Community Energy Newham
Community Energy has come to Newham
Together with local people Repowering London has brought community-owned solar energy to Newham, working directly with and for residents to drive action on climate change and create stronger social ties across the borough.
Repowered Community Newham
The Community Energy Newham story
- Community Energy Newham (CEN) has been officially established as a Community Benefit Society, with five founding volunteer directors and a group of active local volunteers. Find out more about how the group works in the ‘How CEN works’ panel below.
- The first Newham solar panel installations at East Ham Library and Beckton Globe Library were celebrated at the co-op’s launch last year. An installation on Stratford Library has also now been completed.
- In summer 2024, solar installations were completed at Godwin Junior School and St. Stephen’s Primary School. We are also investigating a number of other sites in the borough.
- Our first Community Share Offer was a great success and has brought the solar panels on the East Ham Library, Beckton Globe and Stratford Library into community ownership.
Thanks to our funders
Join our monthly meetings
We hold meetings for interested people and volunteers on the 2nd Tuesday of every month and would love to see you there. For details of the next meeting, just email communityenergynewham@gmail.com
Fun, creative events for you
We have already held a number of events and activities, including a Creative Energy Club, to give local residents a chance to learn more about the energy system and how they can help make it fairer and greener.
More events are on the way, so sign up for updates to ensure you don’t miss out. It’s easy, just use one of the buttons on this page to join our mailing list.
The view from a volunteer
"I have been experiencing the role of director in Community Energy Newham, which allows me to be part of decision-making and follow the project closely. I have a view that the group will continue to be strong and make this project successful."
How community energy can help Newham residents
CHEAP & CLEAN POWER
The project will provide a source of low-carbon, lower-cost energy.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Repowering London will run workshops that focus on energy saving and climate action.
FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
It is an opportunity for residents to take visible, direct climate action, which leads to behaviour change.
COMMUNITY COHESION
The project provides a focus for climate-conscious residents and builds community.
How Community Energy Newham works
Repowering London has set up a Community Benefit Society to run the project and hold the funds raised. These Societies are legal entities whose statutory purpose is to serve the broader interests of the community. This means that any proceeds from the project are locked into Newham and delivered to local residents.
- Local residents aged 16 or over, businesses, councils and others can invest in the Society by purchasing shares. Shareholders automatically become members. You can invest from as little as £100 (specific concessions £50).
- To ensure no one is left out, Newham residents and CEN volunteers who might not live in the borough, can become a non-investing Community Member for £1 and have the same say in how the project is run as any investor. Contact us at communityenergynewham@gmail.com for details.
- The Society is run by members and a Board of Directors (see below) who come from the local community. Governance of the Society is truly democratic because each member has one vote, no matter whether or how much they invest.
- The Society uses the funds raised from shares to buy and install the solar panels, which provide regular income. We expect shareholders to receive an estimated return on their investment of around 3% pa over the lifetime of the project and get their initial stake back.
- After core costs and investor returns have been paid out, any remaining income is given to a Community Fund.
Ready to get involved?
Investment in Community Energy Newham’s first share offer is now closed but please register to receive updates and news of future offers.
We are also happy to hear from people who would like to volunteer for our projects. Email communityenergynewham@gmail.com to let us know you want to help.
Our CEN Directors
CEN currently has four voluntary Directors. Their role is to ensure the Community Benefit Society is running well and to support its development with support from Repowering London. If you would like to contact one of the Directors, email communityenergynewham@gmail.com
Olawale Ajibola
Olawale has been a Newham resident for more than 30 years and is committed to tackling the climate change crisis with a focus on finding locally inspired sustainability solutions.
Marco Brunone
Marco has been working in the energy industry for the past eight years and is currently working to help Great Britain's energy infrastructure adapt to a net zero, low-carbon future.
Tim Atkinson
Having been a Newham Resident for over 3 years, Tim is dedicated to bringing his administrative and management experience to counteract energy poverty and champion locally owned energy asset creation, working with the Repowering team and CEN to turn members into ambassadors of fairer, more sustainable energy in their communities.
Patricia Calixto Pires (Secretary)
Patricia works at Repowering London, engaging with residents about community energy. She is committed to creating a fair and sustainable energy system and building strong, resilient communities.
Arifa Begum
Arifa is Repowering London's Newham Community Lead. Through her involvement with CEN and work with local communities in Newham, Arifa has developed a strong connection to the organisation and its mission. Arifa cares deeply about ensuring local voices are central to decisions around energy, affordability and sustainability. Arifa has strong local links and communicates in a clear and relatable way, and believes in bringing valuable community perspectives, passion, and commitment to the Board.
Ruth Chiat
Ruth is Repowering London’s Newham Communities Project Manager and a Newham local. Ruth is passionated about working with her neighbours to address the climate emergency and build community together.
