Sheffield Renewables

What Sheffield Renewables does

Sheffield Renewables is a community-owned renewable energy cooperative incorporated in England (company number 30736R) and founded in Sheffield in late 2007. The organisation finances, installs, owns, and operates renewable electricity generation assets for the benefit of local communities, with a portfolio comprising community rooftop solar PV systems (typically 12 kWp to 50 kW) on schools, community centres, charities, a police station, and co-housing developments, together with planned hydro-electric schemes at Jordan Dam (Archimedes screw) and Kelham Island (water wheel). It also conducts multi-technology feasibility studies covering solar, wind, anaerobic digestion, and hydrogen generation, and has expanded into grant-funded decarbonisation support for NHS South Yorkshire GP surgeries. Revenue is generated through the 20-year inflation-linked UK Feed-in Tariff, the sale of electricity to host buildings at a discount to market rate, small grant awards, and an eight-percent community benefit contribution per site. Capital is raised primarily through community share offers (with shares starting at £250 paying 3% interest) from local residents, with historical grants and patient capital from Key Fund Yorkshire, Resonance, and government programmes. The organisation is governed by a volunteer board including Chair/Treasurer Richard Collins and directors Luke Wilson, David Berry, and Sue Morton, operates with approximately seven employees and over 260 members, and is headquartered at Heeley City Farm, Richards Road, Sheffield.

Name

Sheffield Renewables

Legal name

Sheffield Renewables Ltd

Website

https://sheffieldrenewables.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sheffield Renewables is a volunteer-led, member-owned cooperative that finances and operates community rooftop solar PV and hydroelectric schemes across Sheffield, selling electricity to host buildings and paying modest interest to community shareholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Feed-in Tariff (FiT): Revenue from government feed-in tariff scheme - generation tariff (approx 13.5p/kWh) and export tariff (4.5p/kWh), both linked to Retail Price Index and fixed for 20 years.
2. Sale of Electricity: Selling electricity to building users at a percentage below market rate for host organizations hosting their solar installations.
3. Community Share Offers: Raising capital through community share offers from local people to fund renewable energy scheme development and construction.
4. Grant Funding: Securing grants from organizations such as Northern Powergrid NetZero Community Energy Fund, Community Energy Fund, and other environmental funding bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sheffield Renewables finances, installs, owns, and operates community-owned renewable energy schemes—primarily solar PV arrays on community buildings (12 kWp to 50 kW) and hydroelectric installations (Jordan Dam Archimedes screw, Kelham Island water wheel). It sells generated electricity to host organizations at below-market rates, collects feed-in tariff revenues, and recycles surplus into community benefit funds and additional projects.

Product overview

Sheffield Renewables operates as a community-owned renewable energy cooperative offering multiple renewable energy products and services. Their core portfolio includes community solar PV schemes installed on community buildings (such as the Paces 50kW installation and Five Rivers Co-housing 12kWp project), hydroelectric power projects (Jordan Dam Archimedes screw and Kelham Island water wheel), and multi-technology renewable feasibility studies. The organization provides services including grant-funded NHS green transition support, renewable energy feasibility assessments, and community benefit fund distribution. Their investment products enable community members to participate through share offers generating modest returns while reinvesting surplus into further community energy projects. Projects range from 12kWp residential-scale to 50kW commercial-scale solar installations, with hydroelectric schemes generating 75,000-310,000 kWh annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Solar PV Schemes Community-owned solar PV installations on community buildings such as schools, community centres, and social enterprises. Sheffield Renewables finances, installs, owns, and operates the panels, selling electricity to building users at below-market rates while collecting feed-in tariff revenue.
• Hydroelectric Power Projects Community-owned hydroelectric schemes generating electricity from river flow, including the Jordan Dam Archimedes screw installation on the River Don and the Kelham Island water wheel project co-located with the Kelham Island Museum, with fish passage facilities.
• Renewable Energy Feasibility Studies Technical and financial feasibility assessments for renewable energy projects covering solar PV, wind turbines, anaerobic digestion, and hydrogen generation, conducted in partnership with universities and consultancies.
• NHS Green Transition Support Grant-funded engagement programme supporting NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and GP surgeries with climate change awareness, energy reduction, sustainability promotion, and solar PV suitability screening.
• Community Share Offers Community investment product allowing local people to invest in community-owned renewable energy schemes from £250 with monthly instalment options, receiving 3% interest while surplus is reinvested into further schemes and community benefit funds.
• Our Cow Molly Farm Multi-Technology Renewable Project Multi-technology renewable energy project at Our Cow Molly farm including barn solar PV panels and anaerobic digestion systems, developed with SYEcofit and University of Sheffield research partners.
• Community Benefit Fund Distribution Community Benefit Fund distributing eight percent of electricity sales to Heeley City Farm for renewable energy maintenance and additional contributions to local environmental and social projects including Mbedza Malawi and ASSIST Energy Efficiency Measures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,594,900 kWh total energy produced by projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Heeley City FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership hosting Sheffield Renewables' registered office at Richards Road. Sheffield Renewables provides regular donations from Community Benefit Fund to support the farm's renewable energy, including refurbishing wind turbine and solar panels.
• South Yorkshire Energy CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYEC is based next to Heeley City Farm and provides training, consultancy, surveys and advice on sustainable energy. Sheffield Renewables previously had office there.
• Community Energy EnglandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember organization providing advocacy and support for community energy. Sheffield Renewables participates in Community Energy Fortnight and receives promotional support.
• Co-opminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported by Co-op through branding and promotional support for community enterprises.
• South Yorkshire Climate AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional climate alliance providing collaborative support for community energy initiatives.
• Our Cow Molly FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCliffe House farm partner for renewable energy feasibility study including solar, wind, anaerobic digestion, and hydrogen generation. SYEcofit took project forward after Sheffield Renewables withdrew.
• South Yorkshire EcofitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for Our Cow Molly feasibility study. Took forward the multi-technology renewable project after Sheffield Renewables withdrew from feasibility stage.
• Hockerton Housing ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity energy expert partner in Our Cow Molly study, sharing experience from successful Hockerton community renewable project.
• Pure LeapfrogminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultancy partner providing expertise for Our Cow Molly renewable energy feasibility study.
• Five Rivers Co-housingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer-led group building 22 housing units. Sheffield Renewables installed 12 kWp solar PV on Common House in June 2023.
• High Green Development Trust (Paces Campus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst solar PV installation site - 50kW array at Paces Campus Community Centre generating renewable energy since 2014.
• Lembas Wholefood WholesalerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 90 solar panels on warehouse roof through 2016 share offer funding.
• South Yorkshire Police (Attercliffe Police Station)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird community owned renewable energy scheme - 50kW solar array supporting police sustainability goals.
• NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant-funded project to help engage GP surgeries on climate change awareness, energy reduction, sustainability, and solar PV suitability screening.
• Sheffield City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner for planning permissions, regeneration support, and local policy alignment including Climate Change and Design SPD.
• Sheffield Industrial Museums TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Kelham Island hydro project with Kelham Island Museum. Heritage preservation combined with renewable energy.
• Yorkshire WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite owners for Jordan Dam hydroelectric scheme. Provided agreement in principle supporting the hydro project development.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sheffieldrenew
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheffield-renewables

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Sheffield Renewables