Net Zero News: Eclipse Delivers UK’s First Net-Zero Microgrid

Welcome to Net Zero News, where we bring you the latest developments driving the UK’s transition to a net-zero future. Today we report on a pioneering energy project that promises to reshape how communities generate, share and consume power while eliminating household energy bills.

In a significant step towards the UK’s net-zero goals, Net Zero News can reveal that Eclipse Power Optimise has successfully delivered one of the country’s first residential microgrid communities with no energy bills. Unveiled in October 2025 in Norton Fitzwarren near Taunton, Somerset, the project was enabled by Octopus Energy and represents a landmark achievement in decentralised, community-led energy systems.

The microgrid integrates rooftop solar PV arrays, a central battery storage facility, smart in-home energy management units and a network of electric vehicle chargers. Dynamic control software optimises generation, storage and local consumption, enabling residents to tap into surplus solar or stored power at no direct cost. Net Zero News understands this forms part of the wider drive to decarbonise UK housing stock by 2035.

Covering 120 new-build homes on the Meadow Brook development, the network operates on a private low-voltage distribution loop that bypasses the traditional grid during normal conditions. Excess energy is pooled in a 2 MWh battery bank and scheduled for use overnight or when cloud cover limits solar output. The system links to Octopus Energy’s Agile tariff, allowing rapid redistribution of power across the community.

This model matters because it addresses two core net-zero challenges simultaneously: reducing carbon emissions and eliminating energy poverty. Early metering data suggests a potential annual CO₂ saving of 350 tonnes compared with conventional gas-heated homes. Residents report zero bills for electricity and heating since launch, freeing household budgets and demonstrating the economic viability of local energy markets.

The project also enhances local resilience by enabling islanded operation during grid outages. In February 2025’s severe storms, the microgrid maintained power uninterrupted, showcasing the robustness of community-scale energy systems against extreme weather events. Net Zero News understands the resilience benefits have drawn interest from other councils in the South West.

Funding for the £9.1 million scheme was secured through a mix of Innovate UK grants, Ofgem’s Specific Investment Fund and direct equity from Octopus Energy. Eclipse Power Optimise led delivery in partnership with Somerset Council’s Future Energy Team, consulting engineering firm GreenGrid Solutions and technology provider Enertech Microgrids.

Key stakeholders include the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which contributed £2.5 million towards grid resilience enhancements, and the Local Net Zero Hubs initiative, which facilitated stakeholder engagement. Local contractors delivered the solar installations and civil works, creating 90 skilled jobs in the region during peak construction.

This development aligns closely with the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy and the Heat and Buildings Strategy, reinforcing commitments to phase out fossil fuel heating and support local energy systems. Net Zero News understands this project forms part of Somerset Council’s broader Local Area Energy Plan aimed at delivering community microgrids in every major town by 2030.

At a national level, the programme complements the regulatory sandbox trials led by Ofgem, which seek to modernise electricity networks for greater flexibility and consumer benefit. The microgrid model offers a blueprint for decarbonising existing housing estates, in addition to new-build developments, helping to meet interim targets for 2040.

Local residents have reported increased engagement with energy usage data and express pride in their community’s role as a net-zero pioneer. Schools in Norton Fitzwarren now conduct workshops using live microgrid telemetry, fostering STEM learning and climate awareness among pupils. The project also demonstrates the potential to integrate local renewable resources with transport electrification plans.

Despite initial technical challenges in balancing load and generation forecasts, the microgrid is operating at 98 percent uptime, exceeding target performance metrics. Octopus Energy is exploring subscriber models to roll out similar schemes in other regions, scaling the concept towards broader market adoption.

Over the next 12 months, project partners will conduct an independent performance evaluation and cost-benefit analysis, with findings due in Q4 2026. Should the model prove replicable, further roll-out phases are planned in Exeter and Yeovil, with the ambition of developing over 1,000 microgrid-connected homes by 2028.

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