Glasgow Community Energy
Glasgow Community Energy is a Community Benefit Society cooperative that installs and operates community-owned rooftop solar PV on Glasgow schools and off-grid PowerHubs at community spaces, funded by electricity sales, Feed-in Tariff income, community shares and grants, and serving Glasgow City Region residents, schools and grassroots organisations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersGlasgow, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Glasgow Community Energy does
Glasgow Community Energy is a Community Benefit Society, legally Radical Renewable Art & Activism Community Energy Society Ltd, registered with the UK Financial Conduct Authority under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and trading since 2020. The cooperative operates community-owned rooftop solar photovoltaic installations on schools and public buildings in the Glasgow City Region, with two operational sites — Ashton Secondary School (49.92 kWp) and Glendale Primary School (40.87 kWp) — totalling 91 kWp of installed capacity under 21-year electricity supply agreements with Glasgow City Council running to August 2041 at inflation-protected fixed rates. The organisation supplements grid-connected solar with a Community PowerHubs programme of smaller-scale off-grid solar installations (0.78–10 kW) at community cycling hubs, gardens and allotments, developed in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde's Vertically Integrated Projects for Sustainable Development.
The cooperative's revenue model combines electricity sales to host schools under long-dated fixed-price contracts, government Feed-in Tariff payments via Ofgem accreditation for both school sites, community share offers (a 2021 share offer raised more than £30,000 from over 170 applicants), and grant funding from public bodies including CARES, the SPEN Green Economy Fund, the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, Foundation Scotland and the Glasgow Climate Action Hub. Surplus from solar income is redistributed into the Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund (launched March 2024 with an initial £10,000), which awards grants to grassroots community organisations. Membership is open to Glasgow City Region residents aged 16+ and community organisations for a £1 share, with one-member-one-vote democratic governance exercised at AGMs. As of 2025 the cooperative had 184 members, a target of 1 MW of community-owned solar by 2030, and its first paid staff team appointed in 2025–2026 (Development Manager, Engagement Coordinator and Project Assistant) alongside a 7-person volunteer Board of Directors.
Glasgow Community Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glasgow Community Energy
- Legal name
- Radical Renewable Art & Activism Community Energy Society Ltd
- Website
- https://glasgowenergy.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Glasgow Community Energy is a Community Benefit Society cooperative that installs and operates community-owned rooftop solar PV on Glasgow schools and off-grid PowerHubs at community spaces, funded by electricity sales, Feed-in Tariff income, community shares and grants, and serving Glasgow City Region residents, schools and grassroots organisations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Glasgow Community Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Renewable Energy Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Electrical Work (1731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE)
Keywords
Where Glasgow Community Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glasgow
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Glasgow Community Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Electricity Sales to Schools: Selling clean electricity generated by solar panels to host schools (Glasgow City Council buildings) at inflation-protected fixed rates under 21-year contracts until 2041.
- Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Income: Government Feed-in Tariff payments for electricity generated from renewable sources, registered with Ofgem for both school installations.
- Community Share Offers: Community members purchase £1 shares to become members, providing capital for project financing. First share offer in 2021 raised over £30,000 with 170+ applications.
- Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund Grants: Income from solar installations funds grants to grassroots community organizations. Initial £10,000 fund launched March 2024, distributed to local organizations near solar sites.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Community Organisation Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Glasgow Community Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glasgow Community Energy installs and operates community-owned rooftop solar PV systems on Glasgow schools and public buildings, sells the generated electricity to host buildings under 21-year inflation-protected contracts, develops off-grid Community PowerHubs for community spaces, runs neighbourhood and schools energy workshops, and administers the Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund to award grants to grassroots climate and social justice projects across Glasgow.
Product overview
Glasgow Community Energy is a community-owned renewable energy co-operative offering a portfolio of solar energy products and community engagement services. The core offerings include rooftop Solar Installations on schools (Ashton Secondary School and Glendale Primary School), Community PowerHubs providing off-grid solar to community spaces, a Community Engagement Program with neighbourhood and schools workshops, and the Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund for grassroots activism. Members join from just £1 and participate through democratic one-member-one-vote governance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Installations on Schools
- Community PowerHubs
- Community Engagement Program
- Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund
- Community Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 50 tonnes CO2 saved per year from current solar installations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Glasgow Community Energy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Glasgow Community Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Glasgow Community Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- The Pollokshields TrustcoreCollaboration Agreement signed in 2021 to facilitate solar installation at Glendale Primary School. Trust transferred Feed-in Tariff registration to Glasgow Community Energy in return for Board representation.
