The UK’s first community-owned solar farm, Westmill Solar Co-operative has launched its new community grant scheme.

The solar farm is accepting applications for funding for 'local organisations who are striving to ‘build back better’ and promote more sustainable lifestyles and a co-operative approach.'

The 5MW solar park located in Watchfield has now been operating under community ownership for nearly eight years.

It creates enough clean, renewable energy to power more than 1,800 homes and prevent around 1,350 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere every year.

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Westmill Solar hopes to contribute more than £2m to funding community projects over the next 15 years to directly benefit many local and environmental causes.

The solar farm is looking for community benefit projects and activities that match with one or more of the following co-operative principles: Community; Sustainability; Education, training and sharing information.

The deadline for applications is September 28.