Sharing the power- community solar & peer to peer energy

Welcome back to our renewable energy Q&A series!

In part six, we explored how solar and EVs are the perfect pairing, powering not just your home but also your journeys. But what if you don’t own a roof suitable for panels? Or what if your household could trade solar power with your neighbours?

That’s where community solar and peer-to-peer energy come in. These models open the door for more people to access clean energy, even without installing panels themselves. Whether through shared solar farms or local energy trading, the future is about collaboration as much as independence.

In this instalment, we’ll explain what community solar is, how peer-to-peer energy works, and why these approaches are reshaping access to renewables for everyone.

What is Community Solar?

Community solar projects are shared solar farms that multiple households can subscribe to. Instead of installing panels on your own roof, you buy or lease a portion of the power generated.

• Panels are built in one central location.

• Subscribers receive credits on their electricity bill.

• It allows renters, apartment dwellers, or shaded homes to benefit from solar.

It’s solar access without the need for installation.

How Subscriptions Work

Community solar operates like a membership:

• You pay for a “share” of the solar farm’s output.

• The energy produced is credited directly to your electricity bill.

• The more you subscribe, the greater your savings.

This model makes solar more accessible and scalable, giving more households the chance to lower bills and support renewables.

Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy is an emerging model where households with solar can sell their excess power directly to neighbours.

• Instead of exporting to the grid at a low tariff, you sell at a fairer local price.

• Neighbours buy renewable energy at lower-than-retail cost.

• Blockchain and smart contracts often underpin these trades.

It creates a local energy economy where the community benefits, not just the utility companies.

Benefits & Challenges

Benefits:

More people can access clean energy.

Fairer prices for both producers and consumers.

Builds local energy independence and resilience.

Challenges:

Regulatory hurdles, energy laws are still catching up.

Technology infrastructure, smart grids and meters are required.

Scaling, making it mainstream takes investment and policy support.

Conclusion

Community solar and peer-to-peer energy models are reshaping how we think about renewable power. No longer limited to homeowners with panels, these approaches open the door to wider access and more equitable energy sharing. The future isn’t just about going solar. It's about going solar together.

Next time: we’ll look at financing your renewable journey. From incentives and grants to making sense of payback and ROI.