Stoke Orchard and Tredington Parish Council Community Centre has completed a project to transform the facility's energy system.

On a promise to dramatically cut CO2 emissions, the parish has invested in Tesla Solar Batteries to complement the community centre's existing solar panel array - and the move was made possible by a £21,114 grant.

The helping hand came from Enovert Community Trust, an environmental body that provides funding to community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund, and the installation is set to boost the community centre's energy independence by efficiently storing power from its solar panels.

Alan Macdonald, Chairman of Stoke Orchard and Tredington Parish Council, said: "This project has transformed our energy use, and we expect our annual bills to fall from around £15,000 to nearly nothing, which is remarkable. It really has made a sizeable difference to our small community and will ensure this valuable hub remains in operation for many years to come."

The Tesla app, compatible with any smartphone, offers real-time power generation information and historical solar panel performance data, enabling precise estimation of future energy costs and paving the way for virtually no-cost electricity. In case studies, the system has been shown to slash annual bills of £15-16K to minimal expenses.

Angela Haymonds, Trust Manager of Enovert Community Trust, added: "We are thrilled to have supported this fantastic project that not only ensures environmental improvements but brings substantial cost savings to the community centre."

Enovert Community Trust is an environmental trust set up in 2003 under the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF). As a tax credit scheme, it enables Landfill Operators to contribute money to organisations enrolled with ENTRUST as Environmental Bodies. The latter can use this funding for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites. Since its inception in 1996, over £1.8bn has been spent on more than 61,000 projects across the UK.

Stoke Orchard Community Centre is located just over one mile from Wingmoor Farm Landfill Site.