Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Brixton Energy Solar 3
Held at between 7pm and 8pm on Monday 21st July 2014 at the Roupell Park Estate Community Centre,
Hyperion House, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1HY
Attendees
BES3 Directors
Brigid Clarke (BC) and BES3 Treasurer and Chair of the AGM
Jason Neylon (JN)
Agamemnon Otero (AO)
BES3 Shareholders
Becky Payne (BP) and Minutes
Afsheen Rashid (AR)
Paul Robson (PR)
Attendees
Matthew Rabagliati
Apologies
Andre Pinho (AP) Director and Secretary
1. Welcome and Introductions
AO welcomed everyone to the first AGM of Brixton Energy Solar 3.
Everyone introduced themselves.
2. Directors’ Report
AO introduced the Directors’ report and explained the key points. (This is attached as Appendix 1)
3. Financial Accounts
BC presented the accounts for BES3 for the year ending 31 December 2013. She explained that the
accounts had been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities
(effective 2008) and that the aim of the Directors had been to apply the highest standard of good
practice in compiling the accounts and to provide shareholders with as much information as possible and
as clearly as possible.
BC further clarified Note 3 to the Accounts, Fixed Assets by explaining that the depreciation had been
calculated based on the panels having a useful life of 30 years. At the end of the 20 year project, the
Directors consider it likely that the array would still be in working condition and retain some value. At the
end of the 20 years, the shareholders will need to consult with Lambeth Council as to whether the panels
should remain working on the roof or be removed and sold to cover the costs.
4. Approval of the Directors’ Report and Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2013
Proposed by Afsheen Rashid and seconded by Paul Robson, the meeting approved unanimously the
BES3 Accounts and the Directors’ Report for the year ending 31st December 2013.
5. Audit of accounts
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BC explained that those present should decide whether an audit of the accounts and balance sheet of
the Co-operative is required in accordance with clause 20 of the Rules. This could cost £1,500.
AO proposed that this was not necessary for the current accounts or for the 2014 accounts. This was
seconded by BP. No objections were received.
Action: It was therefore agreed that there was no need to audit the BES3 2013 or 2014 accounts.
6. Election of Directors
BC explained that every year a third of the directors have to stand down in rotation and another director
is elected. AO and JN said that they had agreed to stand down.
Nominations were invited. None were received from the floor and so it was suggested that AO and JN be
asked to stand again.
This was proposed by BP, and seconded by AR. No objections were received.
AO and JN were duly re-elected as Directors of BES3.
7. Questions and Answers
7.1 Operational Issues
AO provided further information on the operations. He noted an underperformance in first six months. It
was attributed to some of the meters being installed improperly and a poor winter. AO reported that
following detailed discussions with the installers, Southern Solar (SS), it has been agreed what needs to
be done to correct the underperformance of the panels. SS have agreed to implement this as soon as
possible.
Once we have a year’s worth of generation, we will be able to access the performance history of the
whole project. If there is evidence of underperformance, then we can make a claim against SS
warranties and our own insurance. We have a record of all meter readings taken since the system went
live.
AO was able to reassure investors that the FIT is working as it should. The current projection is that at
the end of its first year, the project will have avoided 20 tonnes of CO2 emissions. It is also estimated
that investors will be eligible for a circa 4% rate on their investments.
He ended by saying that the other positive news was that there has been a lot of on-site use of the
generated electricity. We are in the process of setting up a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) so that
we can formally sell this energy to the Roupell Park Estate Management. For this reason, the BES3
Directors had decided that the first year of electricity generated and used on-site is given to the Estate
for free. After September 2014 and when a PPA is in place, BES3 will start issuing invoices.
7.2 Learning Lessons
PR asked how we were capturing what we have learnt and sharing it with other projects
AO responded by saying that Repowering was a founding member of Community Energy England
(http://communityenergyengland.org/ ), set up in May 2014 as a not-for-profit organisation, set up to
provide a voice for the community energy sector and, and that he was now a member of the Board
Afsheen Rashid is about to take up a part-time secondment at the Department of Energy and Climate
Change and will be responsible for key elements of the Community Energy Strategy.
We are thus able to provide feedback on the challenges faced by community energy groups as well as
suggestions for improvements in both of these arenas.
More directly, Repowering, the umbrella organisation, is constantly refining its model and is able to pass
on our learning and experience to the groups we are mentoring and working with.
8. Date of Next AGM
It was agreed that the 2015 AGM should be held earlier in the year. It was agreed that ideally, it would
be arranged for the AGMs of BES1, BES2 and BES3 to be held on the same day in March 2015.
9. Any other Business
There was none.
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BP
5th August 2014
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Appendix 1
Annual Report 2013
This is the first annual report for Brixton Energy Solar 3 for the period 11th February to 31st December 2013. The
co-operative, established in February 2013, has 73 members, all of whom invested in the installation of 51.65kW
of solar electric (photovoltaic) panels on four roofs of the Roupell Park Estate, Brixton including the Community
Office.
On 6th June, Ed Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, and Greg Barker, Minister of State
for Energy and Climate Change, launched the Brixton Energy Solar 3 share offer along with the call for evidence
for the Community Energy Strategy. Keeping a high profile, the solar installation was commissioned with Shadow
Business Secretary and local MP Chukka Umunna on the Roupell Park Estate Community Centre, 13 September
2013.
