A Falmouth based social enterprise will be carrying out a feasibility study into solar power generation after receiving a government grant.

Fal Energy Partnership (FEP) has been awarded nearly £20,000 from the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) to study the potential generation of two megawatts (MW) of solar-powered electricity from business, farm and public sector roofs in the Falmouth and Penryn area.

Cornwall is fortunate that it receives a lot of sunshine, particularly during the summer months when there are many additional residents and visitors. This makes the Falmouth area especially suited to solar power which could provide cheaper electricity to the roof owners and generate an income for the community.

If the project goes ahead, it is hoped that FEP will be able to employ a dedicated energy manager who will work on issues around fuel poverty, energy saving and renewable energies.

Charmian Larke, chair of FEP, said: “We are very pleased to be able to do this study.

“There are many very large roofs in Falmouth and Penryn that would be suitable and it would be great to benefit not only the farms, businesses and organisations by selling them cheaper electricity but ultimately our whole community by helping alleviate fuel poverty and by providing greater energy security.”

The project will run for the next six months, and anyone who thinks they have a suitable large roof, or wants more information about FEP, can email info@falenergy.org.uk or look for Fal Energy Partnership Ltd on Facebook.

FEP is a registered society launched in 2012, which connects many different groups interested in developing and implementing an integrated sustainable action plan for the community. As a social enterprise, FEP is committed to return any profits - after investor returns -to the community, which would be invested in local sustainable energy projects.

RCEF is a £15million programme, delivered by WRAP and jointly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (DBEIS).

It supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.