Big Solar Co-op
Big Solar Co-op is a UK community-owned cooperative that finances, installs, and operates solar PV arrays on commercial and community rooftops, selling electricity to hosts under 30-year fixed-rate PPAs funded by community share and bond offers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersShrewsbury, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Solar Co-op does
Big Solar Co-op is a UK community-owned cooperative society (FCA registration no. 4877) founded in 2019 and headquartered in Shrewsbury. It finances, installs, and operates rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV arrays on commercial and community buildings — including factories, doctors' surgeries, supermarkets, community centres, social housing and faith buildings — and sells the generated electricity to host organisations through long-term (30-year, inflation-linked) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with a buyout option after five years. Hosts pay no upfront capital; Big Solar Co-op retains ownership and operation of the assets. The model is supported by a national network of 100+ volunteers who identify sites and act as local points of contact, and a five-person professional team that handles site design, project management, and ongoing maintenance.
The company's technology stack combines community-sourced deal flow with OpenSolar design software (on which Big Solar Co-op provides UK-sector feedback), SMA inverters, ethically sourced Meyer Burger panels, and a Live Solar Monitor that tracks per-site generation for fault detection. A standout technical innovation is the Whiteborough Solar Park, a 3.5 MW ground-mounted project on a former opencast coal mine site that uses 45% second-life/recycled panels — described as a UK first. By late 2025 the operational portfolio had reached approximately 1.4 MW across 21+ rooftop sites, generating 1,244 MWh cumulatively.
Big Solar Co-op is funded by community share offers (minimum £100, target 6.75% annual return) and project-specific bond offers distributed via the Ethex platform (tax-efficient, ISA-wrapable), supplemented by grants from the Great British Energy Community Energy Fund, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and MCS Charitable Foundation. Customer acquisition combines direct outreach by a dedicated Client Lead with volunteer-driven site identification; investment is distributed through a self-serve website portal and Ethex. Major customers include Midcounties Co-operative (29-site Midlands rollout with up to 5 GWh annual generation potential), Kerry Taste & Nutrition (294 kWp), Eco-Pak (1500+ panel Cambridgeshire installation), and a range of healthcare, social housing, hospitality, and community-organisation hosts. The co-op is incubated and operationally supported by Sharenergy Co-operative.
Big Solar Co-op firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Solar Co-op
- Legal name
- Big Solar Co-op
- Website
- https://bigsolar.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Big Solar Co-op is a UK community-owned cooperative that finances, installs, and operates solar PV arrays on commercial and community rooftops, selling electricity to hosts under 30-year fixed-rate PPAs funded by community share and bond offers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Solar Co-op industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial & Community Solar Energy Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
Keywords
Where Big Solar Co-op is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shrewsbury
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Big Solar Co-op business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): The company finances, owns, and operates solar PV installations on host buildings. Host organisations purchase the electricity generated at a fixed rate lower than grid prices through a long-term PPA. The price is fixed for 30 years, rising only with inflation. Hosts have the option to buy out the system after five years.
- Share Offers: Community shares offered to members of the public. Investors become co-op members and receive interest payments. Minimum investment £100, maximum £100,000. Target annual return of 6.75% (current rate), revised from previous 4% and 5% targets.
- Bond Offers: Tax-efficient bonds offered via Ethex platform to raise funds for specific projects like Whiteborough Solar Park. Bonds raised £1.8 million for Whiteborough project and can be ISA wrapped.
- Grant Funding: Grant money awarded by Great British Energy Community Energy Fund to support second-life panel work. Startup grants from Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and MCS Charitable Foundation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Community Share Investment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Big Solar Co-op product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Solar Co-op finances, installs, owns and operates solar PV systems on commercial and community buildings across the UK under long-term Power Purchase Agreements, with host organisations purchasing the generated electricity at a fixed rate lower than grid prices for up to 30 years. The co-operative supplements installations with community share offers and bond raises via Ethex, and is developing the 3.5 MW Whiteborough Solar Park ground-mounted project using 45% reused panels.
