Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high - risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more

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Powering education and biodiversity

A case study in community owned solar powering education and biodiversity: Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy’s £500,000 Community Share Offer for Silverwood School

An excellent demonstration of the power of community investment, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy (WWCE) successfully raised £500,000 in 2024/25 through a community share offer hosted on the Ethex impact investing platform. Investments have funded the installation of a solar array at Silverwood School, a specialist school for children with complex needs. This project combined environmental action, financial sustainability, and educational benefits into an attractive investment opportunity for local and Ethex investors.

A proven track record
WWCE is no newcomer to community-owned renewable energy. Its existing solar farms in Wiltshire generated over £6 million in income in 2023, in line with exceptionally high export prices secured, and is projected to continue to generate revenue of over £1.6 million annually in line with 2024 levels through 2025 & 2026. These strong financials demonstrate the viability and resilience of the community-owned energy model.

Funding the Silverwood School solar project
The new solar installation at Silverwood School will generate over 440,000 kWh of clean electricity each year. Around 40% of this energy will be used on-site, directly powering the school and reducing its carbon footprint. The remaining energy will be exported to the national grid. The project is expected to:

● Provide the school with long term price security, protecting them from volatile electricity prices
● Provide a £5,000 annual contribution to a newly set-up community fund, supporting educational and sustainability-focused projects in partnership with the school
● Give the school a carbon-neutral energy source

The community share offer attracted 200 investors, each supporting WWCE’s vision of local, sustainable energy with a target annual return of 5.5%.
The Silverwood School array is owned by a WWCE subsidiary. And revenue is generated through electricity sales to the school and exports to the grid, which cover operational costs, pay investor interest and provide £5,000 annually for the new Community Fund governed by WWCE and the school.

Repayments to investors are linked solely to the performance of the Silverwood array (not WWCE’s wider portfolio), with capital expected to be repaid over a 20-year period.

WWCE Silverwood School Community Fund
The Silverwood School project isn’t just about carbon reduction; it’s also delivering education and ecological development. The new community fund panel, consisting of two volunteers elected by the school and two by WWCE, will decide how best to use the funds to maximise its impact, including generating new wildlife areas on the school grounds, sustainability education for students, or helping fund the cost of existing nature-based learning.
With the aim being to utilise nature to maximise the children’s learning experience and connect them with the outside world and hopefully to help them understand the role of renewable energy in protecting the environment.

A broader mission for Wiltshire
WWCE continues to generate clean energy while reinvesting profits to promote biodiversity, tackle fuel poverty, and support carbon reduction across Wiltshire. Projects supported by the Community Fund have included solar panel installations on village halls and school eco-projects, and they have appointed a dedicated carbon reduction champion for the area.

The Silverwood School solar project is a shining example of what community energy is all about: people investing in local solutions that deliver financial, social, and environmental returns. By raising £500,000 through Ethex, WWCE has brought a powerful renewable energy project to life, benefiting children, communities, and the planet for years to come.

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Investments offered on the Ethex platform are not readily realisable, which means that they may be difficult to sell and you may get back less than you originally invested. Investments are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and returns are not guaranteed. If you are in any doubt, you should contact an Independent Financial Adviser.

Risk Warning

Investments offered on the Ethex platform are not readily realisable, which means that they may be difficult to sell and you may get back less than you originally invested. Investments are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and returns are not guaranteed. If you are in any doubt, you should contact an Independent Financial Adviser.