Photo credit: Nicola Parry
Taking Our Power Back—Together.
Community Energy is transforming communities across the UK.
Now it's South East Essex's turn.
Across Britain, ordinary people are coming together to take local action on climate change and inequality. They work cooperatively to create renewable energy projects, reduce fuel poverty, strengthen local economies and build more resilient communities.
They have done so under the banner of Community Energy. And now Citizen Solar is bringing those same opportunities to Southend, Rochford and Castle Point areas to build South East Essex Energy Resilience Network.
Communities should have greater control over their own energy future!
Citizen Solar is a young organisation set up in April 2026, but our story began long before we registered as a Community Benefit Society (CBS). Being a CBS is not making us a charity. We are a cooperative proudly owned and led by our members!
And we’re not starting from scratch.
We’re building on more than two years of practical experience, hundreds of conversations with local residents, strong partnerships with trusted organisations and the knowledge generously shared by the wider Community Energy movement.
Now we’re bringing that experience home to South East Essex.
And we’re inviting our community to help write the next chapter.
What Are We Building?
We’re building the South East Essex Energy Resilience Network.
A growing network of residents, volunteers, community organisations, schools, GP surgeries, Primary Care Networks, charities, businesses and local partners working together towards a cleaner, fairer and more resilient future.
Some of that work is happening today.
Some of it is still an ambition.
What We're Doing Today - Powering Down
Right now our focus is simple. We’re helping people.
Through our Powering Down programme we’re providing free community energy advice, training Community Energy Champions and working with trusted local partners to help households reduce energy bills and improve energy efficiency. Our Powering Down poster says it all.
We’re taking our advice service into GP surgeries, community venues, social clubs, car boot sales, Mecca Bingo, family-friendly pubs and local events because we believe support should be available where people already are.
Every conversation teaches us something.
Every partnership makes us stronger.
Every new member and every Community Energy Champion helps us reach another part of our community.
Looking Ahead - Powering Up
As Citizen Solar grows, so will our ambitions.
With the right funding and experienced partners, we want to develop community-owned and community-led renewable energy projects across South East Essex. That’s our Powering Up programme. In a nutshell this programme has a simple purpose – to provide our community with cheaper and greener electricity that’s owned by our community. Again our Powering Up poster summerizes it well.
As a Community Benefit Society, everything we do is guided by one simple principle:
Community benefit comes first.
As future community-owned energy projects are developed, any financial surplus will be reinvested to support local people, strengthen community organisations and create even more opportunities across South East Essex.
Looking Further Ahead - Community Resilience Hubs
Bringing the two programmes together we aim to support community buildings and create a network of Community Resilience Hubs across South East Essex.
By combining renewable energy, battery storage and other resilience measures, these trusted community buildings could continue operating during prolonged power cuts and periods of extreme weather. They could provide warmth during severe cold, a cool place during heatwaves, charging for phones, mobility aids, electric wheelchairs and essential medical equipment, emergency charging for electric vehicles used by community responders and key workers where practical, trusted information, and support when communities need it most.
We’re not promising to do everything tomorrow.
We’re committing ourselves to building the partnerships, knowledge, community support and local ownership needed to make this vision a reality—one step at a time.
This Isn't Our Project
It belongs to everyone who chooses to become part of it.
Become a member.
Train as a Community Energy Champion.
Introduce us to your community organisation.
Share our story.
Together we’re building something that will benefit generations to come.
Join Us in Powering Southend's Future!
Communities across the UK have shown what’s possible when local people work together.
Now it’s South East Essex’s turn.
Be a part of a community-driven solution that cuts costs, protects the environment and strengthens our neighbourhoods. Sign up below to be the first to know when our full website launches!- Early access to detailed information about our community shares offer and how you can invest
- Updates on the progress of our Power Down and Power Up projects
- Invitations to upcoming events, workshops and volunteer opportunities
- Tips and resources on energy efficiency and how to reduce your energy bills
- Stories from community members benefiting from Citizen Solar’s initiatives
- Exclusive news on partnerships, funding opportunities and ways to get involved
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Southend’s clean energy revolution—sign up today and help us power a greener, fairer future for all!
Ready to Power Change?
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