Product overview
Big Solar Co-op is a not-for-profit community solar cooperative that operates as a unified platform offering solar installation services, community investment opportunities, and training. The core offering comprises rooftop solar installations on commercial and community buildings (factories, surgeries, supermarkets, community centers), financed through a community investment model where the public can invest from £100. The Whiteborough Solar Park represents a distinct ground-mounted product showcasing recycled panel innovation. The Community Solar Foundation Course extends the offering as an educational module. All services are supported by a volunteer network and professional staff team, with installations offered under 30-year lease and PPA agreements with buyout options after five years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Solar Installation Services (rooftop solar PV) End-to-end rooftop solar PV service for UK commercial and community buildings — financing, installation and long-term operation under 30-year fixed-rate Power Purchase Agreements, with a host buyout option after five years and zero upfront capital required.
- Community Solar Foundation (CSF) Course A three-month practical training course delivered through e-learning modules, live seminars, peer support forums and real-world coursework using OpenSolar, equipping participants to become effective local agents of change in community solar.
- Whiteborough Solar Park A pioneering 3.5 MW ground-mounted solar park on a former opencast coal mine site in Nottinghamshire, integrating 45% second-life refurbished solar panels with ethically sourced new panels, with phase 1 expected to generate 1,683 MWh annually.
- Community Investment Platform (Rolling Share Offer) Public community share offer allowing individuals to invest from £100 up to £100,000 to finance Big Solar Co-op's solar installations, earning a target annual return (currently 6.75%) with voting membership rights.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy savings of ~£1 million over 30 years for large commercial hosts
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Big Solar Co-op
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Solar Co-op technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Big Solar Co-op partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- EthexcoreBond offer platform partner for Whiteborough Solar Park. Facilitated £1.8 million bond raise from 458 bondholders. Ethex's due diligence work enabled them to take Big Solar Co-op as a new client. The successful bond offer made loan guarantees from Younity and We Have The Power unnecessary.
- Midcounties Co-operativeflagshipMajor partnership for PV array rollout at 29 sites across the Midlands including offices, childcare settings, and supermarkets. Represents up to 5 GWh generation potential. Co-operative partnership maximising benefits for members of both co-ops. Installations started 2024 continuing through 2026.
- Meyer BurgercoreSwiss solar panel manufacturer producing in Germany with 100% renewable energy. Polysilicon sourced from Germany, Norway and South Korea. Supply chain free from forced labour. First UK large-scale use of Meyer Burger panels. Panels 20-30% more expensive but higher quality with lower degradation rates.
- Wind & SuncoreUK distributor of Meyer Burger panels, supporting Big Solar Co-op's ethical sourcing journey. Long-established renewable energy company with decades of industry experience.
- SharenergyflagshipParent not-for-profit co-operative that incubated Big Solar Co-op. Founded 2011, worked with over 100 community energy groups. Co-founder and CEO Jon Hallé serves as Big Solar Co-op CEO. Provides professional team, administrative support, and coordination.
- OpenSolarcoreCloud-based solar design software used for site triaging, array design, and assessment. Big Solar Co-op provides user feedback to improve software for UK community energy sector.
- Basingstoke Energy Co-operativeminorInstalled modules, monitoring system and cabling for Kerry T&N installation, working with partners Ecogen Energy and JPH Electricals.
- Nimbus Solar LtdminorRegional installer chosen for William Lench Court social housing installation. Delivered professional, reliable, smooth installation.
- AnironminorPrincipal installer appointed September 2024 for Whiteborough Solar Park project.
- Community Energy EnglandminorLeading voice for community energy in UK. Part of coalition of 250 organisations delivering open letter to UK government on community energy potential. Represents sector interests to policy makers.
- ARK ConsultancyminorExternal survey consultants for William Lench Court installation, working with Lench's Trust. Delighted with installation results.
