Earth Day - we're in!

Here at Southill Solar we've had so many of you joining in the 'I'm in' campaign and sending us your fantastic pics.

You’ve given us hundreds of different reasons for supporting Southill Solar. To celebrate Earth Day, we thought we’d give a little round-up of some your ‘I’m ins’. These add up to a pretty powerful statement.

We’re so grateful for all your support – thank you for making a difference.

“I want to look my kids in the eye!” – Jenny

Jenny went on to say: "The human impact of climate change around the world worries me most and I believe renewable energy can play a key role combating this. If I'm going to look my kids in the eye when they're older and say I've always cared about this, I need to start putting my money where my mouth is more often!"

“The return of 5%, (10 times the Bank of England base rate!) is not to be sniffed at…” - Robin

 

“It’s a chance to invest in something we can really feel proud of” – Ally

 

“There aren’t many opportunities to make 5% a year AND to make a positive social impact!” – Sue

 

“I want to be part of a zero-carbon future” – Fran

 

“I want to teach my kids the importance of renewable energy” – Kat

 

“It’s the best thing I can do to protect the planet we live on” – Liz

 

“To take action locally that, alongside other similar schemes, has a direct effect globally” – Dan

Are you in?

Join us. Invest in Southill Community Energy and you will help us fund the build of Southill Solar. You will also become a member of SCE, and help us develop and fund other green initiatives locally.

 

We'd like your opinion, please...

As you know, we've extended the Southill Community Energy share offer until 6 May. This gives us some extra time to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have.

Could you take 5 minutes to fill in a survey?

It will really help us identify if there are any questions we haven't answered yet, or if our information could be clearer, or if there are concerns we're not addressing properly. 

Click here for the survey. (It's only 4 questions.)

We'd love to hear from you - thank you!
 

Two great votes of confidence in Southill Community Energy!

We’re over the halfway mark

A new underwriting deal means that we’ve officially raised over 50% of the money we need.

Thanks to the underwriting of £600,000 equity approved this week by social impact investors Resonance, Southill Community Energy's fundraising target has been reduced to £1.4 million.

With over £719,000 already invested, this means that we have raised over half the target funds, it's an important milestone for Southill Community Energy.

This new source of additional funding by Resonance strengthens our business model even more and we are very confident that the Southill Solar farm will go ahead.


Southill Community Energy shortlisted for national awards

We are also celebrating as Southill Community Energy has this week been shortlisted for two 2016 Business Green Leaders Awards, in the Renewable Energy Project and Marketing Campaign of the Year categories. 

We are thrilled as this is a real testament to the enthusiasm and hardworking community spirit that exists in this part of Oxfordshire.

Share offer extended to May 6th

Thanks to this additional funding we have extended the share offer to May 6th.

This will allow as many people as possible the opportunity to invest and be part of this exciting community-owned renewable energy project.

So far, over £719,000 has been invested, with over 80% coming from the local community in Oxfordshire. If you've already invested - thank you so much for your support.  If you're still thinking about it - now is the time to join us and invest!

Investing is quick and simple through our ethical investment partners Ethex, the online positive investment and savings platform.

Join us - invest!

Investing and owning a part of this renewable energy scheme offers great returns for all. Join us and be part of something great.

Friends in high places...Southill in the news (and what the PM said)

Southill Solar's in the news again! David Cameron has had his say, the Guardian and the Times have both tipped us as a good investment and now Friends of the Earth are having their say, too!

David Cameron on Southill Solar

Mr. Cameron said:

The Southill Solar project is a great example of people’s enthusiasm for this technology. As costs come down even further, I look forward to solar competing against other technologies and continuing to be an important part of the UK energy mix.

Friends of the Earth

It's not too often you see our Prime Minister and Friends of the Earth united in their approval, but Southill Solar seems to have done it!

In a blog article about renewables projects, sent to their thousands of followers, Friends of the Earth said:

This will be one of the last chances to earn a fair return from a community solar farm following recent changes in government support.

The Times (money section)

In their article about attractive renewables opportunities, the Times reminded us that:

For a minimum investment of £250 you can buy shares in a solar farm in David Cameron’s Oxfordshire constituency. Your investment in Southill Solar, a community-owned solar farm near Charlbury, has a target return of 5 per cent over its 25-year life.

The Guardian (money section)

The Guardian chose to lead on Southill Solar in a story about the good returns that renewables projects can generate, reminding us that:

Across the country there are growing numbers of community-owned and run businesses, including many green energy schemes, where those who are supportive of the cause can invest and hopefully earn a bank-beating return.

There's still time to join us (if you hurry)

Southill Solar has raised half a million pounds in investment from people like you. There's still time to hop on board - share offer closes 8 April, so act now!

Need more information?

Contact us at any time or call the impartial team at Ethex on 01865 403 304.

THANKS HALF A MILLION!

We now have over half a million pounds worth of investment in Southill Community Energy. With less than a week left to go until the share offer IS DUE TO close, what does this mean for the project, our investors and anyone still thinking of investing?

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The banks are listening

£500,000 is a key milestone in the equity raise.

We have made significant progress with discussions with banks and underwriters and are edging closer to Heads of Terms with these partners. Hitting 25% of the equity signals to our prospective partners that investors are taking the project seriously.  With our draft lease with the relevant parties awaiting signature, Southill Community Energy is in its strongest position since the share offer was launched. A huge thank you to everyone who has got us this far!

Investment-gets-investment

The ancient 'chicken and egg' causality dilemma is never truer as when raising equity for community projects. We know a lot of investors take the 'wait and see' approach before committing to invest, especially those considering investing a significant sum. However, the project needs investment to reach tipping point and go 'live'.  Reaching 25% is an encouraging milestone for those less confident investors. The Directors have been encouraged by a strong response from investors coming to see us at the recent spate of 'Meet the Director's events. If some of you reading this fall into the 'wait and see' bracket, now's the time to get investing! 

That 5% question... 

We have previously written about the risk of losing 5% . The risk of losing 5% of your investment if the project doesn't go forward only applies if, wait for it, the project doesn't go forward.  We have our debt partners lined up and we have now reached 25% of the equity raise. The draft lease is awaiting signature. We can't offer guarantees here and now, but what we can say with a strong degree of confidence is that this is happening! And every investment makes a huge difference to realising this certainty. 

This is your moment

The next seven days really do represent a crucial last leg in the race to get Southill Community Energy off the ground. With a recent UN report indicating that global investment in renewables, has, for the first time, over taken investment in fossil fuels, and with our very own Prime Minister conceding that renewables will form an essential part of the UK energy mix, we truly are on the brink of being part of a global movement to help secure a cleaner, greener and above all sustainable future. The power is in the hands of investors. 

If you haven't invested yet, now's the time.  every investment, no matter how small, makes a tangible difference to ensuring that community-owned, clean renewable energy becomes a reality in oxfordshire. Are you in?