The success of Brixton Energy Solar 3 was also featured in the following:
1. The Telegraph, 11 October 2013, ‘Brixton’s solar power scheme enjoys its moment in the sun’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/solarpower/10372910/Brixtons-solar-power-scheme-enjoysits-moment-in-the-sun.html
2. Lambeth Weekender, 15 October 2013, ‘Power to the People’
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=d9e68ea6-aa5c-4b5e-b020-450dbb33bad9
3. Sky News, 27 January 2014
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tDjqjX7rJs
4. Guardian, 3 March 2014, ‘Community energy schemes: what's holding local people back?’
http://www.theguardian.com/big-energy-debate/community-energy-schemes-local-power
In 2013 Brixton Energy Solar 3 successfully delivered its objectives of generating local renewable energy, engaging
with the local community and inspiring others.
Generating renewable energy
Since commissioning in September 2013 and to the end of 2013, the four BES3 solar arrays combined generated a
total of 6716 kWh of electricity, enough to power 2 average UK homes for 1 year. Full year readings are required
to determine system efficiency.
Since commissioning BES3 renewable energy output avoided 3.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Engaging with the local community
Our members were recruited through local campaigns and outreach. All households in Roupell Park Estate were
consulted about the solar array and local residents were involved as active team members supporting the
development of the project.
In addition to door knocking, a series of energy advice sessions, home energy audits, and draught busting
workshops were held providing residents advice and practical tips on reducing costs on energy bills. We also
organised a fun and interactive solar panel making workshop held in the summer of 2013 that was very well
attended by over 15 residents and the local community.
8 young people from the estate and local area completed a 15 week internship programme learning about solar
energy, legal and governance structures, community engagement, energy efficiency, local currency, marketing
and IT. They gained practical experience of organising events, community engagement and fundraising.
Following the internship the 8 youth also worked with professional installers from Southern Solar on the
renewable energy installation as part of their paid work experience.
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"I lived on the estate for 5 years and am studying level 3 electrical installation at Lambeth College. I am interested
in all sort of things, from astronomy to energy. I would like to be a chartered technician. Working with Repowering
through this internship has been truly empowering experience.” - Kemal Callender (18), Intern.
“I have lived on Roupell Park Estate my whole life. I aspire to be a teacher to disabled children. The Repowering
work experience is helping me broaden my horizons and learn more about more than just solar panels. I am
enjoying my work experience as I learn something new everyday.”- Nadeane David (17), Intern.
“I have lived on Roupell Park Estate for most of my life. For the last ten weeks, I have enrolled in Repowering’s
internship programme, which is helping our community save money and electricity. I very much enjoy helping out
and working with the Repowering team. I have learned so many new skills while bringing people together within
the community. I would like to be an events organiser and I am sure I will use the new skills I have gained to fulfil
my dreams.”- Isha Denny-Gardener (15), Intern
Following his work placement on Brixton Energy Solar 3, Kemal successfully secured an apprenticeship with
Costain Group, engineering and construction company. We continue to support the development of the Roupell
Park Estate interns through our partner organisation Repowering London through sign posting to further training
and work experience opportunities.
Inspiring others
The experience of community energy in Brixton was featured in the Governments first ever Community Energy
strategy which was launched on 27th January 2014.
Following the success of the Brixton Energy Solar 1, Solar 2 and Solar 3 projects, Repowering London has secured
funding from the Cabinet Office to mentor five community groups across London who are keen to replicate the
model in their local areas. These groups include Rosendale Energy, Streatham Power, Vauxhall Energy, Hackney
Energy and En10ergy.
Financial accounts and shareholder payments
Although the Co-operative was registered in February 2013 the first 7 months of the period covered by this report
were spent getting the project up and running. As a result, the income and expenses for the remaining 3 ½
months of the period are relatively low. On the income side this is accentuated as the generation period ran into
the winter months when we would expect to see reduced output from the array.
In summary, we received income of £752 from the Government’s Feed-In-Tariff and £132 for electricity exported
to the grid. Donations and interest received brought total income for the period to £963.
Expenses were minimal. Insurance and the annual FCA fee for the continued registration of the Co-operative have
been accounted for as well as the external cost of administering the share offer using the automated payment
system. Legal, technical and management of the project to the point of delivery were covered by grant funding.
Depreciation of the panels has been charged as a cost based on a pro-rated calculation, which writes the cost of
the array off over a period of 30 years.
Total expenses amounted to £941 leaving a remaining surplus of income over expenditure of £22.
Due to the short period of operation and the lack of surplus funds, the Directors propose that any interest
payments to shareholders and any transfer to the Community Energy Efficiency Fund be delayed until the first full
year of operation.
Similarly, no transfer to the reserve for repayment of share capital is proposed for this period.
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Any questions?
If you have any questions about this report and the accompanying accounts, please email
info@brixtonenergy.co.uk.
Agamemnon Otero
Andre Pinho
Brigid Clarke
Jason Neylon
Directors, Brixton Energy Solar 3
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