In early 2025, Community Roots, a not-for-profit organisation, based in Porthtowan here in Cornwall, took a major step towards their vision of growing food and community in planet-positive ways. With funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, they constructed “The Big Shed” – a multipurpose space designed to host workshops, courses, cooking classes, meetings, and community events, as well as providing a warm, dry environment for volunteers and visitors.
From the outset, the team was clear: the building had to reflect their commitment to sustainability. That meant choosing solar panels for their community building to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower running costs, and set a positive example for others.
About Community Roots
Community Roots is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project based at Mount Pleasant Eco Park in Porthtowan, dedicated to growing food and community in planet-positive ways. From an acre of bare land, the team has created a thriving, no-dig market garden that produces fresh, seasonal, chemical-free vegetables for local people while supporting biodiversity and healthy soils.
As a Community Interest Company, every penny earned goes back into their mission – making good food accessible and affordable, offering volunteering and learning opportunities, and running events that connect people with nature and each other. Community Roots is more than a farm; it’s a hub for sustainability, education, and community resilience.
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Solar System Overview
Working alongside Warvena Construction and Kast Architects, Natural Generation designed and fitted a renewable energy system tailored to the building’s needs:
- 27 x JA Solar 445W panels
- 12kWp PV system for maximum on-site generation
- 13.6kWh GivEnergy battery to store clean energy for later use
- GivEnergy 7kW EV charger to support electric vehicle charging on-site
- MyEnergi Eddi to divert excess energy into the hot water tank
This smart combination allows Community Roots to generate, store, and use renewable power efficiently, cutting costs and reducing environmental impact.
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Client Feedback
Community Roots had known about Natural Generation for many years, and felt confident approaching our solar panel installation team to support their renewable energy goals.
“We try to prioritise planetary health when making all our decisions, so it was natural that this building needed to be built to the highest environmental standards. Natural Generation understood our goals and ethos and went above and beyond to make sure we had the best system within our budget. Everyone we worked with was super helpful and a pleasure to deal with. We couldn’t recommend them more highly.”
– Antonia, Community Roots
The Impact of Going Solar
By investing in solar panels for their building, Community Roots are seeing immediate and long-term benefits:
- Clean energy generation – Estimated annual output of 12,212 kWh
- Lower bills – Saving around £2,500 per year, with a payback time of just 4 years
- Carbon savings – Reducing emissions by 2.8 tonnes of CO₂ annually
- Future-proofing – A system designed to adapt as demand grows
The combination of solar PV, battery storage and EV charging makes the system not only cost-effective but also an essential part of Community Roots’ mission to model sustainable living. The annual savings can also be expected to increase over time, as electricity prices continue to rise.
A Sustainable Building for the Future
“The Big Shed” now provides a warm, versatile, and environmentally friendly space for Community Roots’ vital work in food, community, and education.
By choosing solar panels for their community building, they have ensured that every workshop, course, and volunteer session takes place in a space powered by renewable energy.
Ready to Power Your Building with Solar?
Whether you’re a community organisation, a business, or a homeowner, solar panels for your building can cut costs, reduce carbon emissions, and give you energy independence.
Get in touch with Natural Generation today to see how we can design the right system for you.
