The Mansion celebrates community-funded solar installation

A beloved Totnes community hub has taken a giant leap towards a greener, more financially stable future by switching on a new installation of 77 solar panels on the roof of Totnes Library.

The Mansion, a charity-run community hub that incorporates Totnes Library, Rainbow Nursery and a range of local organisations, will host a celebration and thank-you event on Friday 23 January at 2pm, bringing together residents, volunteers and project partners who helped make the project possible.

We set up a Blue Peter-style totaliser

After months of planning and community fundraising, the 77 solar panels were installed on the Library roof. Since late last year they have been generating renewable electricity for the Mansion, significantly reducing energy costs for the charity-run building.

David Sprent, a former Mansion trustee and member of the volunteer “Solar Squad” that led the project, said the decision to push ahead was both practical and urgent. “Energy bills were costing the Mansion up to £30,000 a year,” he said. “For a community building like ours, that’s a huge drain. Bringing those costs down by around a third, as we hope to, means we can look forward to a more stable financial future and continue serving as premises for vital local orgs such as the Totnes Bike Hub and Sewing Studio [formerly Mend Assembly].”

The fundraising campaign drew support from across Totnes, raising £32,500 from local residents, community groups and businesses who were all invited to sponsor individual panels and follow progress as the roof gradually filled up. All money raised came from donors, with no grant funding – unusual for a project of this nature.

“We set up a Blue Peter-style totaliser,” Sprent added. “Every time another panel was funded, we coloured it in. It really captured people’s imagination and helped everyone feel part of it. It’s been great to see the Totnes community come together to make this happen.”

He added that the project was driven entirely by local people. “What’s impressed me most is the volunteers. This was a group of people who simply wanted to put their skills to work for the town and leave the building in a stronger position for the future.”

The installation was delivered by Dartington-based clean energy company Bloom Renewables, working closely with the Mansion team and volunteers throughout the process.

Harry Williams from Bloom Renewables said: “For buildings with high energy use and plenty of roof space, like the Mansion, solar is a no-brainer. Payback is usually within just a few years, and the panels are designed to last. It’s been great working on a genuine Totnes community asset.”

As part of the January 23 celebration, the Mansion will unveil plans for community artwork created by its own in-house pottery collective led by Georgi Makes of Studio 2 Pottery, recognising panel sponsors through a display of handmade ceramic tiles inside the Library foyer. Every donor who chipped in £450 or more will have their own commemorative tile. “We’re overjoyed with how the project has turned out,” said David Sprent. “Bloom was fantastic to work with. And now we have 77 solar panels on the roof – one more than the Civic Hall. That’s a Totnes record!”

The Mansion installation by Bloom comprises 77 panels, with a total system size of 34.65 kWp, generating an estimated 34,362 kWh of clean electricity per year.