Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

Rossendale Valley Energy is issuing an urgent call to individuals and businesses to back its flagship community solar project – before it’s too late.  

With the fundraising deadline now extended until the end of November, the project must raise the full £350,000 required, or it risks failing to get off the ground. 

The initiative will see almost 900 solar panels installed on the roof of Interfloor’s Haslingden factory – one of Rossendale’s largest employers and a major consumer of energy through the production of carpet underlay.  

Once complete, the array will generate 368 MWh of clean power every year – enough to supply around 120 homes annually – with over 85 per cent used directly by Interfloor to cut costs and slash carbon emissions. 

For investors, this is more than just a financial return. Shares are available from as little as £100 to a maximum of £35,000, with a target annual return of six per cent over 20 years.

Investments are also likely to be inheritance tax exempt, providing families with a smart way to grow a long-term legacy. 

Businesses can invest up to £35,000, demonstrating their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in action while benefiting from stable returns and local goodwill. 

Beyond financial gain, the project will deliver an estimated £250,000 in direct community benefit over its lifetime, funding energy advice services, low-carbon heating initiatives, and wider climate action across Rossendale. 

Kate Gilmartin, chair of Rossendale Valley Energy, said: “We are at a critical moment. If we don’t hit the full target by the end of November, the project cannot go ahead.

"This is a unique opportunity to invest in something that delivers for your pocket, for our community, and for the planet. But we need people and businesses to act now.” 

Gary McEwan, managing director of Interfloor, added: “This partnership with RVE is a win-win – it helps us cut our energy costs, reduce our carbon footprint, and support the local economy. We urge other businesses to get behind this project so it can succeed.” 

Time is running out. Without full funding, Rossendale will lose out on clean energy, community investment, and the chance to lead by example in the UK’s transition to net zero. 

Shares are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with refunds issued if the offer is oversubscribed. 

 Find out more and invest today: https://rvenergy.org.uk/projects/rve-solar or contact Sharenergy: [email protected]