UK community energy platform that supports local groups to finance, develop and operate community-owned renewable projects. Comparable focus area but operates as an enabling platform rather than owning individual community solar assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burnham-and-weston-energy-c-i-c

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Burnham and Weston Energy C.I.C