As the year draws to a close and the glow of Christmas lights fills our streets, windows, and gathering places, it feels like the perfect moment to pause—together—and reflect on the light we create as a community.
Christmas has always been a season of illumination. Stars that guide travellers. Lanterns that welcome friends. Twinkling decorations that lift the spirit on cold winter nights. These small beacons remind us of joy, generosity, connection, and the promise of fresh beginnings.
Yet for too long, creating that light has come with a cost—economic, environmental, and social. At SE24, our mission has always been to rewrite that story. Solar PV and LED technology—the very foundations of our cooperative—are leading us toward a brighter future that doesn’t just shine more brilliantly, but more responsibly. Some would say it’s about time.
Look around and you’ll notice that light shapes our daily lives in more ways than we often stop to consider:
• Streetlights that keep our roads safe
• Bike lights (yes, a festive “woosh” to all our cyclists!)
• Classroom lights that help young minds learn
• And of course, the Christmas lights that bring communities together in shared celebration
Light is more than visibility. It is comfort. It is safety. It is inspiration. It is a thread that connects us to one another.
Thanks to your support, SE24 is ready to move faster and further than ever before. Next year alone, our planned 652 kWp of new solar installations will generate enough clean energy to power 550,000 Christmas trees, each with 500 LED lights, glowing for 6 hours a day through every day of December. Now that is a guiding light worthy of the season.
Just as the Christmas star once guided travellers, community energy—rooted in solar—can guide us toward a cleaner, fairer, more self-reliant world. When we pair solar PV with high-efficiency LED lighting, the impact multiplies. And through our Community Benefit Fund, that impact becomes real in people’s daily lives—warming homes, supporting organisations, and strengthening our neighbourhoods.
But beneath all the technology lies something even more powerful: hope.
Bright lights powered by clean energy tell a story of ingenuity solving real problems. They show that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrifice—it means progress. They remind us that when communities act together, economies grow stronger and the planet begins to heal.
As we step toward 2026, embracing solar and LED innovation isn’t simply a good idea—it is essential. Every LED switched on, every solar panel installed, carries us one step closer to a world where energy is kinder, fairer, and more resilient.
So this Christmas, as we enjoy the warm sparkle of festive lights, let’s reflect on the future we want those lights to reveal.
Let us choose a path of brightness—literally and figuratively.
Let us each become guiding lights for our community and our planet.
I’m delighted to share that we have already achieved nearly 50% of our Community Share Offer target for the coming year— but there is still a way to go. (Forgive me, the CFO in me can’t help but point that out!) So please, spread the word, share our mission, and help us reach the finish line.
Finally, none of this would be possible without Mark and the rest of our extraordinary team. Their dedication is the spark behind every project we deliver.
So, as we raise a glass this festive season, here’s to shining lights, to community strength, to the year ahead, and to Christmas itself.
From all of us at SE24, may your holidays be bright—and your new year even brighter.