Nov 17, 2025
How Community Batteries Are Transforming the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight has taken a major step toward a fairer, cleaner and more resilient energy future. Green Isle of Wight CIC has secured £450,000 from the Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme to develop an ambitious new programme: the Vectis Community Energy Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem.
This project isn’t just a milestone for the Island, it’s a national blueprint for community-led energy innovation. By combining smart battery technology with local ownership, it shows exactly how communities across the UK can reduce bills, cut carbon and increase energy independence.
A Smarter, Fairer Energy System for the Isle of Wight
The initiative will see 100–200 smart home batteries installed in households, schools and small businesses across the Isle of Wight. These distributed batteries will store electricity when it’s cheaper and cleaner, then discharge it during peak periods.
This combination of local flexibility and shared storage delivers tangible benefits:
£400–£450 annual savings for participating households
Additional savings for homes with solar panels
Up to 700 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided every year
A reduced strain on the national grid during peak demand
In essence, this Virtual Island Battery acts as a community-scale flexibility asset: balancing supply and demand, reducing energy costs, and accelerating decarbonisation.
Community-Owned, Community-Led
One of the most powerful aspects of the project is its ownership model. This is not a top-down technology deployment; it is community energy in action:
Islanders can invest through a local share offer
Households in vulnerable situations can receive batteries free or at reduced cost
Savings and carbon reductions are delivered locally, not extracted externally
This approach ensures the benefits of the energy transition are accessible, equitable and inclusive.
At VEST Energy, we believe that the shift to clean power must work for everyone, not just large corporations or well-funded commercial schemes. Projects like this bring the energy transition closer to people’s homes, schools and local businesses.
Why Community Batteries Matter
Community battery projects are becoming an essential part of the UK’s path to net zero. They offer a way to combine energy storage, demand flexibility and local participation.
Key advantages include:
Lower bills through time-of-use optimisation
Grid resilience, especially in constrained regions
Smarter use of local renewable generation
Democratisation of energy, giving people more control
Scalable deployment, from small neighbourhoods to entire local authorities
The Isle of Wight scheme demonstrates what the next generation of energy systems will look like: distributed, data-driven and people-powered.
The Role of Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme
The Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme has become one of the most impactful funding routes for UK community energy projects. By directing money from regulatory breaches into consumer benefit, the scheme has supported innovation where it matters most.
Its impact includes:
Funding for energy efficiency
Support for vulnerable consumers
Acceleration of community-led renewables
Expansion of smart battery and flexibility programmes
The Vectis Community Energy project is a prime example of how targeted funding can unlock meaningful decarbonisation while reducing household energy costs.
A Model for Local Authorities and Community Groups Nationwide
The success of the Virtual Island Battery highlights a clear opportunity for other UK regions. Community energy groups, local authorities and innovation teams can replicate this approach to deliver:
Social impact
Grid support
Lower energy bills
Reduced carbon emissions
Local investment opportunities
Whether through distributed batteries, solar installations or virtual power plant (VPP) models, the UK is entering a new phase of community-driven clean energy.
A Blueprint for the Future of Community Energy
The Isle of Wight’s Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem is more than a technical solution, it is a vision of a fairer, smarter and more community-focused energy system.
By combining smart home batteries, local generation, and community ownership, this project proves that the energy transition can be both technologically advanced and socially equitable.
At VEST Energy, we’re proud to support innovations that put people at the heart of the UK’s flexible, low-carbon future.
The Isle of Wight has taken a major step toward a fairer, cleaner and more resilient energy future. Green Isle of Wight CIC has secured £450,000 from the Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme to develop an ambitious new programme: the Vectis Community Energy Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem.
This project isn’t just a milestone for the Island, it’s a national blueprint for community-led energy innovation. By combining smart battery technology with local ownership, it shows exactly how communities across the UK can reduce bills, cut carbon and increase energy independence.
A Smarter, Fairer Energy System for the Isle of Wight
The initiative will see 100–200 smart home batteries installed in households, schools and small businesses across the Isle of Wight. These distributed batteries will store electricity when it’s cheaper and cleaner, then discharge it during peak periods.
This combination of local flexibility and shared storage delivers tangible benefits:
£400–£450 annual savings for participating households
Additional savings for homes with solar panels
Up to 700 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided every year
A reduced strain on the national grid during peak demand
In essence, this Virtual Island Battery acts as a community-scale flexibility asset: balancing supply and demand, reducing energy costs, and accelerating decarbonisation.
Community-Owned, Community-Led
One of the most powerful aspects of the project is its ownership model. This is not a top-down technology deployment; it is community energy in action:
Islanders can invest through a local share offer
Households in vulnerable situations can receive batteries free or at reduced cost
Savings and carbon reductions are delivered locally, not extracted externally
This approach ensures the benefits of the energy transition are accessible, equitable and inclusive.
At VEST Energy, we believe that the shift to clean power must work for everyone, not just large corporations or well-funded commercial schemes. Projects like this bring the energy transition closer to people’s homes, schools and local businesses.
Why Community Batteries Matter
Community battery projects are becoming an essential part of the UK’s path to net zero. They offer a way to combine energy storage, demand flexibility and local participation.
