Today, the UK Government and Great British Energy (GBE) published the Local Power Plan.
The plan sets out the biggest expansion of support for community owned energy in British history, to cut bills and build wealth in communities.
The Plan is backed by up to £1 billion for local and community energy projects so communities can own and control their own home-grown energy, cutting bills and creating real local benefits.
The South West Net Zero Hub has already played an integral role in the growth and development of community energy. We are working with GBE to distribute previous grant funding and provide support to nine early-stage community renewables projects across the wider South West – with at least another ten projects set to be announced soon.
With the new funding, and the grants already distributed by GBE, more projects across the South West will be delivered, helping to cut local energy bills and generate revenues for community facilities.
Projects already awarded GBE funding in the South West include:
- Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Charity Bath awarded £40K to develop a portfolio of 100% community owned rooftop solar projects on the RUH estate.
- Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) awarded £40k to explore the potential of a community owned wind turbine in Devon, enabling local residents to buy cheaper locally generated electricity.
- Community Energy Plus awarded £40k to explore the development of a retrofit advice one-stop-shop to help the people of Cornwall keep their homes warmer save money on their energy bills.
Kirsten Busby, Trusts Manager, RUHX said:
“A £40,000 investment from Great British Energy and supported by the South West Net Zero Hub will enable RUHX to deliver an ambitious feasibility study between the Royal United Hospital Bath and Bath and West Community Energy. The project will explore installing community-owned solar panels across multiple RUH rooftops, paving the way for a greener healthier future. We hope this will both reduce hospital energy costs alongside reinvesting profits into tackling fuel poverty in the local area.”
David Lewis, Programme Manager, South West Net Zero Hub said:
“The publication of the Local Power Plan today is hugely welcome for the South West region, not just for community energy but for energy generation across the board. The value it places on locally generated energy and the intended level of investment will return benefits to the people and places where the energy generated, working towards the Government’s focus on creating a cheaper, cleaner, more resilient and fairer energy system.”
Full list projects supported by GBE community Fund to date:
- 361 Community Renewables and Communities for Renewables – feasibility of a community owned onshore turbine in North Devon. Award: £40,000
- Bath and West Community Energy – A hydro / solar / battery project in Wiltshire. Award: £39,953
- Community Energy Plus – exploring development of a retrofit one stop shop for Cornwall. Award: £40,000
- Drewsteington Community Benefit Society – A rural solar / heat / retrofit project in a Devon village with the National Trust. Award: £37,430
- Frome Renewable Energy Community – an onshore wind project north of Frome. Award: £40,000
- Pure Leapfrog with the Diocese of Bath and Wells – feasibility of a Diocesan community energy model. Award: £40,000
- Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Charity Bath with Bath and West Community Energy –a portfolio of 100% community owned rooftop solar projects on the RUH estate. Award: £40,000
- Totnes Renewable Energy Society (TRESOC) – a community owned turbine in Devon with potential for a new Energy Local club in Buckfastleigh. Award: £40,000
- Zero North Wiltshire – working with a commercial developer to acquire a percentage of a large solar farm for the local community. Award: £40,000