A community-led energy trial in Knaresborough is putting power back in the hands of local people.
Gracious Street Methodist Church has installed 91 solar panels on its roof which are expected to generate enough electricity to brew 1.3 million cups of tea each year.
It is hoped that the new scheme, which is being led by Knaresborough Community Energy and also involves two other local sites, will allow the church to divert excess energy to power nearby homes and businesses, rather than putting it back into the National Grid.
This could reduce the need to build major infrastructure projects such as pylons and underground cables, which are required to move electricity long distances.
The project is part of a wider trial commissioned by Ofgem, the energy regulator, and led by Northern Powergrid, which is testing how renewable energy generated in local neighbourhoods can be shared more fairly.
Reverend Gordon Hay of Gracious Street Methodist Church said:
“This trial is about making sure the energy we produce locally benefits local people first.
“If our church can help provide more stable, affordable energy to our neighbours then that’s exactly what we want to do.”
At a time when energy costs remain high and national infrastructure is under pressure, the idea is simple: use solar panels on local buildings to generate electricity close to where it's needed, reducing the need for expensive upgrades to cables and substations.
There are 78 homes and small businesses on the same local electricity circuit as the church, including the town’s fire station, and the aim is to ensure that clean, affordable energy can benefit them all.
Tim O’Brien, Net Zero Officer for the Yorkshire North & East Methodist District, said:
“This is about building a smarter, more community-focused energy system.
“Instead of relying on energy being pushed in from far away, we can generate it here in Knaresborough and use it here – saving money and cutting waste.”
The project grew out of a long-standing commitment at the church to care for both people and the planet.
Rev Hay said:
“It started with members of the congregation asking, ‘What more can we do?’
“We’re already a community hub – now we can be an energy hub too.”
Alongside the environmental benefits, the church is expecting to see the financial impact.
The panels, which were installed over Easter, will help to cut its own energy bills – welcome relief for a building that’s open nearly every day of the week, hosting pre-school sessions, lunch clubs, support groups and more.
But it’s the potential to give back to others that’s generating the most excitement.
Rev Hay said:
“The idea that we could share some of that energy with our neighbours – people who live or work just around the corner – feels like exactly what a church should be doing.
“It’s about community.”
The panels themselves aren’t easy to spot, tucked discreetly on the roof to preserve the town’s character.
But interest in the project is growing, and locals will be able to learn more about it at a celebration day on Saturday 7th June, which is being held as part of Great Big Green Week.
While it’s still early days, those behind the project believe it could point the way to a more practical, people-first energy future – rooted in local action, common sense, and a strong sense of place.
Rev Hay said:
“In a world that often feels uncertain, this is something positive and grounded.
“It’s not about grand statements. It’s about doing the right thing – for your neighbours, your town, and your future.”
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