Key advantages include:
Lower bills through time-of-use optimisation
Grid resilience, especially in constrained regions
Smarter use of local renewable generation
Democratisation of energy, giving people more control
Scalable deployment, from small neighbourhoods to entire local authorities
The Isle of Wight scheme demonstrates what the next generation of energy systems will look like: distributed, data-driven and people-powered.
The Role of Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme
The Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme has become one of the most impactful funding routes for UK community energy projects. By directing money from regulatory breaches into consumer benefit, the scheme has supported innovation where it matters most.
Its impact includes:
Funding for energy efficiency
Support for vulnerable consumers
Acceleration of community-led renewables
Expansion of smart battery and flexibility programmes
The Vectis Community Energy project is a prime example of how targeted funding can unlock meaningful decarbonisation while reducing household energy costs.
A Model for Local Authorities and Community Groups Nationwide
The success of the Virtual Island Battery highlights a clear opportunity for other UK regions. Community energy groups, local authorities and innovation teams can replicate this approach to deliver:
Social impact
Grid support
Lower energy bills
Reduced carbon emissions
Local investment opportunities
Whether through distributed batteries, solar installations or virtual power plant (VPP) models, the UK is entering a new phase of community-driven clean energy.
A Blueprint for the Future of Community Energy
The Isle of Wight’s Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem is more than a technical solution, it is a vision of a fairer, smarter and more community-focused energy system.
By combining smart home batteries, local generation, and community ownership, this project proves that the energy transition can be both technologically advanced and socially equitable.
At VEST Energy, we’re proud to support innovations that put people at the heart of the UK’s flexible, low-carbon future.
The Isle of Wight has taken a major step toward a fairer, cleaner and more resilient energy future. Green Isle of Wight CIC has secured £450,000 from the Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme to develop an ambitious new programme: the Vectis Community Energy Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem.
This project isn’t just a milestone for the Island, it’s a national blueprint for community-led energy innovation. By combining smart battery technology with local ownership, it shows exactly how communities across the UK can reduce bills, cut carbon and increase energy independence.
A Smarter, Fairer Energy System for the Isle of Wight
The initiative will see 100–200 smart home batteries installed in households, schools and small businesses across the Isle of Wight. These distributed batteries will store electricity when it’s cheaper and cleaner, then discharge it during peak periods.
This combination of local flexibility and shared storage delivers tangible benefits:
£400–£450 annual savings for participating households
Additional savings for homes with solar panels
Up to 700 tonnes of carbon emissions avoided every year
A reduced strain on the national grid during peak demand
In essence, this Virtual Island Battery acts as a community-scale flexibility asset: balancing supply and demand, reducing energy costs, and accelerating decarbonisation.
Community-Owned, Community-Led
One of the most powerful aspects of the project is its ownership model. This is not a top-down technology deployment; it is community energy in action:
Islanders can invest through a local share offer
Households in vulnerable situations can receive batteries free or at reduced cost
Savings and carbon reductions are delivered locally, not extracted externally
This approach ensures the benefits of the energy transition are accessible, equitable and inclusive.
At VEST Energy, we believe that the shift to clean power must work for everyone, not just large corporations or well-funded commercial schemes. Projects like this bring the energy transition closer to people’s homes, schools and local businesses.
Why Community Batteries Matter
Community battery projects are becoming an essential part of the UK’s path to net zero. They offer a way to combine energy storage, demand flexibility and local participation.
Key advantages include:
Lower bills through time-of-use optimisation
Grid resilience, especially in constrained regions
Smarter use of local renewable generation
Democratisation of energy, giving people more control
Scalable deployment, from small neighbourhoods to entire local authorities
The Isle of Wight scheme demonstrates what the next generation of energy systems will look like: distributed, data-driven and people-powered.
The Role of Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme
The Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme has become one of the most impactful funding routes for UK community energy projects. By directing money from regulatory breaches into consumer benefit, the scheme has supported innovation where it matters most.
Its impact includes:
Funding for energy efficiency
Support for vulnerable consumers
Acceleration of community-led renewables
Expansion of smart battery and flexibility programmes
The Vectis Community Energy project is a prime example of how targeted funding can unlock meaningful decarbonisation while reducing household energy costs.
A Model for Local Authorities and Community Groups Nationwide
The success of the Virtual Island Battery highlights a clear opportunity for other UK regions. Community energy groups, local authorities and innovation teams can replicate this approach to deliver:
Social impact
Grid support
Lower energy bills
Reduced carbon emissions
Local investment opportunities
Whether through distributed batteries, solar installations or virtual power plant (VPP) models, the UK is entering a new phase of community-driven clean energy.
A Blueprint for the Future of Community Energy
The Isle of Wight’s Virtual Island Battery Ecosystem is more than a technical solution, it is a vision of a fairer, smarter and more community-focused energy system.
By combining smart home batteries, local generation, and community ownership, this project proves that the energy transition can be both technologically advanced and socially equitable.
At VEST Energy, we’re proud to support innovations that put people at the heart of the UK’s flexible, low-carbon future.
