Tockwith Community Energy
We established Tockwith Community Energy with a mission to “create a financially sustainable, low cost, renewable energy future which is owned and shaped by all our community”.
We are currently at the beginning of our journey and are in the process of setting up our business as a Community Benefit Society which is similar yet different to a co-operative organisation. We recently completed a feasibility study on the first phase of our project and are now in the development phase. Once completed, we will move on to the capital element of the project and installation.
Our Aims
To reduce carbon emissions. and our impact on our planet’s climate.
Increase local renewable generation.
Provide direct low-cost energy to community owned buildings.
To work toward matching our generation to local demand.
To fund community projects ideally with an aim to help reduce fuel poverty and provide a “just transition”.
Key Facts
Area of benefit
- We were established in 2025 by members of Tockwith Community.
- We plan to build renewable energy generating projects such as rooftop solar schemes and ground mounted solar arrays (solar farms).
- We will be set up as a Community Benefit Society (more details below).
- We will raise funds though local people investing money in us and becoming members.
- We plan to raise capital funding in the main from available grants and in addition through local people investing in their community.
- We will be a member led organisation on the basis of one member one vote. It is intended that the majority of our members will be local people.
- We plan to be part of a UK community energy movement of over 600 organisations.
- Surplus income from all our projects will be donated to an independent community fund which be used to fund local environmental and fuel poverty projects
What is a Community Benefit Society.
A Community Benefit Society (CBS) is a type of legal structure for organizations that operate on a not-for-profit basis with the primary goal of benefiting the community. It’s a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). CBSs are owned by their members, who have a vote in the organization regardless of the number of shares they hold, making it a democratic structure. We have to prioritise the benefit of the whole community rather than individual shareholders or members. Interest can be paid on members shares but surpluses in the form of dividends will not be paid.