Local energy sourcing

December 22nd, 2008

By: Piya Malik

We want communities to take a proactive, strategic role in identifying local opportunities to promote renewable, low carbon and decentralised energy systems, consistent with ensuring a competitive market and affordable energy.

One example where this is taking off is with the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) who has injected £265,000 into a project which will enable communities across the East Midlands to own and operate their own green energy co-operatives. The co-operatives will manage sustainable green energy resources such as wind farms, hydro-electric power plants and in some cases biomass schemes (creating heat and power from renewable sources e.g. burning locally-sourced wood).

The project will enable around eight communities to own and produce sustainable energy by offering shares in the energy project. As part of a co-operative they will receive a share of the profit from the sale of electricity or heat. The share scheme could generate finance for a community fund to help with other energy saving and environmental activities, such as free insulation and low energy appliances, as well as educational activities, such as site visits for students and school children.

What further role could government play in bringing together interested parties and facilitating the establishment of decentralised energy systems? By innovating and helping deliver local sources of energy generation how can we co-operatively make a vital contribution to achieving our shared zero carbon ambitions?

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