The Transition Solar story
My realisations about climate change, as for many of us I guess, happened gradually. For years I’ve been involved in local environmental and energy saving groups in Bristol. This started to open my eyes to the challenges we face and the possible sustainable solutions within our communities.
I remember that reading The Switch by Chris Goodall was a bit of a turning point. In this insightful book, Goodall lays out how transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy isn’t just a distant dream but an achievable and necessary shift. He explains that renewable energy sources can be efficiently harnessed to meet our needs, emphasizing that the path to a greener future is within reach if we dare to make the change. In many places, the cost of solar energy has dropped so much that it is now cheaper than fossil fuels. This inspired me to take a decisive step.
Eight years ago, I embarked on a new chapter by retraining as a solar engineer and electrician. It was a challenging yet rewarding decision that involved lots of study, hands-on training, and a steep learning curve. Since then, I’ve helped to complete hundreds of solar installations locally. Each project taught me valuable lessons—not only about the practical aspects of installing solar panels but also about designing efficient, reliable systems for many different people’s situations. Through ongoing training and real-world experience, I’ve built up a wealth of knowledge that I now bring to every project.
Two years ago, I decided it was time to take it to the next level by starting my own company: and, after long lists of potential names, settled on Transition Solar— the goal being simple: to be a useful part of the global switch to renewable energy. Luckily for everyone involved, ourselves and our customers, it makes sense to do this from a financial point of view too.
If climate change— or, more accurately, the climate crisis—is the greatest challenge humankind has ever faced—can you think of a bigger one?—, then spending my working life doing what I can to help solve it makes sense to me. The most important thing I’ve learned is that it's not too late (yet!), and that believing that it is only leads to apathy and inaction—instead, we need to act now...
Nick Bourne
Transition Solar Founder
