Case Study: Grimsby Community Energy

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to manage and oversee Grimsby Community Energy’s latest project, which was to install 94kW of solar panels atop the new YMCA Humber building on Freeman Street. 

The building will provide supported accommodation for young and vulnerable people, youth and community and mental health services in Grimsby when construction is complete in August 2021. 

This fantastic project will benefit the local community in two ways – providing vital support to people who need it most, and generating renewable energy for the local area.

What is a community energy co-operative?

Grimsby Community Energy are a member-run co-operative that develops renewable energy projects to our region – and they currently own 100kW of solar PV panels that provide renewable energy to the Grimsby community. 

Community Energy Co-operatives bring people together to take renewable energy into their own hands – using local resources to manage their own energy and benefit the wider community. 

It’s a growing movement in the UK – with hundreds of organisations uniting communities to generate megawatts of renewable energy for their local communities.

A fantastic collaboration that will benefit the Grimsby community

Our approach

We provided end-to-end planning services that stretched from assisting our client in getting funding for their project, through to overseeing and project managing the installation of the panels. 

The GCE project began 23rd April 2020, with initial discussions leading to a quote for works that was submitted to a funder by GCE to pay for our services. They were successful in getting the funding. 

We started the discovery period 4th June, and we had our first sit down meeting to gain information on the project and start drawing up the plan 24th June.

We then issued the first draft of the plan on the 1st July and then revisions and updates (5),  to coincide with their board meetings, thereafter until we finalised the project.

Installing the Solar Panels on the new YMCA Building

Supporting the community

At BPS Ltd. we believe these types of community energy projects are a brilliant way forward, and provide a great way to access affordable renewable energy at a local level.

Vicky Dunn, the director of Grimsby Community Energy, said that “[BPS Ltd] were very easy to work with, and very thorough in exploring the different elements of our project, and going over several times to check the details. 

“They were flexible in working with us remotely through the Covid period. The detailed plans were very useful for day to day activities, and the summaries suited our board very well with the level of information given. Our project was successfully delivered.”

The project came in on time and under budget – and will provide renewable energy to the Grimsby community.