We are looking into supporting solar photovoltaic and battery storage installations on selected buildings using council or community funding. This funding could allow you to get an installation with no upfront cost.
We want to find suitable buildings in the borough to take part in this scheme.
This work is part of the Climate Change Programme. It is designed to:
- deliver the Climate Change Strategy 2025 to 2030
- deliver a range of associated benefits for residents, communities and local organisations
Who can apply
The scheme is open to the following organisations:
- charities and not-for-profit organisations
- community and faith groups, including sports clubs
- parish and town councils
- businesses
State schools are not eligible for this scheme.
If you're a maintained school, you can talk to the council’s Property team about a solar installation.
Academies and academy trusts can find out about solar installation opportunities through the council-supported Solar for Schools scheme.
Residents and small businesses wishing to install panels themselves can participate in the Switch Together Bracknell Forest scheme.
To apply, you must:
- put forward a specific property within the borough of Bracknell Forest
- own and operate the property for which you are applying
If you are a tenant, you can apply with your landlord’s approval. You will need to provide a letter of support.
Landlords applying must also have their tenants’ permission.
You can make an application for up to 3 buildings. You must make a separate application for each building.
How to apply
For a building to be considered for the scheme:
- Check your building meets the requirements above and is eligible for inclusion.
- Fill in the application form.
- Send the completed form to climate.change@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
You will need to submit your application by 11:59pm on Friday 3 July 2026.
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Assessment of applications
The Climate Change team will check applications to make sure they are eligible.
We hope to carry out an initial feasibility study for every property that is put forward. Depending on the number of applications, we may have to prioritise projects.
Prioritisation will be based on on the following methodology.
Applications will be scored on a scale of 1 to 3 across the following categories:
- deliverability
- estimated payback time
- wider benefits
They will be scored by a panel consisting of our:
- Head of Service for Climate Change and Sustainable Living
- Climate Strategy Programme Team Leader
- Energy and Climate Engagement Officer
The table below shows the criteria that we will use for assessment.
| Category | Score of 0 | Score of 1 | Score of 2 | Score of 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deliverability | Applicant is unwilling to participate in council or community funding which is a key part of the scheme. | There is a major unaddressed barrier to delivery of a scheme. For example, an unsupportive landlord. | There are minor barriers to delivery. For example limited organisational capacity to participate. | There are no barriers to delivery identified. |
| Estimated payback time | More than 25 years | 12 to 25 years | 7 to 11 years | 1 to 7 years |
| Installation benefits | No benefits identified, and applicant is not willing to participate in a council or community funding scheme. | Applicant is willing to participate in council or community funding scheme. | In addition to criteria for 1, there is a benefit to the applicant. For example, supporting energy costs or financial planning. | In addition to criteria for 1 and 2, there is a wider benefit. For examoke, the use of solar installation for education, passing on of savings to community groups renting space. |
Terms and conditions
We will use a standardised methodology to estimate payback time for all eligible applications. This will be available on request.
We reserve the right to amend the scheme at any time, including changes to eligibility requirements and assessment criteria. All decisions made by the assessment panel are final and cannot be challenged or appealed.
We will respond to all applications by 5pm on Friday 31 July 2026. We will let you know the outcome whether your project has been chosen for consideration or not.
If we do not choose your project, we will keep it on file for possible future consideration.
Next steps
If we choose your project for consideration, we will share the data you provided with the Greater South East Net Zero Hub. They will conduct an initial round of feasibility studies on the selected buildings for us.
Depending on the outcome of the feasibility study, we will take one of the following actions:
- commission full technical design study
- move straight to delivering a project on the basis of the feasibility study
If we need to go through an additional process of prioritisation at this stage, we will clearly explain our methodology to all the projects we are considering.
We will do our best to move forward with feasible schemes. However, if we select your project for a feasibility study, it is not a guarantee of more studies or that we will install the scheme.
How this scheme is funded
We plan to fund the installations using council or community investment, if possible.
This would mean there would be no cost to you for installing or maintaining the panels.
Council funding
We may be able to invest in the installation and potentially share the benefits. This can be achieved through issuing a Local Climate Bond or a similar financial tool.
This will raise income from residents and other investors to fund the investment.
More information about Local Climate Bonds can be found on the Net Zero Go website.
Community funding
Community energy schemes are a form of community funding and are run by the residents of an area. They raise investment from local people for the installation of renewable energy.
We are working to support the development of community energy groups locally.
More information about community energy can be found on the Community Energy England website.
How investors benefit
Investors will usually sell the power generated back to you. This happens at an agreed rate through a Power Purchase Agreement. This way, they get a return on their investment.
This type of funding gives residents a chance to:
- invest in the scheme
- share in the income generated
How you will benefit
In return, you will get:
- an installation without having to pay any money upfront
- a supply of electricity at a stable price, below the current market rate
- a supply of electricity that is safe from price increases
- no need to worry about maintenance requirements or costs for the system
What you need to consider before applying
Installation is unlikely to cover all your electricity usage.
You will not get the full benefit of the installation yourself.
It does come with certain risks, for example:
- if the market electricity price falls below the agreed rate, you may end up paying more than you would otherwise
- if you sell or vacate the property, you will need to make arrangements for the new owner or tenant to either take on the contract or buy out the installation
You should satisfy yourself that you are happy with this approach in principle before participating in the scheme.
Taking part in the scheme does not mean you have to agree to specific installation terms. It means you are happy with the idea in principle and will try to make it work using a suitable funding approach with terms that are acceptable to you.
How to get in touch
If you would like to discuss your project before applying or need help, accessibility support or more information, email us at climate.change@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.