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Powering Community Change: Stonegrove’s Solar Journey
Stonegrove Community TrustIn 2024, Stonegrove Community Trust switched on the largest charity-owned solar installation in London, with 210 panels on the roof of the community centre in Edgeware.
Project overview
Stonegrove Community Trust is a resident-led chariety in the heart of North London with one ambitious goal: to help the area reach Net Zero and operate their communtiy centre, One Stonegrove, as sustainably as possible.
The ambition wasn't just about reducing emissions, it's about embedding climate responsibility into the organisation's identity
About the project
A community-driven ambition
Once you're committed to your mission, then it's all about finding the right partners, which is what happened when Stonegrove Community Trust worked with Renewable Energy Co-operative R-ECO to install a major solar array on their community centre.
Despite a complex funding journey, with over £108,000 raised across multiple partners, the 210 panel project was successfully delivered in the Summer of 2024 and delivers significant impacts to the local area
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Over 71,000 kWh of clean electricity is generated each year
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47% reduction in the Trust’s energy usage
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19.4 tonnes of carbon emissions saved annually
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Equivalent to powering more than 25 average UK homes
Impact beyond energy
Stoneygrove Community Trust's benefits go beyond carbon and cost savings. The system is helping to free up resources for frontline community work, while acting as a visible demonstration of what community-led climate action can achieve.
Based at the heart of an estate with around 1,000 homes, the project is already playing a vital role in inspiring a wider behavioural change and shining a well-needed spotlight on sustainability.
A catalyst for future change
Stonegrove’s solar project shows that even small charities can deliver large-scale renewable energy projects, and that the impact extends far beyond the building itself.
A testament to the organisation’s work and to its CEO, Gus Alston, is their recognition as winners at the 2024 London Eco Champions Awards, which celebrated their achievements.
By combining environmental action with community leadership, the Trust has created a model that can be replicated across London and beyond.