This autumn, the Hub and Ashden are hosting a guided visit to West Solent Solar Cooperative’s community-owned solar farm, alongside guest speakers from a range of innovative local community energy projects.
The event takes place on Wednesday 7 October 2026, from 10am to 4pm – register for free here.
We will start the day in Southampton with talks and lunch, before taking a minibus to Lymington and returning to Southampton in the minibus by 4pm. Ideally, you would join us for the whole day, but we are happy to accommodate people for part of the day.
10:00 – 12:00: Meeting at Eagle Lab, Southampton, SO14 7SJ
13:00 – 14:30: Site visit at West Solent Solar Farm, Lymington
You’ll meet the innovators behind West Solent Solar Cooperative, hear how its 2.4MW community-owned solar farm was developed and delivered, and learn more about the benefits community-owned renewable energy can bring to local people.
You’ll also hear from experts behind community-owned solar, smart battery networks and local energy-efficiency projects: Lisa Beaney, Green Isle of Wight; Mark Halliday, Havant Community Energy; Catriona Cockburn, Energise South Downs; and Adam Goulding, the Environment Centre.
The event comes as Great British Energy announces a new £30 million funding package to support locally owned clean energy projects. This includes a £20 million Community Fund for community organisations and a new £5 million Partnerships Grant to help local authorities and community energy groups develop projects together.
With applications now open and closing on 12 November 2026, the event offers a timely opportunity to hear how successful partnerships can turn local energy ambitions into practical, deliverable projects.
Why attend:
- Visit West Solent Solar Farm: Take a guided tour of a community-owned solar project that generates enough renewable energy to power 650 homes.
- Learn from local community energy projects: Hear from expert speakers about developing successful projects and the role you can play in expanding community energy locally.
- Meet and share challenges: Spend time with peers working across community energy, allowing new connections and collaborations to emerge.
Places are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Further details will be shared with attendees in due course.
About West Solent Solar Cooperative
West Solent Solar Cooperative owns and operates a 2.4MW community solar farm on a former gravel pit and landfill site near Lymington. Operational since 2014, it supplies enough renewable electricity to the grid to power around 650 homes, while using income from the project to support local environmental and community initiatives.
About our expert guest speakers:
- Lisa Beaney, Green Isle of Wight CIC
Lisa is the founder and Managing Director of Green Isle of Wight CIC. She leads Power Together, the island’s first community-owned virtual power plant, and helped establish Vectis Community Energy to develop local projects that cut bills, carbon emissions and fuel poverty. - Mark Halliday, Havant Community Energy
Mark represents Havant Community Energy, a volunteer-led society developing local renewable energy projects, including solar panels on community buildings and former landfill sites. - Catriona Cockburn, Energise South Downs
Catriona is the founder and CEO of Energise South Downs. The cooperative has delivered three rooftop solar projects, raised £300,000 through a community share offer and run more than 20 community energy workshops. - Adam Goulden, The Environment Centre
Adam represents The Environment Centre, a Hampshire charity tackling fuel poverty and improving home energy efficiency through advice, heating support and access to funding