Tendring Community Energy Limited

Projects

☀ Tendring Community Energy

Local energy.
Local benefit.

We’re turning community ambition into practical action — developing renewable energy, improving local buildings, supporting households and creating projects whose benefits stay here in Tendring.

Explore our projects ↓ Get involved →
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Generate locally Developing renewable energy across the Tendring Peninsula.
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Support locally Helping residents and community organisations reduce energy costs.
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Reinvest locally Building a model where community energy creates community benefit.
Our approach

Community energy is about more than solar panels.

Tendring Community Energy is a Community Benefit Society. We’re developing practical renewable-energy projects while helping residents, community organisations and local facilities become warmer, more efficient and more resilient.

Our ambition is simple: generate more of our energy locally, reduce carbon emissions and ensure that the social and economic benefits of the transition to cleaner energy remain within our community.

Projects in Tendring

Turning ideas into local action

From renewable generation and battery storage to practical household support, these projects demonstrate what community energy can deliver.

Project development
Renewable generation

Sailship Renewable Energy Project

We’re exploring an innovative renewable-energy scheme for the Sailship site, combining solar generation, small-scale wind power and battery storage.

The aim is to reduce the site’s energy costs and carbon footprint while creating an inspiring demonstration of community-scale renewable technology.

  • Solar-panel walkways providing power, shade and shelter.
  • Small wind turbines complementing solar generation.
  • Battery storage to maximise locally generated electricity.
  • Potential carbon reduction of around 17 tonnes each year.
  • Learning opportunities around renewable energy and climate action.
Delivered impact
Homes & wellbeing

Winter Warmth & Resilience

Community energy starts with people’s homes. Our winter programme combined thermal-imaging surveys, practical energy-saving measures and personalised advice for households across Tendring.

  • 52 home visits and thermal-imaging surveys.
  • Around 158 residents supported.
  • Draught proofing, radiator reflectors, LEDs and other practical measures.
  • 78% reported improved warmth within two weeks.
  • Estimated household electricity savings of £80–£120 per year.

The project also developed volunteer skills and strengthened links with health, housing and community organisations.

In development
Community-owned generation

500 kW Agrivoltaic Pilot

One of our most ambitious proposals combines renewable electricity generation with continued agricultural use of the land.

Agrivoltaics allows solar generation and farming to work together. Panels can be positioned and spaced to allow activities such as grazing, horticulture or biodiversity planting to continue underneath and around the array.

500 kW Proposed community-owned solar capacity
≈150 Indicative homes-equivalent generation
Community Revenue reinvested for local benefit
  • Generate clean, community-owned electricity.
  • Maintain productive agricultural land use.
  • Create potential additional income for participating landowners.
  • Develop a replicable local-energy model for Tendring.
  • Use future revenues to support community benefit.
Accepted • Seeking funding
Solar PV + battery

Brightlingsea Community Centre

Brightlingsea Community Centre represents a promising opportunity for community solar generation combined with battery energy storage.

The proposed approach responds to the different roof conditions at the site and includes non-penetrative, ballasted solar mounting where appropriate, subject to structural and roof-condition assessment.

52,399 kWh Indicative annual generation
13,800 kWh Indicative on-site use with battery storage
South-facing Strong local solar resource
  • Reduce electricity purchased from the grid.
  • Use battery storage to increase on-site consumption.
  • Generate potential income from surplus electricity.
  • Create a practical community-energy demonstration site.
Building our capacity

Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund

Capacity-building support is helping Tendring Community Energy expand its work with residents while developing the skills, partnerships and feasibility work required for larger-scale renewable-energy projects.

1,500–1,700 residents
targeted through advice, home visits and wider community engagement.
20–25 organisations
engaged to strengthen partnerships and community referral routes.
12+ volunteers
developing practical skills in energy advice, outreach and thermal imaging.
Renewable feasibility
developing the foundations for larger community-owned energy projects.

This creates a bridge between the support people need today and the community-owned energy infrastructure Tendring needs for the future.

Why community energy?

Local • Sustainable • Power

We want the transition to renewable energy to deliver more than lower carbon emissions. It should strengthen communities, create opportunity and keep more of the value generated by energy within Tendring.

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Local generation

Develop renewable electricity on community buildings, suitable land and other local sites.

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Community ownership

Give local people an opportunity to participate in and influence Tendring’s energy future.

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Community benefit

Reinvest surplus income into local projects, fuel-poverty support, skills and future renewable-energy schemes.

Let’s build it together

Have a site, building or renewable-energy project idea?

We’re interested in hearing from community organisations, schools, businesses, landowners and residents who want to explore renewable-energy opportunities across Tendring.

Get involved Email TCE

Info@TendringCommunityEnergy.com   •   16 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SX

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Local - Sustainable - Power

Info@TendringCommunityEnergy.com
07303 185997
16 Station Road, Clacton on Sea Essex CO15 1SX

Sustainable

Community

Local Power

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