- Energy4AllcoreAdmin Services Contract (10-year agreement with break point at 2 years) for administration support of the Community Benefit Society. Energy4All helped develop 27 community energy projects and supported Glasgow Community Energy's formation and development.
- Glasgow City CouncilcoreElectricity supply agreements with Council for schools. Council's Climate Emergency Working Group recommended support for Glasgow Community Energy including business support and planning services.
- Co-operatives UKminorTrade body membership providing network access and support for cooperative organisations.
- Social Enterprise ScotlandminorTrade body membership for social enterprises, listed member of the organisation.
- Community Energy ScotlandminorTrade body membership in members directory, provides workshops and support for community energy.
- University of StrathclydemajorCollaboration on Community PowerHubs through Vertically Integrated Projects for Sustainable Development. Students develop off-grid solar projects as part of academic program.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Glasgow Community Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Repowering London: London-based community energy organisation developing community-owned solar on schools, housing estates and public buildings, with a strong community-share-offer financing model analogous to GCE's £30k raise.
- Plymouth Energy Community: Member-led community energy cooperative in Plymouth offering rooftop solar, energy advice and community engagement programmes. Comparable breadth of activity (generation + engagement + grants) to GCE.
- Edinburgh Community Energy: Community-owned renewable energy cooperative operating in Edinburgh, installing rooftop solar on community buildings and selling electricity to host sites under long-term agreements. Closest geographic and structural analogue to GCE within Scotland.
- Exeter Community Energy: Community-owned renewable energy cooperative in Exeter installing solar on schools and community buildings. Co-founded by Joe Smee, who is now GCE's Development Manager — strong operational and governance overlap.
- Carbon Coop: Manchester-based community benefit society focused on community-owned renewable energy and domestic retrofit. Operates a similar member-owned cooperative model and is led by Secretary Tom Nockolds in his professional role, creating direct organisational overlap with GCE.
- Bath & West Community Energy: Member-owned cooperative in the West of England developing community-owned solar and wind projects on schools and community buildings. Closely mirrors GCE's rooftop-solar-on-public-buildings thesis with a 20+ year operational track record.
- Brixton Energy: Lambeth-based community solar cooperative delivering rooftop PV on social housing and schools via community share offers. Closely aligned operating model and target building stock to GCE's Glasgow school installations.
Others
- Community Energy Scotland: Scottish national membership body for community energy organisations and a key supporter/advisor to GCE. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but directly comparable as a community-energy-supporting entity.
- Energy4All: Specialist administration services provider for community energy cooperatives across the UK, including GCE under a 10-year admin services contract. Enabling infrastructure partner that helps similar cooperatives operate at scale.
- Local Energy Scotland / CARES: Scottish Government-funded programme providing grants, loans and advice to community energy projects including GCE. As GCE's largest disclosed capital provider (£80k+ across grants and loans), they shape the addressable project pipeline.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Glasgow Community Energy social profiles
Digital presenceGlasgow Community Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glasgow Community Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Glasgow Community Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glasgow Community Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Glasgow Community Energy
What does Glasgow Community Energy do?
Glasgow Community Energy installs and operates community-owned rooftop solar PV systems on Glasgow schools and public buildings, sells the generated electricity to host buildings under 21-year inflation-protected contracts, develops off-grid Community PowerHubs for community spaces, runs neighbourhood and schools energy workshops, and administers the Cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund to award grants to grassroots climate and social justice projects across Glasgow.
Is Glasgow Community Energy a public or private company?
Glasgow Community Energy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Glasgow Community Energy founded?
Glasgow Community Energy was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Glasgow Community Energy based?
Glasgow Community Energy is headquartered in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Glasgow Community Energy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electricity Sales to Schools are the primary driver. The others are feed-in Tariff (FiT) Income, community Share Offers and cathy McCormack Community Activism Fund Grants.
Who are Glasgow Community Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Repowering London, Plymouth Energy Community, Edinburgh Community Energy, Exeter Community Energy, Carbon Coop, Bath & West Community Energy and Brixton Energy. Others are Community Energy Scotland, Energy4All and Local Energy Scotland / CARES.
Does Glasgow Community Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glasgow Community Energy.
What industry is Glasgow Community Energy in?
Glasgow Community Energy's product category is Community Renewable Energy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.