Weardale Renewable Energy CIC is working to build a future powered by 100% community-owned energy. Our mission is to develop renewable energy projects—like solar farms—that are owned and controlled by the people of Weardale. These projects will not only generate clean electricity but also create a long-term income stream for the community.

Profits from our energy generation will be placed into a Community Trust Fund, which will be used to support further community energy initiatives and fund local environmental causes. This means every kilowatt of energy produced helps fuel new projects, protect our natural landscape, and support residents facing energy hardship.

By keeping ownership local, we ensure that the benefits—economic, environmental, and social—stay in Weardale. Our approach empowers people, strengthens resilience, and builds a fairer, greener future for generations to come.

Weardale Renewable Energy CIC is leading the development of a 600kWp community-owned solar farm at Heights Quarry—an ambitious project designed to generate clean energy and long-term benefits for the people of Weardale.

Feasibility work for the solar farm has already been completed, funded by a £40,000 Stage 1 grant from the Community Energy Fund (CEF). We are now awaiting the outcome of our Stage 2 application for a further £100,000 to support detailed development work.

However, CEF grants are restricted to specific project stages and cannot be used to cover the core running costs of our organisation. That’s why our crowdfunder campaign Community Owned Energy - a Community crowdfunding project in Bishop Auckland by Weardale Renewable Energy CIC is essential—it enables us to continue our work, support volunteers, and engage the community while we move toward construction.

Once operational, the solar farm will be handed over to a newly created Community Benefit Society (CBS) that will own and operate the system which will generate income for their Community Trust Fund, which will be used to support new community energy projects and fund local environmental initiatives—ensuring the benefits of clean energy stay in Weardale and grow over time.