- Carbon Neutral CambridgeminorVolunteer group that identified Eco-Pak as potential site. Introduced Big Solar Co-op to the business through Fenland Council's business advice service.
- Fenland Council - Fenland for BusinessminorLocal authority business advice service that identified Eco-Pak's interest in solar and connected them with Carbon Neutral Cambridge volunteers and Big Solar Co-op.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Big Solar Co-op competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mongoose Energy: UK community energy services company working with cooperatives and community groups to develop, finance and operate renewable energy assets. Directly comparable cooperative-served solar pipeline and shared use of community investment platforms.
- Low Carbon Hub: Oxfordshire-based community energy organization developing community-owned renewable energy including rooftop solar arrays. Highly comparable operating model, geography (UK), customer base (community/commercial buildings), and use of community share offers for project finance.
- Sharenergy Co-operative: Parent organization that incubated Big Solar Co-op and provides its professional team. Operates adjacent community energy services and shares the same cooperative structure, leadership, and member-investment model - making it the closest operational peer.
- Carbon Co-op: Manchester-based community energy cooperative delivering domestic and commercial solar projects across the North West. Closely comparable cooperative governance, community share funding, and rooftop/building-mounted solar focus.
- Westmill Solar Co-op: UK community-owned solar cooperative operating one of the country's pioneering solar farms. Directly comparable co-op-to-co-op model, share investment structure, and community energy ethos - and is explicitly partnered with Big Solar Co-op on the Community Solar Foundation course.
- Repowering London: London-based community energy charity that co-develops rooftop solar on community buildings with local groups. Comparable community-led model, UK geography, and rooftop-focused project economics.
Others
- Ethex: UK positive-impact investment platform that facilitated Big Solar Co-op's £1.8m Whiteborough bond offer. While not a competitor, it is the closest ecosystem enabler - comparable platforms (Ethex, Abundance) define Big Solar's access to retail ethical-investor capital.
- Younity: UK co-operative providing loan guarantees and the Community Power Club initiative that matches solar generation to demand. An ecosystem partner (co-funded Whiteborough) and adjacent peer operating the financial infrastructure that surrounds community solar delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Lightsource bp: One of Europe's largest solar developers, operating utility-scale and commercial rooftop solar in the UK. Provides a benchmark for what well-capitalized commercial solar PPAs look like at scale - directly competing for the same host sites Big Solar targets.
- Statkraft (formerly Solarcentury): Statkraft acquired Solarcentury and continues to develop commercial and industrial rooftop solar across the UK under PPA structures. Comparable technology stack, customer base, and zero-capex PPA model, but at significantly larger scale.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Solar Co-op social profiles
Digital presenceBig Solar Co-op compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Big Solar Co-op financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Solar Co-op leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Big Solar Co-op funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Solar Co-op 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 Big Solar Co-op
What does Big Solar Co-op do?
Big Solar Co-op finances, installs, owns and operates solar PV systems on commercial and community buildings across the UK under long-term Power Purchase Agreements, with host organisations purchasing the generated electricity at a fixed rate lower than grid prices for up to 30 years. The co-operative supplements installations with community share offers and bond raises via Ethex, and is developing the 3.5 MW Whiteborough Solar Park ground-mounted project using 45% reused panels.
Is Big Solar Co-op a public or private company?
Big Solar Co-op is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Solar Co-op founded?
Big Solar Co-op was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Big Solar Co-op based?
Big Solar Co-op is headquartered in Shrewsbury, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Big Solar Co-op make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is the primary driver. The others are share Offers, bond Offers and grant Funding.
Who are Big Solar Co-op's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mongoose Energy, Low Carbon Hub, Sharenergy Co-operative, Carbon Co-op, Westmill Solar Co-op and Repowering London. Others are Ethex and Younity. Broad incumbents are Lightsource bp and Statkraft (formerly Solarcentury).
Does Big Solar Co-op have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Solar Co-op.
What industry is Big Solar Co-op in?
Big Solar Co-op's product category is Commercial & Community Solar Energy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.