Greater Manchester Community Renewables Limited (GMCR) is a community benefit society, set up and run by volunteers to install community-owned renewable energy across Greater Manchester.

We raise funds to install solar panels on schools and community buildings, helping them save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and inspire children and the community to learn about energy and climate change.

Download our rules

So far, GMCR has installed solar arrays on eight primary schools (seven in Salford and one in Bury), a secondary school in Timperley and a community centre in Partington.

The panels are held for the benefit of the community, and any surpluses go into a community fund to support local carbon reduction, energy efficiency and environmental education projects.

Find out about our sites, and check out our News page for the latest project updates.

We fund our projects through community shares. Our first four share offers have raised £700,000 to fund the solar panels at our ten sites.

Everyone who buys shares becomes a member of GMCR.  In return for helping to fund our solar arrays, members receive share interest of up to 5% per annum, subject to the financial performance of the Society.

To find out more about our share offers, download the 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023 Share Offer documents.

So far, our project has:

• generated over 2 million kWh of clean electricity, enough to make 100 million cups of tea;
• prevented 740 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted from polluting power stations;
• saved our partners over £180,000 on their bills.

We’ve also generated a £60,000 community fund for eco-friendly projects in the local community.

GMCR is run by a team of volunteers. If you’d like to help us bring solar panels to more schools and community buildings across Greater Manchester, please get in touch with details of what you like to do, or skills you can offer.

GMCR would like to work in partnership with building owners, so please get in touch if you’re from a school, community centre, public building or place of worship with a good sized roof and are interested in working with us.